World’s Longest City Names

The ten longest city names in the world span various languages and cultures, showcasing the diversity of place-naming conventions across different regions. Here they are, along with some background information on each:

1. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapiki-maungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitnatahu, New Zealand:
   This Maori name is often shortened to Taumata for practical reasons. It is located in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand and is famous for its remarkably long name, which translates to “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower who traveled about, played his nose flute to his loved one.”

2. Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein, South Africa:
   This tongue-twister of a name is derived from Afrikaans and translates to “Two buffalo shot dead with one shot fountain.” It is a farm located in the North West Province of South Africa, known for its lengthy name.

3. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales:
   This Welsh village on the island of Anglesey in Wales has one of the longest place names in Europe. Commonly known as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll or Llanfair PG for short, its full name translates to “St Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave.”

4. Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, United States:
   This mouthful of a name belongs to a lake in Massachusetts, United States, and is often referred to simply as Lake Chaubunagungamaug. The name is derived from the Nipmuc language and translates to “English knifemen and Nipmuc Indians at the boundary or neutral fishing place.”

5. Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarrea, Spain:
   Located in the Basque region of Spain, this lengthy name is often abbreviated to Azpilkueta. It is a small village nestled in the Pyrenees mountains and is known for its challenging-to-pronounce name.

6. Mamungkukumpurangkuntjunya Hill, Australia:
   This lengthy place name belongs to a hill in South Australia and is one of the longest officially recognized place names in the world. It is commonly known as Mount Wudinna for simplicity.

7. Gasselterboerveenschemond, Netherlands:
   This Dutch village is situated in the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. While its name may be a mouthful, it is often abbreviated to Gasselternijveenschemond for convenience.

8. Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta, India:
   This Indian village, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, is known for its remarkably long name. It is often shortened to Venkatagiri or V. N. Raju Peta for ease of use.

9. Newtownmountkennedy, Ireland:
   This Irish town in County Wicklow has one of the longest place names in Ireland. While its full name may be a handful, it is commonly referred to simply as Newtown.

10. Bangkok, Thailand:
    While not as lengthy as some of the other entries on this list, Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is notable for its official name, Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. This name holds the Guinness World Record for the longest place name in the world. It translates to “The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of Ayutthaya of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous royal palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam.”

Certainly, here’s some additional information about each of the ten cities with the longest names in the world:

1. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapiki-maungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitnatahu, New Zealand:

   • Taumata is a hill in New Zealand known for having the longest place name in the world. It is located in the Hawke’s Bay region on the North Island.
   • The name is of Maori origin and is attributed to a legendary figure named Tamatea, who is said to have played his nose flute on this hill.

2. Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein, South Africa:

   • This name, derived from Afrikaans, translates to “Two buffalo shot dead with one shot fountain.”
   • The name originates from a farm situated in the North West Province of South Africa, near the town of Klerksdorp.

3. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales:

   • Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is a village located on the island of Anglesey in Wales, United Kingdom.
   • The village’s name is famously long and translates to “St Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave.”

4. Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, United States:

   • This long name belongs to a lake in Webster, Massachusetts, in the United States.
   • The name is derived from the Nipmuc language and translates to “English knifemen and Nipmuc Indians at the boundary or neutral fishing place.”

5. Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarrea, Spain:

   • Azpilkueta is a small village located in the Basque region of Spain, nestled in the Pyrenees mountains.
   • The village’s name, although lengthy, is locally abbreviated to Azpilkueta for convenience.

6. Mamungkukumpurangkuntjunya Hill, Australia:

   • This hill, also known as Mount Wudinna, is located in South Australia.
   • It is one of the longest officially recognized place names in the world.

7. Gasselterboerveenschemond, Netherlands:

   • Gasselterboerveenschemond is a village in the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands.
   • The name, although challenging to pronounce, is often shortened to Gasselternijveenschemond.

8. Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta, India:

   • Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta is a village in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.
   • The name is quite lengthy and is often shortened to Venkatagiri or V. N. Raju Peta for convenience.

9. Newtownmountkennedy, Ireland:

   • Newtownmountkennedy is a town located in County Wicklow, Ireland.
   • Despite its lengthy name, it is commonly referred to simply as Newtown.

10. Bangkok, Thailand:

    • Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest place name in the world.
    • Its official name is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit, which translates to “The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of Ayutthaya of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous royal palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam.”