10 Longest Place Names in the World and the Stories Behind Them
Some places have names that are easy to pronounce and remember. Others have names that are so long and complex that they seem impossible to say or spell. These places have the longest names in the world, and they often have fascinating stories and meanings behind them. In this article, we will explore 10 of the longest place names in the world, from a hill in New Zealand to a street in South Korea, and learn why they have such extraordinary names.
1. The Capital City with the Longest Name
Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit – 168 letters
The capital of Thailand is commonly known as Bangkok. However, the real name of the capital of the Golden Temple country when written in the local language has up to 168 characters. In Thai, the city’s name is Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit. In fact, Bangkok is the city with the longest name in the world as recorded by the Guinness Book of Records. Besides that, Bangkok is the most visited city in the world with over 20 million visitors every year.
2. The Longest Hill Name in the World
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu – 85 letters
It is the name of a 305 m high hill, in the Porangahau district in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. In fact, Guinness World Records recognizes this as the world’s longest single-word place name. Because the official name with 85 letters is too long, people often call this place by the shortened name Taumata. In Maori, its name means: “The hilltop where Mr. Tamatea, the skier, mountain climber, and pioneer, played his nose flute for his loved ones”. The scenery here is peaceful and green in the summer. It is also a stop on a popular cycling route.
3. The Longest Name Town in Wales
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch – 58 letters
With 58 consecutive characters, this is the longest place name in Europe. The small town is located on the island of Anglesey in Wales. Business Insider even compared this name to the meaningless lines that typists accidentally create when falling asleep on the keyboard. In fact, the special name was created in the 1860s to promote and attract tourists. However, locals often call it “Llanfairpwll” or abbreviate it to “Llanfair PG”. Located on the Menai Strait, there are more than 3,000 residents here. The place has a peaceful space, a fresh climate, and unique architecture for tourists to visit.
4. The Longest Name for a Lake
Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg – 45 letters
This is the name of a small lake located in Webster, USA. With 45 letters, this is considered the lake with the longest name in the world. The place is also known by its shortened name Chaubunagungamaug. The lake has an area of 5.84 km2, formed by retreating glaciers and water flowing in from small streams. The lake is a famous camping spot loved by many families. You can rent boats to go for a walk and watch the sunset.
5. The Field with the Longest Name in Africa
Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein – 44 letters
This is the name of the field located in Northwest South Africa. The 44-letter name was created in 3 separate languages including German, Afrikaans, and Dutch, meaning “The stream where 2 buffaloes were killed with a single bullet”. South African musician Anton Goosen once named this field after his song on the album Putonnerwater.
6. A Town with the Longest Name in Europe
Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarrea – 39 letters
Consisting of 39 letters, this is a small town located in Navarra, Spain. Many tourists love the place for its peaceful scenery. The name comes from the Basque word meaning “low fields of Azpilkueta”. In fact, this is one of the “greenest living” areas in Spain, 70% of the electricity here is converted from natural energy, and the air is always fresh.
7. An Icy Land with the Longest Name in the World
Äteritsiputeritsipuolilautatsijänkä – 35 letters
This 35-letter name is for the icy land located in the territory of Savukoski, Finland. Coming here, you can sign up for dog sledding tours, enjoy typical Lapland cuisine, and admire the white snow-covered scenery.
8. The Longest Name Lake in Canada
Pekwachnamaykoskwaskwaypinwanik – 31 letters
This is the name of a lake in Manitoba, Canada, with 31 letters. It is the longest place name in Canada and the sixth longest in the world. The name comes from the Cree language, which is spoken by the indigenous Cree people of the region. It means “where the wild trout are caught by fishing with hooks”. The lake is located near the border with Ontario, southeast of Red Sucker Lake. It is a fishing destination for locals and tourists, who can enjoy the clear water and the abundant wildlife. Additionally, the lake is home to a variety of birds, such as loons, eagles, and ospreys.
9. The World’s Longest Name of a Street
Andorijidoridaraemihansumbau – 28 letters
This is the longest one-word place name in South Korea, with 28 letters. It is a street in Bukpyeong-myeon, Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province. Its name means “a road so rocky and rough that even squirrels can’t breathe enough” in Korean. The street is part of a scenic route that passes through the Bukpyeong Valley, where you can enjoy the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region.
10. The Longest One-word Name of a Place in the Netherlands
Gasselterboerveenschemond – 25 letters
This is the name of a hamlet in the province of Drenthe, the Netherlands, with 25 letters. In fact, it is the longest one-word name of any destination in the Netherlands. The name means “the mouth of the canal of the peat colony of Gasselte”. The hamlet is known for its historic windmill, which was built in 1878 and restored in 1994. The windmill is open to the public and offers guided tours and demonstrations.
The End of a Long Journey
We hope you enjoyed this journey around the world, discovering some of the longest place names in the world. Whether you are curious about the history, culture, or language of these places, or you just want to challenge yourself to pronounce them, we hope this article inspired you to learn more about them. Maybe you will even visit some of them someday. Who knows, you might find a place with an even longer name along the way!
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Khoi Nguyen
Khoi Nguyen builds The Broad Life with a desire to inspire people go exploring the world and live a more interesting, experience, and adventurous life. This blog shares the stories, pictures, and experiences at destinations where he has traveled to.
5 Comments
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Kelly Bolen
Yes, that WOULD be correct! I cannot pronounce any of these!!! Thank ypu for SHARING, i got a good chuckle trying to pronounce them!
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Ramil Hinolan
This is such a fun read! The way you break down the pronunciation of these tongue-twisting names is both entertaining and educational.
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Stephanie
My goodness! What an interesting read this article is. The history behind the names was a delight to read. Just glad I don’t have to write some of these out as my address!
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Knycx Journeying
I always thoguht Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch is the longest but now we have a new winner! interesting list and thanks a lot for sharing!
Kimberley
Iam originally from the Netherlands and didn’t know we made it to this list. Pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing.