14 DAY TRIAL // A legal change has prompted Germany to drop its longest word, which was related to a law on meat labeling passed in 1999.
This 63-letter gem is expectedly difficult to pronounce, as the video above shows us. “Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz” illustrated a law regarding the proper labeling of beef.
“Gesetz zur Übertragung der Aufgaben für die Überwachung der Rinderkennzeichnung und Rindfleischetikettierung” is the full title of said law, according to The Local.
The law on labels put on beef and veal packaging was meant to protect the consumers during an outbreak of mad cow disease or “Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy” (BSE).
Most long words in German are legal terms, but there are exceptions. Another fun one is “Donau- Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitänswitwe,” made out of 48 letters. It translates to “Danube steamship company captain's widow.”