Krung Thep NOT Bangkok

You see Bangkok on maps and you hear Thai people refer to Bangkok when talking to visitors, but Thai's called this city "Krung Thep" pronounced grung-tep. It translates to something similar to "City of Angels".

Bangkok (translating as 'village of wild plums') was the original site for the capital city and was located west of the Chao Phraya river (in modern day Thonburi). In 1782, King Rama I decided to move to a more defensible site and moved across the river to found his new capital, Krung Thep.

Foreigners have not caught up with the name change and the old name of Bangkok stuck.

Krung Thep is actually an abbreviated version the ceremonial full name, which is pronounced something like:

"Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit"

It translates to:

"The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayuthaya) 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 Vishnukarn".

So now you know.