Krung Thep Maha Nakhon today. (Photo by Veena Thoopkrajae)

 

By Veena Thoopkrajae

 

Much has been written in the news this week about the recent announcement that Thailand’s capital should henceforth be known officially as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and not Bangkok. This might well have some foreigners scratching their heads in confusion but it is worth noting that to Thais, the capital is always Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. Admittedly Bangkok is far more popular around the world as the common, if not the totally official, name of Thailand’s capital in English. In addition, many leading Thai companies and conglomerates have adopted Bangkok in their business names – think Bangkok Bank, Bangkok Insurance, Bangkok Airways, or even Bangkok Post.

 

However, Bangkok is not the translation of “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” and it’s interesting to go back to the past to find out more about the name.

 

Thai people don’t usually call their capital Bangkok but mostly say Krung Thep, the short form of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. Some Thais even like to shorten the name further, calling their capital Kor Tor Mor – an abbreviation of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon – though often they are referring to the area covered by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, as the local government body is known.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/orchards-of-olives-vs-city-of-gods/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-02-18

 

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City of angels in fact... the change of name must have come from a bunch of frustrated pencil pushers who has nothing better to do than to go changing names of capital cities, but as the saying goes: what's in a name A BKK by any other name will still look and smell the same...

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Why not use the full name

 

“Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit!"

 

the new signage might give tourist numbers a boost

 

It works wonders for that place in Wales

 

Thanks to TV for finding that article as quite interesting to me 

25 minutes ago, topt said:

Thanks to TV for finding that article as quite interesting to me 

I second that opinion. Very interesting article.