Welsh Town Long Name
Summary
Tucked away on the beautiful island of Anglesey in North Wales lies a town famous not just for its charm, but for its incredibly long name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Not surprisingly, it is the longest Welsh town name and the longest Welsh word. Commonly shortened to Llanfairpwll or simply Llanfair PG, this quirky village has become a must-visit destination for curious travellers and linguists alike. Beyond its record-breaking name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll offers a glimpse into Welsh culture, history, and community spirit, making it a delightful stop on any journey through North Wales. In this Article we’ll explore the story behind its famous name, how to pronounce the name, its meaning, the village’s origins, and what makes it such a unique and beloved place.
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Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Pronunciation
A Channel 4 weatherman stunned its English language TV audience when he described the weather in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch perfectly.
Have listen to this (courtesy of Channel 4).
Phonetic Pronunciation
Here is an attempt to describe the town's pronunciation phonetically, as follows, "lan-vire-pooll-gwin-gill-go-gare-urch-wyn-drob-ooll-llan-tis-ilio-go-go-goch". The most unfamiliar letter in the town name is the letter "ll" (one letter in the Welsh alphabet!!). It's sort of similar to "clan" but with a breathy 'hl' sound. The letter "ch" is similar to same letters in a Scottish Loch, like Loch Lomond. Listen again to the weather forecaster, Liam Dutton.
Longest Name and Location
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll is a charming village on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) in North Wales. Its full name is famously long, 58 characters in total, though in Welsh it counts as 51 letters, since combinations like “Ll” and “Ch” are considered single letters. Home to just over 3,000 residents, this predominantly Welsh-speaking community sits close to the Britannia Bridge, which links mainland Wales with the island of Anglesey.
While most people shorten the name to Llanfairpwll or Llanfair PG (for obvious reasons!), you’ll still find the full version proudly displayed around the village — from the train station sign to local shops and attractions, celebrating its unique place in Welsh culture.
Llanfairpwll Map (sat nav postcode LL61 5UJ)
This postcode should take you to the iconic train station.
History of Llanfairpwll
For centuries, Llanfairpwll was a small rural settlement. In the sixteenth century there were about 50 inhabitants. By the early nineteenth century, it had grown to about 400 inhabitants in what was becoming to be known as the old town Pentre Uchaf, or Upper Village.
The twentieth century brought major changes following the construction of Thomas Telford's new road in the 1820s and the arrival of the railway crossing at Britannia Bridge in the 1850s. This led to the development of a new part of the village, which became to be known as Pentre Isaf or Lower Village .
It is believed that originally, the village was called Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll. In the beginning of the 1850’s when a railway was being built between Chester and Holyhead, the village was renamed. It is believed that the name Llanfairpwll was invented around this time by a cobbler from Menai Bridge who had the idea of combining the name of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll with that of neighbouring Llandysiliogogoch to create the longest name in the world. It is very unlikely that he had any idea as to how successful this name change would be as a tourist marketing plan!
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Meaning
It means, "Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave".
Frequently Asked Question
Is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch the longest name in the world? Well almost certainly not!!! There may be others but this name in New Zealand is often referred to as the longest place name in the world...
- Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu has 85 letters. It means “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved one” in Māori!!!
Conclusion
The Welsh town with the long name is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, on Ynys Môn (Anglesey). It is the longest word in the Welsh language and one of the longest place names in the world.