What does bangkok mean?
Bangkok is the capital and largest city of Thailand, lying on the Chao Phraya River near the Gulf of Thailand. With a population of over eight million in the city proper and far more in its wider metropolitan region, it is the country's undisputed centre of government, commerce, and culture. Founded in 1782 as the seat of the new Chakri dynasty, the city grew around the Grand Palace and its network of canals, earning the nickname 'Venice of the East'. Today it blends gleaming skyscrapers with centuries-old Buddhist temples such as Wat Arun and Wat Pho, and it ranks among the world's most visited cities for tourism. In English usage Bangkok functions simply as a proper noun — always capitalized and never pluralized — though Thai speakers more commonly refer to it by the shorter official name Krung Thep, meaning 'City of Angels'.
nounThe capital and largest city of Thailand, situated on the Chao Phraya River in the country's central plain. A major political, economic, and cultural centre of Southeast Asia.
- The capital city of Thailand.
"They spent three days exploring the temples of Bangkok before travelling north to Chiang Mai."
"Bangkok is home to more than eight million people."
"Her connecting flight to Sydney stopped overnight in Bangkok."
Thais rarely call their capital 'Bangkok' — the everyday name is Krung Thep, 'City of Angels', while the full ceremonial name is the longest place name in the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bangkok
The name derives from Thai: 'bang' refers to a village or district on a waterway, and 'kok' is commonly understood as the local wild plum (or similar) tree, giving an original sense along the lines of 'village of the plum groves'. When King Rama I established his new capital at the site in 1782, the settlement's old village name was retained in Western usage, while Thais came to favour the honorific name Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, 'Great City of Angels'. The English spelling 'Bangkok' has been standard since at least the nineteenth century.
How bangkok is actually used
Always capitalized as a proper noun; never pluralized or used attributively as a generic place word. In Thai official usage the city is formally known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon ('Great City of Angels'), so English texts sometimes mention this alongside the name Bangkok.