<p>I don't think there is a universal prefix equivalent to 小 or 阿. Certainly you can add 'Little', but that's not a prefix, but an adjective. </p>

<p>In the West, nicknames follow different patterns, mainly using the first syllable of the full name and adding an <code>[i]</code> (<em>-ie</em>, <em>-y</em> or similar):</p>

<p>E.g. John --> Johnnie, Andrew ---> Andy, Lisa ---> Lizzy, etc.</p>

<p>Other countries have similar fashions, adding <em>-(e)tte</em> [French], <em>-chen</em>, <em>-le</em> [German, with some regional differences], <em>-ito</em>,<em>-ita</em> [Spanish] <em>-ka</em>, <em>-ška</em>, <em>-čka</em>, <em>-ek</em>, (Czech and other Slavic with different spellings).  </p>

<p>Some nicknames are completely different from the formal given name, e.g. Richard --> Dick. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-18T06:21:13.557Z
2015-06-18T06:51:50.677Z
2015-06-18T06:51:50.677Z
imrek
<p>Are there any equivalent or similar prefixes or nicknames for 阿 or 小 (added in front of a name in Chinese) in English?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-21T05:50:23.927Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because this is not about Chinese language.
NS.X.
<equivalent-phrase>
Prefix equivalents in English?
# Prefix equivalents in English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-18)

Are there any equivalent or similar prefixes or nicknames for 阿 or 小 (added in front of a name in Chinese) in English?

**Tags:** equivalent-phrase

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because this is not about Chinese language.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-06-18. Score: 4

I don't think there is a universal prefix equivalent to 小 or 阿. Certainly you can add 'Little', but that's not a prefix, but an adjective.

In the West, nicknames follow different patterns, mainly using the first syllable of the full name and adding an `[i]` (*-ie*, *-y* or similar):

E.g. John --> Johnnie, Andrew ---> Andy, Lisa ---> Lizzy, etc.

Other countries have similar fashions, adding *-(e)tte* [French], *-chen*, *-le* [German, with some regional differences], *-ito*,*-ita* [Spanish] *-ka*, *-ška*, *-čka*, *-ek*, (Czech and other Slavic with different spellings).

Some nicknames are completely different from the formal given name, e.g. Richard --> Dick.


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