I already did a quick google because I don’t get it, but the explanation didn’t help. Obviously, Dave for David, Liz for Elizabeth, Mike for Michael, etc… make sense. But Jezza? For Jeremy?
You stop at the R and change if to a Z. Barry = Baz, Darren = Daz, Carol = Caz etc etc. Because British English is non rhotic, it doesn’t work if we stop at the R (like USAians can say “Gar” for Gary) so the z sound gets used instead, because it’s pretty close.
Then the A gets added if you’re being extra friendly or cute, a bit like Michael > Mike > Mikey. Gareth becomes Gary becomes Gaz becomes Gazza.
Make sense?
Yeah, I voted for Jezza but I saw this coming. While I wanted the Tories out, I couldn’t bring myself to vote for red Tories to replace them.
This is exactly the same shit they were pulling back in the Blair days.
Ok off topic, but why call Jeremy “Jezza”?
I already did a quick google because I don’t get it, but the explanation didn’t help. Obviously, Dave for David, Liz for Elizabeth, Mike for Michael, etc… make sense. But Jezza? For Jeremy?
Make it make sense.
You stop at the R and change if to a Z. Barry = Baz, Darren = Daz, Carol = Caz etc etc. Because British English is non rhotic, it doesn’t work if we stop at the R (like USAians can say “Gar” for Gary) so the z sound gets used instead, because it’s pretty close.
Then the A gets added if you’re being extra friendly or cute, a bit like Michael > Mike > Mikey. Gareth becomes Gary becomes Gaz becomes Gazza.
Make sense?
I don’t think many of us USAians would drop the y and say Gar, but I get where you’re coming from.
From the Midwest and I can confirm we drop the Y, Gar Bear is a common funny nickname for the Gary in your life
well, what do I know.