What is the city with the most contracted name? That is, which city originally had the longest name, but whose name was shortened the most either officially or colloquially?
For example: El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula became Los Angeles, and is commonly referred to as L.A.
In the U.S. you may have already named the record holder (though no doubt there are other contenders).
Worldwide, the winner is Krungthepmahanakhon Amornrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, which translates into English as “The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated God, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.” It’s more often known as “Place of Plums” or in English “Bangkok.”
One night in Bangkog…
… Is how long it takes to say its official name!
Thanks.
How about the most expanded? Enterprising Victorians extended Llanfairpwllgwyngyll to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch as a publicity stunt.
New Orleans, Louisiana, gets contracted to NOLA, which beats out Los Angeles, CA.
But not El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula = L.A. 