The Longest City Name in the World: A Challenge to Pronounce!

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The world is full of wonders, from breathtaking natural landscapes and towering skyscrapers to rich historical and cultural sites. Among these marvels is something quite extraordinary: the longest city name in the world, a name that’s nearly impossible to pronounce at a glance.

Longest City Name in the World

The title of the world’s longest city name goes to Bangkok, Thailand, but with a twist! Bangkok itself is a much shorter and more manageable name for this vibrant capital city. The true champion of length is Bangkok’s full ceremonial name:

Krung thep mahanakhon Amon rattanakosin Mahinthara yutthaya Mahadilok phop Noppharat ratchathani burirom Udomratchaniwet mahasathan Amon phiman awatan sathit Sakkathattiya witsanukamprasit

Clocking in at a whopping 169 letters (with no spaces), this name translates roughly to:

  • “The City of Great Angels, Immeasurable City of Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s Behest, Great City of Buddha’s World, Magnificent in Nine Precious Gems, City of Happy Abodes, Full of the Royal Palaces Endowed with Gems Resembling Diamonds, Grand City of Indra Built by Vishvakarman at Indra’s Command. “

There are variations in the spelling and translation depending on the source, but the overall meaning remains a grand and poetic description of the city’s significance.

Here are some interesting facts about this record-breaking name:

  • It’s rarely used in everyday conversation. Locals and visitors alike use the much shorter “Bangkok.”
  • The name is believed to date back to 1782, when King Rama I established Bangkok as the new capital of Thailand.
  • It holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest place name.

While pronouncing the full name might be a challenge, it offers a glimpse into the rich history and cultural significance of Bangkok.

Other Longest City Names in the World

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu

It is the longest city name in the world for New Zealand, which has 85 letters. It is a North Island hill, and its name is defined as “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land eater who explored it, played his nose flute to his loved one.” In Māor, Te Taumata’s unique point easily attracts attention of public eyes; it keeps appearing in several television advertisements, songs, social media platforms, printed matter, wine, clothing, and animated movies.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Originally the name of the town was shorter and easier to pronounce but in 1880 its name was extended by adding the syllables to attract more tourists, with a total 58 characters. This place with the longest city name in the world is Wales and the longest in Europe, with 58 letters. It is a village located on the island of Anglesey, in the northwest, Wales and its title means “The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the church of St. Tysilio of the Red cave” in Welsh. 

Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, Massachusetts

It’s a lake with the longest place name in the United States, with 45 letters. It is a quite large lake, covering an area of 1440 acres, with an abundance of fish. The title explains that “you fish on your side, I fish on my side, and nobody fishes in the middle.” It is the most popular translation of the lake. It is located in Webster, Massachusetts, also referred to as lake Webster, a much better way to call it. and its exact and accurate meaning is  “Fishing place at the boundaries — neutral meeting grounds” in Nipmuc.

Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein, South Africa

In the north west province of South Africa, there is a form with the longest place name in the world, the title holds 44 letters, which means “the spring where two buffaloes were cleanly killed with a single shot”.

Äteritsiputeritsipuolilautatsijänkä, Finland

This is the longest city name in the world located in Europe, with 35 letters. It is a big region in Lapland, known for its wild and most remote area. The place has more reindeer than humans living there and its title has no clear meaning.

Pekwachnamaykoskwaskwaypinwanik, Canada

This is the longest city name in the world in North America, with 31 letters. It is a lake in Manitoba, meaning “Where the wild trout are caught by fishing with hooks” in Cree.

Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta, India

It’s a village in Andhra Pradesh, on the border with Tamil Nadu in India. It is the longest city name in Asia with 28 letters, its name means “Venkata Narasimha Raju’s city” in Telugu.

Bovenendvankeelafsnysleegte, South Africa

It is a desert region in South Africa, called Karoo, it is expanded in a vast area that covers a section of the country equivalent to the whole of Germany. There is a farm in this region with the longest place name in the world. It’s located 3028 feet (923 meters) above sea level, and its 27-letter name translates to “upper end of throat-cut valley.”

Mamungkukumpurangkuntjunya. Australia 

It is the longest name in Australia, a hill in Southern Australia’s Antara-Sandy Bore Indigenous Protected Area. The title of 26-letter translates to “where the devil urinates” and comes from the Aboriginal language of Pitjantjatjara, which is spoken in the region by the Pitjantjatjara people.

Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarrea, spain

The title holds 39 letters, it   is the name of a Spanish village in Azpilicueta, Navarra. This is the longest place name in Spain, the second-longest in Europe and the fifth-longest name in the world.

The longest city name in the world will give you shivers and your tongue may twist while reading them but it’s also fun to know about the longest titles that are teeth-breaking to read.

[kkratings]