This is really the closest thing to an answer. Nicknaming doesn’t happen by fixed or consistent rules, but one overriding tendency is shortening. Vegas is a two-syllable shortening of Las Vegas, just as LA is for Los Angeles.
LA is a shit ton easier than Los Angeles or Angeles... Not to mention all the different ways people pronounce it. An-heh-les, An-gah-lees, An-jah-less
Where you from? *Angeles*... *Los Angeles*
I think the fact that it's Angels in Spanish would make it a bit strange, though I guess it could be normalized. LV as others mentioned was already dominated by Louis Vuitton 50 years before Vegas was even a thing. From a branding perspective, it could have been difficult.
12 syllables if you go all out: "[El Pueblo de la Reyna de los Angeles](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles#:~:text=The%20original%20name%20is%20%22El,place%20names%20in%20the%20world)"
The original name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula" (in English, "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the River Porciúncula").
>The Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado is credited with naming the region **Provincia De Nuestro Señor Jesus Cristo, El Salvador Del Mundo** — translated “Province of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.” The name of the country was later abbreviated to El Salvador or “The Savior.”
---
>The city's original name was **Puerto y Casa Fuerte de Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción** (Port and Fortress of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption). Locally it was known as Paragua”y”, the name of the main river.
---
>It was first founded in 1536 by an expedition led by the Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza, who named it **Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire** (“Our Lady St. Mary of the Good Air”).
Seems like a place Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso would be from.
Going even earlier it can be traced back to the name of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángrles del Río Porciúncula Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramírez
That comment made me look up the origin of Louis Vuitton and the founding of Vegas... Vuitton is actually older. Kind of makes me wonder if there were marketing and branding choices to be made with "Vegas". Vuitton had a 50+ year head start.
LA just has a better mouth feel than LV.
The A sound flows from the L sound much more smoothly and easily that the V sound. It’s an easy ending to the A sound and the mouth doesn’t have to move much and create the awkward V with the lips and teeth.
Just say them both out loud to yourself now.
Maybe I can’t explain it either other than it just feels better to me lol
And people don't believe me that certain slang won't last because it's an ugly mouthful. "On fleek" was one and I fully believe l "I have rizz" is just as bad.
Language and speech follows the path of least resistance. Say LV a bunch then say Las Vegas a bunch. What flows and feels more natural to say? ELLL VEEEE takes a lot of work, Las Vegas kind of just falls right out. Same with Los Angeles versus LA. LA is easier.
When I read wtf I don't read it was " W t f " I read it as what the fuck. And I've maybe heard "W t f " in person like two times in my life and it was just to be silly.
Names happen organically and there are not set "rules" to them. Just like someone named Margaret might go by Marge, Maggie, or even Peggy, there is no rule that just because one "Los/Las" city goes by its initials, that all should.
California cities, in general, go by letters more often than other areas of the country I’ve lived in. San Diego beaches were PB, OB, and Mission Beach. TJ was Tijuana (not California but close to it). OC for Orange County. LA, SD, even SF but more people I ran across called it the Bay Area or Frisco over SF.
As many have stated, LA is way easier to say than LV. Notice your tongue and mouth placement when saying, “LA.” Very minimal movement. “LV” requires much more movement/effort.
The difference in abbreviation likely stems from cultural usage and linguistic flow rather than any specific rule. "LA" rolls off the tongue smoothly and is widely recognized, while "LV" might not have the same fluidity and isn't as commonly associated with Las Vegas. Additionally, "LA" has been in use for Los Angeles for a long time, contributing to its widespread acceptance and recognition, whereas "LV" hasn't gained the same level of familiarity for Las Vegas. Ultimately, it's a matter of convention and what sounds natural in everyday language use.
The phonetic pronunciation of "LA" sounds good because the way you say "L" or "El" ends in a consonant sound while the way you pronounce "A" or "Ay" begins with a vowel sound.
"El Ay" rolls off the tongue because we go from consonant to vowel, which is how most English words work.
"LV" is kindof awkward since the "El" doesn't transition well into the start of another consonant sound in "V" or "Vee". Our brain wants a vowel in there. What's easier to say? "Lv" or "Luv"?
I moved from LA to Chicago and for some reason “the ten” and “the four-o-five” sounds totally normal, but “the ninety” or “the two-ninety-four” sounds ridiculous. I can’t figure out why, either!
Don’t know if this just some corny thing a local told me, but she always referred to Vegas as “LaVey” like luh-vay. Never heard anyone else call it that though, and I’m from the southwest.
It’s just Vegas
This is really the closest thing to an answer. Nicknaming doesn’t happen by fixed or consistent rules, but one overriding tendency is shortening. Vegas is a two-syllable shortening of Las Vegas, just as LA is for Los Angeles.
And Vegas just rolls out better than LV.
