我們都熟悉英文名字的正常縮寫、簡稱,如 Frederick 縮寫變成 Fred,Albert 縮寫變成 Al,Matthew 簡稱為 Matt。然而,英文裡面其實有衆多名字,不是把尾巴就去掉的如此簡單。
Elizabeth 簡稱 Beth, 讀久了,也可以變成 Buff, 最後,演變成 Buffy。也就是說,Beth、Buff、Buffy,都是 Elizabeth 的簡稱。Elizabeth 這個名字很古老了,所以 Eli、Ely、Eliza、Liz、Lisa、似乎都可以做簡稱。英國現任女皇 Elizabeth II(二世),小名就是 Lilibet。看來,名字是人取的,無需跟教科書~!
女性名:
Sarah = Sally
Helen = Nell = Nellie
Mary = Molly = Polly
Margaret = Marg = Mag = Meg = Meggy = Peggy
Margaret 也可以= Daisy (因爲法文 daisy 花,是 Marguerite)
Martha = Math = Matty = Patty = Patsy
Ellen = “mine Ellen” = “mine Elly” = Nelly
Anne = “mine Anne” = Nan = Nanny = Nansy = Nancy
Josephine = Josie = Posy
男性名:
Gerald = Jerry
Charles = Chuck
Henry = Hank = Harry
Richard = Rick = Dick (現在叫 Dick 的越來越少了,因爲另外的意思是鷄鷄)
Robert = Bob
William = Bill
Edward = “mine Edward” = “mine Ed” = Ned
Edward 也可以= Ed = Ted = Teddy
Andrew = Andy (劉德華)
jack 所以小名是 jacky