The official English name of Thailand’s capital is being changed from “Bangkok” to “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” which is the same name used in the Thai language.
The Cabinet yesterday approved in principle the Office of the Prime Minister’s draft announcement about the updated titles of countries, territories, administrative regions, and capital cities.
Bangkok has been in use officially since November 2001 and came from an old area of Bangkok. Thailand’s Office of the Royal Society announced that Krung Thep Maha Nakhon will become the official name of the Kingdom of Thailand’s capital, however, the name Bangkok will be put in parentheses.
The Government deputy spokeswoman Ratchda Dhanadirek on Wednesday said nothing had been changed in the naming of the capital. According to Ratcha Dhanadirek, the Thai name Krung Thep Maha Nakhon would be used only as its official name and th name Bangkok would still be recognised in parenthesis.
The Office of the Royal Society said this update will enable government agencies to use the same titles that better reflect the current situation.
The name “Bangkok” can continue to be used to refer to Thailand’s capital, even after this official update goes into effect.
However, the new name is just a short version of the Thai original version. The real name of Thailand’s capital is, Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. The Cabinet considers that the long version would be difficult for non-Thai speakers.
