Ever heard a name so long it feels like a full sentence? From record-breaking hills to super-official country titles, some places really go the extra mile — in letters!
Think you’ve heard long names? Wait till you hear this one from New Zealand:
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
is the name of a real hill situated in New Zealand , With 85 letters, it holds the record for the longest place name in the world!
Why is the name so long?
The New Zealand hill’s name — Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu — comes from the Māori language. It roughly translates to:
The place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as the land-eater, played his flute to his beloved.
It’s actually a short story packed into a single word — a way for the Māori people to honor their ancestors and keep oral traditions alive. So, while it looks like a tongue-twister, it’s really a cultural tribute in disguise!
Now let’s talk countries…
🇬🇧 United Kingdom’s full name is:
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — that’s 56 letters!
🇰🇮 Kiribati goes with:
Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati
These names are official but rarely used in daily life. Still, they sure win the award for being super long!
So next time you struggle spelling your city’s name or filling out a form, just be glad you don’t live on a New Zealand hill with 85 letters — or have to recite a country name that sounds like a whole speech. Some places just love going big… even with their names!