PlacesBangkok name
- grung mid
- têep falling
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
How to use it
In Thai, Bangkok is กรุงเทพฯgrung-têep, "city of angels": the start of a ceremonial name so long that it's often listed as the longest place name in the world. The official short form is กรุงเทพมหานครgrung-têep má-hǎa-ná-kawn, the name on forms and signs. The small mark at the end of กรุงเทพฯgrung-têep shows that the name is shortened; it isn't pronounced.
The English name comes from บางกอกbaang-gàwk, the old riverside settlement on the Thonburi bank, and it lives on in the names of two districts there, Bangkok Noi and Bangkok Yai.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- krung thep
- krungthep
- grung tep
- krung tep
- krung thep maha nakhon
More places in Thai
All places
Learn Thai with the free course
A complete course from your first phrase to real conversations, with audio for every word and AI speaking practice. Free, no sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones