What nicknames are for

The world's longest city name is 21 words long, so we call it Bangkok

Image: Martina Jorden

It’s a good thing Picasso signed his works with just his surname. His real name is so long that very few people have taken the trouble of learning it. And let’s not even get started on the full name of Bangkok –nor that of L.A.! You’d be surprised how many famous people, places, and mascots hide hilariously long titles. Get ready for a list of names that –thank goodness– got trimmed down!

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It goes on. The name is Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso. We know him as Pablo Picasso, the Spanish genius painter. He was named after a string of saints and relatives, a tradition in Spanish Catholic families.

Image: Roberto Nickson

Today, we just call it L.A. But back in 1781, when the Spanish founded this California settlement, they went with the full poetic flair: "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of Porciúncula." That mouthful of a title honored a tiny church in Italy connected to St. Francis of Assisi.

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He’s better known as Mr. Peanut, the mascot of Planters. The top hat, cane, monocle… You know him. Even though the brand has existed since 1906, it was rather recently, via Twitter, that they revealed his fitting, over-the-top name: "Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe".

Image: WikiImages

We call him Salvador Dalí, the surrealist artist who painted melted clocks and sky-high elephants. His full name, like his art, was brimming with Spanish heritage. Much like Picasso, he had to pick a nickname to sign his works without taking up half of the canvas.

Image: Alina Grubnyak

You know her as Mona Lisa, but the woman in Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait was likely Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo. The nickname "Mona" is a contraction of "Madonna," meaning "my lady," and "Gioconda" tied her to her husband.

Image: Julee Juu

To her millions of fans, she’s just Barbie. But the famous doll introduced by Mattel in 1959 actually has a full name: Barbara Millicent Roberts. Ruth Handler, her creator, gave her the first name after her daughter, and added a second name and surname along with a fictional backstory for the popular, multipotential woman.

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Trust us, you would never call it the full Swedish name. The founders knew that, so they went for the acronym "IKEA." The furniture giant’s name comprises Ingvar Kamprad’s (the founder), Elmtaryd (the name of the family farm), and Agunnaryd (his hometown).

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The real name is so long that you would probably scroll past it. But here it is: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

Did you read it? That’s the full name of Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. It roughly means "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest".

Image: Manu Ros

Legally, the university goes by "The President and Fellows of Harvard College." This colonial-era phrasing reflected the school's governance structure and its roots in British academic tradition. Over time, though, branding won. "Harvard" was shorter and much easier to print on sweatshirts.

Image: Аида Тикиева

You know her simply as Cher, but she was born Cherilyn Sarkisian. She then added her stepfather’s last name, LaPierre. As her star rose in the ’60s, first with Sonny and then solo, she dropped the frills and decided to go for the dazzling, memorable "Cher."

Image: Matt Artz

He’s the cartoon sea captain who made breakfast sugary and loud. But "Cap’n Crunch" actually has a full naval name: Horatio Magellan Crunch. It’s a mix of explorer references to give the goofy character some funny gravitas.

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It’s officially quite a mouthful, but most people simply say "Great Britain," or even just "the UK." The full name dates to 1927, after the Irish Free State split from the union. The name had to include all constituent nations.

LINGUISTIC SURPRISES

Unveiling Meanings: 10 Everyday Words With Lesser-Used Definitions

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You know, dictionaries can be hefty, and today, we're opening the cover to explore why. While some words rarely find their way into our daily conversations, others are more frequent, appearing in everyday talks and being understood by everybody. But wait! Because even these familiar words often carry hidden or rarely used definitions.

If you're curious, join us as we travel through the dictionary to rescue the lesser-known definitions of 10 words you probably use every day!

Image: Tom Pumford

We all know and adore the iconic pine trees, particularly during Christmas, when they become the stars. This type of tree is abundant in certain parts of our country, gracing places like the Rocky Mountains. But there's one lesser-known fact that many people may not be familiar with: the word "pine" can also be used as a verb.

