Valerie Hu
Why Bill is short for William? Kate is for Katherine, that I get, but Bill for William? Really William? Bill sounds nothing like William. This has bugging me for quite some time, need the answer now, waiting online.
2015年8月23日 17:28
回答 · 12
4
In the 13-14th century, for whatever reason, it was popular to switch a letter in the name for another. So William, or Will, became Bill. Richard, or Rich, became Dich or commonly just spelled Dick. It's kinda weird, but it just stuck
2015年8月23日
1
Jon's answer is interesting. I have to say that there are many nicknames in English that don't seem to follow any logical rules, and I don't think there's any answer except to say "it's so." Sometimes what will happen is that some person has an unusual nickname--a common explanation is that it is the way their little brother or sister mispronounced it--and then they become famous and people imitate it. Some very common nicknames without obvious logical explanations: "Peggy" for "Margaret" "Daisy" for "Margaret" "Sally" for "Sarah" "Hal" for "Harold" "Hank" for "Henry" "Sukie" for "Susan" "Polly" for "Mary"
2015年8月23日
Maybe because the B and the W sounds are both made using the lips. We go for what's clear and easy.
2015年8月23日
oh right, I forgot to ask that! I mean who would choose to be named dick? For what I learned so far, dick is not a very good word, in most cases.
2015年8月23日
If you think that is weird, how about "Dick" being short for "Richard"?
2015年8月23日
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