Definition

A special name used to show affection, often a nickname or term of endearment.

Example

She called her cat by a hypocorism that made everyone smile.

Conversation

I just found out that my friend uses a lot of hypocorism with her pets.

That's cute! I love when people have special names for their animals.

Yeah, it makes their relationship feel more personal, doesn't it?

Absolutely! Those little nicknames can really show how much they care.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hypocorism is formed from "hypo-" (meaning under or less) and "koros" (from Greek, meaning child or boy). The term refers to a pet name or affectionate diminutive, often used for children, suggesting a name that is 'less than' or 'under' the formal name.

Memory Tip

Think of 'under' ('hypo-') and 'child' ('koros') to remember that hypocorism refers to a term of endearment or a diminutive name often used for children.

Visually Confused Words