Hello !
Just after I came to the L.O.S., my wife, being Thai, often surprised me with the pronunciation of certain place names. This prompted me to enquire as to which one was the longest. She rattled off, what seemed like five minutes of Thai prattle, and then said; “…that’s Khrung Thep (กรุงเทพ )!”
“Oh,OK. Great!”, I said in sheepish reply. I had NO idea what she was refering to, or if she was pulling my leg! “What the devil is ‘Khrung Thep”? I pleaded. Then she explained that it was the Thai name for Bangkok, which she also said was originally, Ban Gkok.
So, being an avid researcher, I went looking. Many travellers won’t know this, naturally, and I have discovered also, that MANY Thais don’t, either!
As you can see, from the following quote, I am certainly glad that Thais understand the name Bangkok! Fancy getting in a Taxi, or going to a Travel agent in a foreign country, and asking to go to: I quote:
” – กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยามหาดิลก ภพนพรัตน์ ราชธานีบุรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์ มหาสถาน อมรพิมาน อวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยะ วิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์ ”
In the official English romanisation, this is certified as the longest place name in the world in the Guinness book of records. It’s pronounced something like:
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit ”
… click on above link to Into Asia!
Oh, PER-LEAZE !
Happy pronouncing!
Bob
