The second longest place name in the world can be found in Wales. It consists of 58 letters and is quite challenging to pronounce!
The world is full of amazing and peculiar places, from streets like Virgin Street and Bucket of Blood Street to those that test your lung capacity.
In this article, we will be exploring the world’s lengthiest place names. However, before you attempt to pronounce them, we advise that you take a deep breath and have a large glass of water.
Let’s dive into the list!
Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarrea
Spain takes fifth place with this 39-letter name that translates to “The low field of high pen of Azpilkueta.” It is located in Azpilkueta, Navarra, which is one of the greenest regions in Europe with over 70% of its electricity coming from renewable sources.
Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein
Coming in fourth place with 44 letters is a farm located in the North West Province of South Africa. It means “The spring where two buffaloes were cleanly killed with a single shot” in Afrikaans and holds the title for the longest one-word place name in Africa.
Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg
The US takes third place with this 45-letter name which is the longest official one-word place name in the United States. Lake Chaubunagungamaug, its more common name, is located in Webster, Massachusetts and means “Fishing Place at the Boundaries – Neutral Meeting Grounds” in the Nipmuck language.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Wales comes in second place with this 58-letter location, also known as Llanfair PG or Llanfairpwll. It is Europe’s longest place name and translates to “Saint Mary’s Church in a hollow of white hazel near the swirling whirlpool of the church of Saint Tysilio with a red cave” in Welsh.
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
New Zealand takes the top spot with this astonishing 85-letter name. It is located on the North Island and is shortened to Taumata. In Māori, it means “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower who traveled about, played his nose flute to his loved one.”
According to Guinness World Records, this is officially the longest place name in the world.
Taumata is mentioned in many songs and popular culture, such as Quantum Jump’s “The Lone Ranger” and even a Mountain Dew commercial jingle.
So next time you complain about entering long addresses, think about the Kiwis who have to type in their favorite picnic spot at the top of Tamatea or the Welsh people catching a train in Llanfair PG.
Personally, I won’t complain unless the address is longer than the alphabet. Perhaps that should be a new rule.
There are undoubtedly many more place names that are incredibly long, but you have to draw the line somewhere, and anything less than 35 characters doesn’t seem nearly as massive as 85!
FAQ
1. What is the longest place name in the world?
The longest place name in the world is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu. This 85-letter word is the name of a hill in New Zealand and it 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 nose flute to his loved one.”
2. What is the second longest place name in the world?
The second longest place name in the world is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. This 58-letter word is the name of a village in Wales and it translates to “St Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave.”
3. What is the third longest place name in the world?
The third longest place name in the world is Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. This 45-letter word is the name of a lake in Massachusetts, United States and it translates to “You fish on your side, I fish on my side, and nobody fishes in the middle.”
4. What is the fourth longest place name in the world?
The fourth longest place name in the world is Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein. This 44-letter word is the name of a farm in South Africa and it translates to “The spring where two buffaloes were shot dead with one shot.”
5. What is the fifth longest place name in the world?
The fifth longest place name in the world is Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarrea. This 39-letter word is the name of a hill in Spain and it translates to “The hill where the oak trees grow at the top.”
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.