Dzongkha language

Bhutan is also called Druk in the Bhutanese language, Dzongkha. This is related to the imaginary heavenly figure usually referred to as the "Thunder Dragon"; hence Bhutan is sometimes called "the country of the Thunder Dragon".

Historically, the dragon is associated with Tibet. When the Tibetan saint Shabdrung Nwawang Namgyal entered Bhutan, forced by rival kings to leave his kingdom in Kham, he named Bhutan as Druk. As the country was called Druk, its citizens are called Drukpa. As the country has been represented by the name "Kingdom of Bhutan", use of the term "Druk" has gradually diminished.

Today, this word is commonly used to refer the people from the northern part of the country who are of Tibeto-origin. Bhutanese refugees accuse that this identification has been created to disintegrate them from the mainstream and finally expel them. When tension grew between the northern and southern Bhutanese, some influential people from northern Bhutan widely campaigned that Drukpa does not refer to the southern Bhutanese, rather they are called Lhotsampas, which means residents of the south.

Most institutions in the country use Druk in their name such as Druk National Congress, Druknet, Druk Air etc.