“People around the world know the capital of Thailand as Bangkok, which is a word that is well known around the world. But if you were to ask Thai people which type they would like to choose, most people would want it to be called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.”
Original name Bangkok (Bangkok)
Bangkok at present it was formerly the location of the city of Thonburi Si Mahasamut. Foreigners have called it “Bangkok” since the Ayutthaya period.
Because it is the route to the sea and trade with various kingdoms. It is a city in front of the Khanon checkpoint. Take care of collecting taxes on every merchant ship that passes in and out.
As for the estuary in the Gulf of Thailand, known as “New Amsterdam,” there was a large community and warehouses belonging to foreigners for storing goods. Currently, it is the area of Phra Pradaeng District.
Historical writers record that the word “Bangkok” is a word that ordinary people have been calling it by mouth since the Ayutthaya period. In those days it was only a sub-district with a large village. Bangkok subdistrict mentioned here It is a subdistrict on the eastern side of the former Chao Phraya River. The original Chao Phraya River was not as straight as it is today.
Therefore, it is assumed that the word Bangkok may come from the Chao Phraya River meandering back and forth. Some places are like islands and humps. Therefore it is called “Bang Ko” or “Bang Khok” or because there are many olive trees in this area, it is called “Bang Olive”.
The word “Bang Makok” comes from the name of the location of the original Wat Makok Temple at Wat Arun Ratchawararam. Ratchawaramahawihan and later reduced the word so that only the word Bangkok remained.
In maps and documents of western colonizers Various names appear, such as Bancoc, Bancok, Banckok, Bankoc, Banckock, Bangok, Bancocq, Bancock.
As for the word Bangkok, it is a word that the French bishops regularly use when writing reports to their headquarters in Paris. When His Majesty King Mongkut He sent letters to foreigners and used this word. Therefore it has always been considered an official word.
Long name “Bangkok” (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon)
“Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit”
With the meaning “The vast city, like a divine city, is the residence of the Emerald Buddha. It is a metropolis that no one can conquer. It has a stable and prosperous beauty. It is a capital filled with nine virtues. very pleasant There are many large palaces. It is the palace of the gods, the residence of the king who incarnated. which Thao Sakka Devarat bestowed upon Lord Vishnu came to create it.”
Currently, foreigners This name is still used to refer to the city of Bangkok. which is the city with the longest name (169 letters) in the world recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
This is in accordance with the announcement of the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand regarding the designation of country names. Territories, administrative areas, and capital cities, dated 9 November 2001, and use the announcement of the Office of the Royal Society on determining the names of countries, territories, administrative areas, and capital cities, dated 1 September 2021, with details as follows.
Correct the designation of names of countries, territories, administrative regions, and capitals. For example, the English name of the capital of Thailand should be changed from Bangkok to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon by keeping the original name (Bangkok) in parentheses.
Another important point is that the word Bangkok that foreigners wrote for us in English is different. It is often ridiculed by foreigners. Because the sound rhymes with both the behavior and genitals of men in English… Please note that Thai people really dislike it if anyone makes fun of the name of their capital city, which may make your stay in Thailand more difficult.
So if you next visit Thailand, remember that the capital of Thailand is Bangkok.