News Forum - Deputy PM says foreigners should be encouraged to say “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon”

[Thaiger]

Thailand’s capital can still be called “Bangkok,” but a deputy prime minister says foreigners should be encouraged to say the formal name “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.” In a recent, what the Office of the Royal Society calls a “clarification,” the capital’s official name was documented as “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).” Many reports say this is a change of the official name, but officials say the name has not changed, adding that the capital has always been “Krung Thep” and the name “Bangkok” is still recognised. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam clarified that for a long time Thais have been calling the […]

The story Deputy PM says foreigners should be encouraged to say “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Artemis080]

So he thinks calling it two names might now be confusing? Let's just stop and think who just caused the confusion, and for what?

And of all the pressing matters in Thailand the world, this nonsense got oxygen somehow 

[Noble_Design]

To be honest... most foreigners aren't even pronouncing Bangkok properly...

[Poolie]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:33 AM, Artemis080 said:

So he thinks calling it two names might now be confusing? Let's just stop and think who just caused the confusion, and for what?

And of all the pressing matters in Thailand the world, this nonsense got oxygen somehow 

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Yes, it's a bit like calling New York, 'New Amsterdam' isnt it?

[Shade_Wilder]

"One night in Krung-Thep-Maha-Nakhon..."

Does not have the same ring to it.

[Pinetree]

What a dumb ass

[Artemis080]

Maybe they should have looked forward a couple of years and renamed it The Sunken City.

[Guest1]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:37 AM, Shade_Wilder said:

"One night in Krung-Thep-Maha-Nakhon..."

Does not have the same ring to it.

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But :

"One night in Krung-Thep"

has.

So lets compromise, and tell.people to say "Krung-Thep"

Lots of 'em, me include, doing it anyway, when talking to a Thai about the capitol city of Thailand

[Stardust]

If he visit europe he should be encoureged to use the original names and not english. In many areas in europe they have often the old celtic names or would be funny to listen how he would be able to say the german town names or scandinavian. Would be funny how he say Muenchen instead of Munich. A ch in german is not  like a ch in english and thats just one of the easier names. Would be interesting also for the scandinavian spellings. 

[Lawyers_Guns_and_Money]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:19 AM, Thaiger said:

Thailand’s capital can still be called “Bangkok,” but a deputy prime minister says foreigners should be encouraged to say the formal name “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.” In a recent, what the Office of the Royal Society calls a “clarification,” the capital’s official name was documented as “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).” Many reports say this is a change of the official name, but officials say the name has not changed, adding that the capital has always been “Krung Thep” and the name “Bangkok” is still recognised. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam clarified that for a long time Thais have been calling the […]

The story Deputy PM says foreigners should be encouraged to say “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

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Enough already! I still have a hard time correctly pronouncing Suvarnabhumi. Pretty sure I have never said it correctly. But I still manage to get to the airport. 

Edited February 18, 2022 by Lawyers_Guns_and_Money
Drunken typo while contemplating whether or not to curse

[Fundok]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:19 AM, Thaiger said:

Thailand’s capital can still be called “Bangkok,” but a deputy prime minister says foreigners should be encouraged to say the formal name “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.” In a recent, what the Office of the Royal Society calls a “clarification,” the capital’s official name was documented as “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).” Many reports say this is a change of the official name, but officials say the name has not changed, adding that the capital has always been “Krung Thep” and the name “Bangkok” is still recognised. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam clarified that for a long time Thais have been calling the […]

The story Deputy PM says foreigners should be encouraged to say “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

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It amazes me how Thailand is really trying to make life difficult for foreigners. Is this Deputy PM aware that this 4 word new name for Bangkok, ooops, I mean of course "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon" is both difficult to remember, pronounce and use for non-Thai speakers? That maybe there is a reason why there aren't that many capitols in the world that have a four letter name? Other than Ho-Chi-Minh city aka as Saigon nothing comes to my mind where a major city consists of four words. But hey, since Thailand does not have enough problems why not shoot yourself in the foot to find out if it'll hurt and bleed? No common sense can beat the experience thirst of a 6 yr old....

[Lawyers_Guns_and_Money]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:37 AM, Shade_Wilder said:

"One night in Krung-Thep-Maha-Nakhon..."

Does not have the same ring to it.

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And you can't dance to it.

[Poolie]

  On 2/18/2022 at 6:03 AM, Fundok said:

It amazes me how Thailand is really trying to make life difficult for foreigners. Is this Deputy PM aware that this 4 word new name for Bangkok, ooops, I mean of course "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon" is both difficult to remember, pronounce and use for non-Thai speakers? That maybe there is a reason why there aren't that many capitols in the world that have a four letter name? Other than Ho-Chi-Minh city aka as Saigon nothing comes to my mind where a major city consists of four words. But hey, since Thailand does not have enough problems why not shoot yourself in the foot to find out if it'll hurt and bleed? No common sense can beat the experience thirst of a 6 yr old....

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the name “Bangkok” is still recognised. No-one is trying to 'make life difficult.'

