Bangkok
/ˈbæŋ.kɒk/noun
The capital and largest city of Thailand.
Did you know?The name likely comes from Thai บางกอก (Bang Kōk), where บาง (bang) means a village or settlement by water and กอก/มะกอก refers to a type of olive or plum-like tree, showing how place names can preserve vanished landscapes.
Etymological Timeline
Old Thai / Early Tai
Thai
bang
“A riverside village or settlement, especially one along a waterway”
Old Thai / Early Tai
Thai
kok
“Likely a tree name, often glossed as a wild olive or plum tree”
17th Century
Thai
Bang Kok
“A local place name for a settlement by the water near the tree”
18th Century
Thai
Krung Thep
“The formal royal name for the capital, meaning 'City of Angels'”
Modern English
English
Bangkok
“The English name for Thailand’s capital city”