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volume 4, issue 7, 2025
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NICKNAMES AND THEIR FEATURES
Nazarov Ziyoviddin Muhammadrasul ugli
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Fergana Academic Lyceum
Abstract:
Nicknames and their specific features are explained in the article.
Key words:
language, nicknames, word, features, linguistics.
Just as the cultures of the peoples of the world are different, people have different living
conditions and living standards. Similarly, they have different mentality and character.
Uzbek culture and manners are very different from English culture. This is especially evident
when it comes to nicknames. Because in the English culture, nicknames, that is, nicknames, are
considered normal and mean a friendly relationship, but in the Uzbek cultural system, this is a
sign of a very inappropriate and rude relationship.
Nicknames have many types according to their structure. Including:
- Nicknames for people;
- Nicknames for animals;
- Inanimate objects are divided into nicknames for buildings and structures.
In English culture, a person's nickname is recognized as a middle name and it is called "Nickname".
A nickname is often used between intimates and has an informal tone.
In England, some nicknames are traditionally associated with a person's surname. A person with the
last name "Clark" gets the nickname "Nobby": The last name "Miller" gets the nickname "Dusty"
(referring to the flour dust of the miller at work): The last name "Adams" gets the nickname
"Nabby." There are several other nicknames traditionally associated with a person's surname,
including Chalky White, Bunny Warren, Tug Wilson, and Spud Baker. Other English nicknames
refer to a person's origin.
In English, as in other languages, there are common nicknames for people based on their
appearance or behavior. These are not unique nicknames that people get from family or friends
based on their personality. Instead, they are generic nicknames that can be applied to anyone with
similar physical or personality characteristics (such as hair color, div shape, interaction style).
Some of these nicknames can be considered offensive, while others are neutral or cute. Often these
nicknames are not used when talking directly to a person, on the contrary, such nicknames are used
more often in the third person, but sometimes in the second person.
Let's take a look at these English nicknames based on looks and personality. For future reference,
let's take a look at which of these nicknames are neutral, positive, or negative (i.e. offensive).
Nicknames based on physical characteristics or appearance:
beanpole
– someone who is tall and thin (neutral)
blondie
– a person with blond hair (neutral)
bones
– a very skinny person (neutral/negative)
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chubs
– a person who is overweight (negative)
fatso
– a person who is overweight (negative)
four-eyes
– a person who wears glasses (negative)
red
– a person with red hair (neutral)
shorty
– a short person (neutral)
slim
– a person who is thin (neutral)
small-fry
– someone who is small in size (neutral/negative)
Nicknames based on personality or interaction style:
Average Joe
– a person who is very “normal” or lives a typical life (neutral)
chatterbox
– a person who talks a lot (negative)
Debbie Downer
– someone who is negative or depressive to be around (negative)
Einstein
– a very smart person (neutral/positive/negative – depending on the context)
Nervous Nellie
– a person who is very cautious and often worried (neutral/negative)
moneybags
– someone with a lot of money (neutral)
We can also see that some English names are shortened and used as nicknames. It can be
shortened to "Ed" for Edward, "Nick" for Nicholas, and "Ally" for Allison.
In the Uzbek language, nicknames are given to people based on their appearance, defects and
shortcomings, or as a result of their achievements, while in English, nicknames are chosen based on
their personal freedom, and it is far from insulting and humiliating. In the Uzbek language, it is
mainly based on discrimination and laughing at defects, and in rare cases based on personal
individual achievements and levels of intelligence.
In the Uzbek language, the term kulak is sometimes used as a nickname. A nickname is a personal
term, a nickname chosen by a person for a certain activity.
Nicknames for animals do not have a big difference in all countries and their cultures. The
nicknames given to animals are based on their external structure, size and appearance.
Names given to inanimate objects, buildings and structures are mainly comparative and glorifying,
and are referred to in a portable and literal sense. Such names can be used for cities, villages and
regions.
Any onomastic unit arises due to the need for a certain designation, in turn, nicknames also arose
due to such a need.
Nicknames are given to a person by those around him for different purposes, depending on
different characteristics.
Nicknames are used for various purposes depending on a person's profession, interests, character,
appearance, speech, clothing, voice, abilities, shortcomings, and achievements.
In conclusion, to summarize what has been said, I would like to emphasize that no matter how
unique, cute, funny or even amazing the nickname is, try to address the person by name. Just
people, cool nicknames will always be just fictitious names. A nickname is an acquired, informal
name for adults or children. He often perceives the real qualities and characteristics of a person,
not the desired ones. It emphasizes the special meaning of these qualities and characteristics for
others. It is a noticeable feature of appearance or activity. Nicknames exist as a social
phenomenon, we can talk about the system of nicknames. They can be different: emphasizing
social activism, being a way of mocking and even insulting, showing sympathy and being a
means of insult. Parents and teenagers are the most active in this direction.
LIST OF REFERENCES:
1. Begmatov E. Names and people. – Tashkent: Fan. 1972.
2. Jonibekova D. Problems of Uzbek literary criticism and linguistics on some stylistic features
of nicknames. Samarkand. 2010
3. From the National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan (2000-2005)
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4. https://mpradist.ru/uz/chto-takoe-prozvishche-klichka-kakoe-laskovoesmeshnoe-miloe-
prozvishche-pridumat.html
5. https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laqab
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how-to-come-up-with-a-nickname/
7. https://02stroy.ru/uz/kozyrki-i-navesy/klassnye-niki-na-angliiskom-dlyaparnei-psevdonimy-
dlya-devushek.html
8. https://valenteshop.ru/uz/angliiskie-niki-s-perevodom-dlya-parneiprikolnye-i-krasivye-niki/
9. https://dinelli.ru/uz/bolezni/derzkie-niki-dlya-parnei-na-angliiskompsevdonimy-dlya-
devushek-krasivye.html
10. https://uz.eferrit.com/taxallus/
