Bangkok’s full name has 168 letters
Recommended for Preparatory Grades
Bangkok: More Than Meets the Tongue (or the Eye!)
Thailand’s bustling capital, Bangkok – a whirlwind of street food aromas, dazzling markets, and enough energy to power a small country. But hold onto your hats (or your delicious pad thai!), because this city hides a jaw-dropping secret within its very name!
Back in 1782, King Rama I figured a snappy name was key when founding a new capital. Forget New York or London – he clearly aimed to win the “Most Frustrating Name for Sleepy Travelers” award! The official name of Bangkok in Thai is… well, let’s just say you might need that pad thai for energy:
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratcha-thani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
168 letters of tongue-twisting glory! Imagine the look on your cab driver’s face when you try to dictate that address. Who needs cryptic crossword puzzles when you can just try ordering takeout in Bangkok?
But hey, this isn’t some random jumble of letters ordered off [invalid URL removed]. The translation reads like a superhero origin story: “City of Angels,” “City of Immortals,” – maybe after wrestling with the name, you earn your wings?
Thankfully, there’s always good old “Bangkok.” But now, the next time you stroll those bustling streets, remember – the taxi meters aren’t the only thing running long under that deceptively simple name!
Watch a video
Watch the video below and challenge yourself to say Bangkok’s full name.
Video credit: Let’s Learn Thai!/Youtube
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