hypocorism

Meaning

1. (countable) A term of endearment, often a diminutive; a pet name.
2. (uncountable) The formation of terms of endearment or pet names.
3. (rare, uncountable) Baby talk, such as bow-wow for dog and choo-choo for train.

Synonyms

pet name

nickname

hypocoristic

street name

Translations

hypocoristique

hipocorístico

hipocorístico

hipocorístic

hypokorisma

ipocoristico

υποκοριστικό

υποκόρισμα

Hypokoristikum

koosnaam

koosnaampje

Lallname

hypokorisme

Pronounced as (IPA)

/haɪˈpɒkəˌɹɪz(ə)m/

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin hypocorisma, a loan from Ancient Greek ὑποκόρισμα (hupokórisma), ὑποκορισμός (hupokorismós, “pet name”), from ὑποκορίζεσθαι (hupokorízesthai), ὑποκορίζομαι (hupokorízomai, “to use a pet name; to act in a childish manner”), from ῠ̔πο- (hŭpo-, prefix indicating a small degree) + κορίζομαι (korízomai, “to caress”) (from κόρος (kóros, “boy; youth”), κόρη (kórē, “girl; young woman”)).