Bangkok formally renamed ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’
In this day and age, there are many new words born and added in the lexicon.
Most of them are widely used on social media by netizens, and it’s amazing how quickly so many people can subconsciously retain the meanings of new words.
While it’s trendy and fun to use new words, certain lexical items that are so ingrained within cultures may need to be introduced a little differently than new slang. For example, a city’s name.
Here’s the update how ‘Bangkok’ was recently renamed ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’.
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ORST declares new word for Thailand’s capital city
On 16th February 2022, the Office of the Royal Society (ORST) announced on its Facebook page, สำนักงานราชบัณฑิตยสภา, that ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’ will now be the official name of Thailand’s capital city, in place of the former name, ‘Bangkok’.
The announcement of the updated name was issued online following the approval on the changed name of of countries, territories, administrative zones and capitals during the Cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday 15th February 2022, according to Krungthep Turakit.
Image credit: สำนักงานราชบัณฑิตยสภา
The announcement also stated that the former name ‘Bangkok’ is to be used in parentheses after ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’.
Netizens prefer Bangkok
After the official declaration, many netizens shared their thoughts on the issue. Many of them stated that they prefer ‘Bangkok’ to ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’.
Screenshot: Krungthep Turakit
Translation: Too long.
One netizen commented that the new name is too long.
Screenshot: Krungthep Turakit
Translation: Use Bangkok as usual, please.
Another netizen asked officials to use Bangkok as opposed to the new name.
Screenshot: Krungthep Turakit
Translation: Am I the only one who thought that the change of the name may be related to superstitious beliefs?
While other netizens preferred Bangkok, one Facebook user believed that the change of the name is associated with superstition.
Following netizens’ feedback on the changed name, the government then decided to use both ‘Bangkok’ and ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’ as the official names of Thailand’s capital city, as reported by Dailynews.
Reasons behind the name change
Whether we agree with the change of the capital city’s name from ‘Bangkok’ to ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’ or not, we believe that there must be reasons why the government had to change the official name.
Perhaps it may be associated with superstitious belief as one netizen suggested. Whatever it is, we’ll be sure to report it to you as soon as we find out, too.
‘Till then, feel free to use ‘Bangkok’ and ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’ interchangeably.
Cover images adapted from (L-R): ฺBRIGHTtv, สำนักงานราชบัณฑิตยสภา
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