[Grumpish]

  On 2/18/2022 at 6:03 AM, Fundok said:

It amazes me how Thailand is really trying to make life difficult for foreigners. Is this Deputy PM aware that this 4 word new name for Bangkok, ooops, I mean of course "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon" is both difficult to remember, pronounce and use for non-Thai speakers? That maybe there is a reason why there aren't that many capitols in the world that have a four letter name? Other than Ho-Chi-Minh city aka as Saigon nothing comes to my mind where a major city consists of four words. But hey, since Thailand does not have enough problems why not shoot yourself in the foot to find out if it'll hurt and bleed? No common sense can beat the experience thirst of a 6 yr old....

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And the majority of  the inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh City, and most visitors, still refer to it as Saigon. Another Thai official proving to the world that he inhabits a parallel universe.

[Lawyers_Guns_and_Money]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:19 AM, Thaiger said:

Thailand’s capital can still be called “Bangkok,” but a deputy prime minister says foreigners should be encouraged to say the formal name “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.” In a recent, what the Office of the Royal Society calls a “clarification,” the capital’s official name was documented as “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).” Many reports say this is a change of the official name, but officials say the name has not changed, adding that the capital has always been “Krung Thep” and the name “Bangkok” is still recognised. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam clarified that for a long time Thais have been calling the […]

The story Deputy PM says foreigners should be encouraged to say “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

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I don't see anyone buying tshirts that say "My grandfather went to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and all I got was this lousy tshirt." 

[JJJ]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:56 AM, Stardust said:

If he visit europe he should be encoureged to use the original names and not english. In many areas in europe they have often the old celtic names or would be funny to listen how he would be able to say the german town names or scandinavian. Would be funny how he say Muenchen instead of Munich. A ch in german is not  like a ch in english and thats just one of the easier names. Would be interesting also for the scandinavian spellings. 

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I guess he also regularly refers to Japan as Nippon, Germany as  Deutschland and on it goes. 

[Fundok]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:56 AM, Stardust said:

If he visit europe he should be encoureged to use the original names and not english. In many areas in europe they have often the old celtic names or would be funny to listen how he would be able to say the german town names or scandinavian. Would be funny how he say Muenchen instead of Munich. A ch in german is not  like a ch in english and thats just one of the easier names. Would be interesting also for the scandinavian spellings. 

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I recommend a detour via Wales. The names some of the places have are gaelic and may be even a tiny little bit more difficult to rember and spell out, such as "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch". The shorter version is Llanfair PG by the way, so our brave Scotsmen have a sense of pragmatism after all it seems. About 3'000 people living in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, so its almost the size of the city which formerly was known as Bangkok.

Goodness me, one wonders how high (or low?) the intellectual bar is set to become a Deputy PM in some countries.

Edited February 18, 2022 by Fundok
Corrected/replaced "Scotland" with "Wales"

[Lawyers_Guns_and_Money]

  On 2/18/2022 at 6:11 AM, JJJ said:

I guess he also regularly refers to Japan as Nippon, Germany as  Deutschland and on it goes. 

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Those wacky Orientals 

[Fundok]

  On 2/18/2022 at 6:08 AM, Poolie said:

the name “Bangkok” is still recognised. No-one is trying to 'make life difficult.'

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Then why encourage foreigners to use the new name? Why have a new name at all? What's wrong with Bangkok?

[Fundok]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:36 AM, Poolie said:

Yes, it's a bit like calling New York, 'New Amsterdam' isnt it?

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Not really. You have to make it four words like 'New York New Amsterdam' to make a fair comparison.

[Fundok]

  On 2/18/2022 at 6:10 AM, Grumpish said:

And the majority of  the inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh City, and most visitors, still refer to it as Saigon. Another Thai official proving to the world that he inhabits a parallel universe.

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True. A valuable contribution to my post. Thanks.

[Lawyers_Guns_and_Money]

  On 2/18/2022 at 5:19 AM, Thaiger said:

Thailand’s capital can still be called “Bangkok,” but a deputy prime minister says foreigners should be encouraged to say the formal name “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.” In a recent, what the Office of the Royal Society calls a “clarification,” the capital’s official name was documented as “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).” Many reports say this is a change of the official name, but officials say the name has not changed, adding that the capital has always been “Krung Thep” and the name “Bangkok” is still recognised. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam clarified that for a long time Thais have been calling the […]

The story Deputy PM says foreigners should be encouraged to say “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

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I will agree to say Krung Thep Maha Nakhon once they agree not to stick a swab up my nose every five days. Deal?

[Thommo]

I live in the city formerly known as Bangkok   works for me 

[Saltire]

  On 2/18/2022 at 6:19 AM, Fundok said:

I recommend a detour via Scotland. The names some of the places have are gaelic and may be even a tiny little bit more difficult to rember and spell out, such as "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch". The shorter version is Llanfair PG by the way, so our brave Scotsmen have a sense of pragmatism after all it seems. About 3'000 people living in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, so its almost the size of the city which formerly was known as Bangkok.

Goodness me, one wonders how high (or low?) the intellectual bar is set to become a Deputy PM in some countries.

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Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is in Wales.

My wife and everyone in the village has called Bangkok Krung Thep for a very long time. Nothing new, they just use the shortened version.

Edited February 18, 2022 by Saltire

[Chaimai]

Once they can Arsenal, vegetable and fish properly I will change to Krung Thep.