The longest place name in the world belongs to a small hill in New Zealand called Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu—85 letters long. It’s a Maori name that roughly translates to “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his koauau flute to his loved one.” It’s not just a name—it’s an entire story carved into geography.
For everyday use, locals call it Taumata Hill or simply “the hill.” But the full name is very real, very official, and very much on maps and road signs in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand’s North Island.
The Full Name, Broken Down
Full name (85 letters):
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
| Detail | Information |
| Letter count | 85 letters (official Guinness World Record holder) |
| Location | Porangahau, Hawke’s Bay, North Island, New Zealand |
| Language | Maori (indigenous language of New Zealand) |
| Meaning | Describes the legendary chief Tamatea playing a nose flute for his beloved on the hilltop |
| Nickname | Taumata Hill (used locally) |
| Pronunciation tip | TAU-ma-ta-fa-ka-tan-gi-han-ga-KOH-au-au-o-ta-ma-tea…(usually shortened) |
Why Does This Place Have Such a Long Name?
In Maori culture, place names often carry deep historical and spiritual significance. They’re not just labels – they’re records. This particular name commemorates a specific event: the legendary Maori chief Tamatea Pokai Whenua, who travelled widely and was known for his grief-stricken playing of the koauau (a traditional flute) for a loved one on this hilltop.
Oral cultures often encode history into language. With no written records, the name itself becomes the memory. That’s why Maori place names tend to be so descriptive and, in this case, so extraordinarily long.
Top 10 Longest Place Names in the World
| # | Place Name (Shortened) | Country | Letters / Notes |
| 1 | Taumatawhakatangi… (Taumata Hill) | New Zealand | 85 letters – Guinness World Record holder |
| 2 | Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch | Wales, UK | 58 letters – a village on the island of Anglesey |
| 3 | Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg | USA (Massachusetts) | 45 letters – a lake with a Nipmuc name |
| 4 | Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein | South Africa | 44 letters – an Afrikaans name for a farm |
| 5 | Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarrea | Spain (Basque) | 39 letters – a Basque farmhouse name |
| 6 | Pekwachnamaykoskwaskwaypinwanik Lake | Canada (Manitoba) | 31 letters – a Cree language lake name |
| 7 | Bovenkarspel-Grootebroek | Netherlands | 24 letters – a railway station name |
| 8 | Krungthepmahanakhon… (Bangkok) | Thailand | 168 letters – the full ceremonial name of Bangkok |
| 9 | Mamungkukumpurangkuntjunya Hill | Australia | 31 letters – an Aboriginal Pitjantjatjara name |
| 10 | Ssugnyrynkku / Dolgoprudhnensky | Russia | Various long names in Siberian regions |
Special Mention: Bangkok’s Ceremonial Name
If you count ceremonial and official full names, Bangkok has a case for the longest place name ever created – 168 letters in Thai, beginning with “Krungthepmahanakhon…” It was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for longest city name. Thai students traditionally memorize it as a point of cultural pride.
In practice, Thais simply call their capital “Krung Thep” (City of Angels). Nobody writes the full name on an envelope.
The Welsh Village That Put Itself on the Map
The Welsh village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (yes, all 58 letters) is probably the most famous long place name outside New Zealand. Here’s a fun detail: its extreme name was deliberately created in the 19th century as a publicity stunt to attract tourists to the island of Anglesey.
It worked. The village now has a famous railway station with one of the longest signs in the world. Tourists visit specifically to be photographed next to it. A marketing gimmick became a permanent part of geographic identity – and local businesses still benefit from it today.
Why Long Place Names Exist
- Oral history preservation: Indigenous cultures encoded historical events, people, and stories directly into place names.
- Compound languages: Languages like Welsh, Finnish, and Basque naturally form long words by combining smaller elements.
- Deliberate creation: Some names were intentionally made long for tourism, publicity, or political reasons.
- Descriptive tradition: Many cultures named places based on what happened there, what it looked like, or who lived there – in full, detailed sentences.
Final Thought
Place names are living history. The 85-letter hill in New Zealand isn’t just an oddity – it’s a story about grief, music, and a man who walked the length of a country. The Welsh village’s mouthful of a name built a local economy. Bangkok’s ceremonial title is a poem about the city’s divine importance.
Long place names are reminders that language isn’t just communication – it’s memory. And some memories deserve every single letter.