name
Common
Phil
fihl
Phil (name) means a short form of the masculine given name Philip. Example: “His friends just call him Phil.”
name
1
A short form of the masculine given name Philip.
"His friends just call him Phil."
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Etymology
Shortened from Philip, ultimately from Greek Φίλιππος (Phílippos), "lover of horses".
Frequently asked questions
What does “Phil” mean?
The word “Phil” means a short form of the masculine given name Philip.
How do you pronounce “Phil”?
“Phil” is pronounced fihl (/fɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Phil” in a sentence?
Here is “Phil” used in a sentence: “His friends just call him Phil.”
What part of speech is “Phil”?
“Phil” is a name.
Where does the word “Phil” come from?
The word “Phil” comes from Greek. Shortened from Philip, ultimately from Greek Φίλιππος (Phílippos), "lover of horses".
Is “Phil” a common word?
“Phil” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What names is Phil short for?
Phil is most commonly a short form of the masculine name Philip, also spelled Phillip. It can occasionally serve as a short form of related names such as Philippa, though Pip and Pippa are the more usual short forms there.
Is Phil spelled with one L or two?
The short form is always Phil, with one "l." Confusion usually comes from the full name, which has two accepted spellings: Philip with one "l" and Phillip with two.
Is Phil used as a name in its own right?
Yes. Although Phil began as a short form of Philip, many people use it as their everyday name, and it sometimes appears as a registered given name on its own.
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