"To pine," according to Merriam-Webster, means "to yearn intensely and persistently, especially for something unattainable." Like everybody, you have probably "pined" for love at some point, but have you ever heard this verb before?

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Oysters are not just home to beautiful pearls; there is much more about them. These mollusks also possess a powerful muscle known as the adductor, which allows them to close their shells tightly, offering protection against threatening environments.

Probably because of that fantastic characteristic, the Collins Dictionary mentions the word "oyster" can also be used to describe a "taciturn and reserved person." However, being an oyster isn't necessarily a negative attribute. Quite the contrary, these people are often very good at keeping secrets safe, much like how oysters protect their pearls!

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Used as a verb to mean "to direct or guide," the word "orient" can also surprise with its different meanings.

As a noun, "orient" denotes eastern regions relative to a specific point. Thus, it's often used to evoke the extensive lands of the Eastern Hemisphere.

But that's not all; "orient" displays its versatility across various grammatical roles. It is not only a verb and a noun, but it also glows as an adjective. In this sense, something "orient" carries a positive connotation, described by Merriam-Webster as "lustrous and sparkling." For example -returning to the fascinating oysters- "orient pearls."

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We can all agree that the word "lamp" is quite familiar, right? Most of us have some type of lamp in our homes, and there are even some lamp enthusiasts today, determined to collect antique or exotic varieties to illuminate their homes in different ways.

But did you know that the word "lamp" can also be used as a verb, with a pretty aggressive meaning? That's right! According to the Oxford Dictionary, in British English, "to lamp" means "to hit someone very hard." Have you ever witnessed someone being "lamped" in a street fight?"

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We may not have all the answers, but one thing is clear: a blink is a quick thing. In fact, the expression "in the blink of an eye" captures this perfectly, referring to something that happens suddenly and fast.

In addition to its conventional meaning, the term "blink" has a lesser-known use as a verb, but not in the way you might expect. As Merriam-Webster points out, "to blink" can also mean "to yield or give in." So, if you want to learn all the meanings in the dictionary, don't blink now!

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Ah, the tender instants in life. From petting your dog to holding hands with someone special, these moments move us all, right? However, the word "tender" can also lead to unexpected places. Take, for example, a letter of resignation. But how can that be related to "tender"? Well, let's see.

It turns out that one of the meanings of this word, when used as a verb, is "to give, present, or offer something formally." For example, as we said, to tender a letter of resignation. So, the next time you need to speak formally, remember this word!

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It turns out that the word "bond" represents more than just a social or chemical connection.

Maybe when you read "Bond," it reminds you of the famous shaken, not stirred Martini. But in the world of whiskey, it takes on a different meaning. Merriam-Webster defines "bond" not only as a connection between people or atoms; there is also something called "bonded whiskey," "a 100-proof straight whiskey aged at least four years under government supervision before being bottled."

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Commonly used to refer to small discussions about unimportant issues, the word "bicker" also hides other meanings.

According to Merriam-Webster, used as a verb, the word "bicker" can also mean "to quiver or flicker," similar to the dance of a candle flame or the soft movements of tree leaves in the breeze. If you like poetry, you have probably read this word in a poem. If not, why don't you try creating a verse with this beautiful term?

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Whether it's an ankle after a tough game or legs after a long flight, both situations may be accompanied by the word "swollen" or "swell."

But wait, there's more about this word. It has another, more glamorous meaning, popular in the early 20th century. According to the dictionary, "swell" can also be used as an adjective to describe something or someone as "stylish." Do you see yourself adding this old-school style to your vocabulary?

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Jugs and vases have been among humans for thousands of years. If you wander through the halls of art and history museums, you will surely find some varieties of jugs. And think about your own house. You probably have one proudly displayed on a shelf or in a corner. Maybe it's a new piece you recently purchased, or perhaps it's a treasure inherited from your grandma.

But the word "jug" can also be used as a verb, did you know that? That's right! "Jug" also refers to a method of cooking, specifically "to stew (something, such as a hare) in an earthenware vessel."