Monday, April 17, 2006

World's Longest Place Name

This post is a result of something in yesterday's comments (and also a result of me going off on a tangent). According to this article, the world's longest place name is in Thailand. However, the name that's officially in the Guiness Book of Records is from NZ, being:

Tetaumatawhakatangihangakoauaotamateaurehaeaturipukapihimaungahoronuku pokaiwhenuaakitanarahu

Translated as:


The place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed mountains, known as land eater, played his flute to his loved one.


This name is apparently being challenged by the Welsh, who claim that
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is actually the longest place name.

What is my point? Nothing really. I just thought it was interesting. I dare one of you to use any one of these names in a book. *g*

5 comments:

Shelli Stevens said...

Holy shnikey's! There's a word that long? Let alone a place? eek!

Nalini Singh said...

Lol, Milady. Can you imagine what the spellcheck would suggest for it?

Hey Shelli :) - The funny thing is, these long-name places tend to be small towns!

Jade L Blackwater said...

I would only dare to use one of these in a book if I could learn to correctly pronounce them! Imagine being at a reading somewhere, and finding myself unable to properly pronounce and define a name or word!!! YIKES!

Cyn Bagley said...

Yep... I have the same worries as Jib... so I make sure that I can at least read my writings. LOL

Anonymous said...

WOAH! this post made me smile.

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