Ada 111 Huruf, Ini Nama Kota Terpanjang di Dunia!

Jakarta – When asked what the capital city of Thailand is, most people would answer Bangkok. However, the name Bangkok itself is rarely pronounced by local residents in Thailand! So, what is the reason behind the infrequent use of the name Bangkok in its home country? In general, the world knows Bangkok as the capital city of Thailand, a city filled with glistening temples, bustling markets, and vibrant nightlife. However, the locals do not refer to it as ‘Bangkok’ in their conversations using their native language. Some people outside of Bangkok may have never even heard that word. The locals, or native speakers, know the capital of Thailand as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, commonly known as Krung Thep (กรุงเทพฯ), meaning ‘City of Angels’. Linguistically, Bangkok comes from the word ‘Bang Ko’, meaning ‘island village’, as the city is surrounded by water. Another interpretation links the name to ‘Bang’ which means ‘village or district’ and ‘makok’ which translates to wild plum. The Traditional Name ‘Bangkok’ In Latin, the traditional name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. It signifies ‘City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s Behest’. With 111 characters, the traditional name of Bangkok has been recognized by the Guinness World Records. In 2022, this name was officially accepted as the semi-official name of Bangkok. This decision was made following a recommendation by the Royal Society of Thailand, a government agency responsible for the Thai language. Nevertheless, the Thai government emphasizes that this is just a stylistic change. In Latin script, the name ‘Bangkok’ will continue to be globally accepted, as the traditional name of the city may be difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce and understand. The author is a participant in the MagangHub Kemnaker program on detikcom.