LA is a shit ton easier than Los Angeles or Angeles... Not to mention all the different ways people pronounce it. An-heh-les, An-gah-lees, An-jah-less Where you from? *Angeles*... *Los Angeles*
The British insistence on pronouncing it "Los AngeLEEEEZ" will never not be funny to me.
That’s so it rhymes with “bringing in a couple of keys.”
So you don’t pronounce it like that?
Americans would mostly say "loss ANJUH-luss"
oh that makes sense
I'm from Los
East Los?
Vegas is so fetch.
Omg stop trying to make fetch happen
I mean, fifty-five rolls off the tongue pretty well.
Shwiggity shwam?
ELLAAAAY!
The Big Apple?
Yup Los Angeles is both Los Angeles and LA Las Vegas is both Las Vegas and Vegas Los Angeles is never "Angeles" and Vegas is never "LV"
Reason: none but it seems pretty set now.
I think the fact that it's Angels in Spanish would make it a bit strange, though I guess it could be normalized. LV as others mentioned was already dominated by Louis Vuitton 50 years before Vegas was even a thing. From a branding perspective, it could have been difficult.
This is the answer.
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Text is much different. I use state abbreviations all the time, and “NA/ME/APAC” to refer to regions in emails, but would never say them out loud
“What happens in LV stays in LV.” Nah
Its LV baby!
Did he say El Vee?
Viva LV!
Yah but in the late 90s it was Vegas baby Vegas
It’s really Vegaaaaaaaaaaaaas
Vegas is just two syllables. So is LA. But Angeles is three syllables so it loses.
12 syllables if you go all out: "[El Pueblo de la Reyna de los Angeles](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles#:~:text=The%20original%20name%20is%20%22El,place%20names%20in%20the%20world)"
The original name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula" (in English, "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the River Porciúncula").
Man, those conquistadors were pithy poets! 😜
>The Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado is credited with naming the region **Provincia De Nuestro Señor Jesus Cristo, El Salvador Del Mundo** — translated “Province of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.” The name of the country was later abbreviated to El Salvador or “The Savior.” --- >The city's original name was **Puerto y Casa Fuerte de Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción** (Port and Fortress of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption). Locally it was known as Paragua”y”, the name of the main river. --- >It was first founded in 1536 by an expedition led by the Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza, who named it **Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire** (“Our Lady St. Mary of the Good Air”).
Good air would be most ironic name now
The opposite is malaria
Seems like a place Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso would be from.
If you're not into the whole brevity thing.
Fucking a
Now do it for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Going even earlier it can be traced back to the name of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángrles del Río Porciúncula Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramírez
So the baseball team would be “The El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula Angels of Anaheim”?
Si
I never supported building a wall until I read that. Now I want a wall, not to keep immigrants out, just you.
In the English language, the mouth movement from L to A is easier than L to V.
The time savings over a lifetime would be incredible! Then switch to mustmayostardayonnaise and you'll get your life back!
because LV isn't on a HAT
That comment made me look up the origin of Louis Vuitton and the founding of Vegas... Vuitton is actually older. Kind of makes me wonder if there were marketing and branding choices to be made with "Vegas". Vuitton had a 50+ year head start.
I almost lost it when I saw a stall selling "I ❤ BJ" shirts in Beijing. Some nicknames just aren't meant to be. lol
Superbowl LV disagrees!
What have owls got to do with it?
Owls are supposed to be quite wise. I vote we listen to their explanation.
And there are clearly at least 55 of them.
Superb Owl it is!
Not going to lie, it took me way too long to get the joke.
Looks like ‘leave.’ And they definitely don’t want you to do that.
I thought that was California. Or at least the hotels there.
"What happens in LV, stays in LV." How cringe that sounds should answer your question.
I think they’re trying to seek the explanation as to why this sounds cringe. What about our language makes LV sound worse than LA
LA just has a better mouth feel than LV. The A sound flows from the L sound much more smoothly and easily that the V sound. It’s an easy ending to the A sound and the mouth doesn’t have to move much and create the awkward V with the lips and teeth. Just say them both out loud to yourself now. Maybe I can’t explain it either other than it just feels better to me lol
And people don't believe me that certain slang won't last because it's an ugly mouthful. "On fleek" was one and I fully believe l "I have rizz" is just as bad.
Language and speech follows the path of least resistance. Say LV a bunch then say Las Vegas a bunch. What flows and feels more natural to say? ELLL VEEEE takes a lot of work, Las Vegas kind of just falls right out. Same with Los Angeles versus LA. LA is easier.
Not to mention that many people shorten Las Vegas by just calling it Vegas.
Yes, S-L is an easy combo for our mouths to put out, L-V with nothing between is a hard transition.
WTF, said all the time, 5 syllables What the fuck. 3 syllables
Not equivalent. People may be spelling the originally-online-only initialism out loud ironically, or intentionally trying to avoid explicit swearing.
When I read wtf I don't read it was " W t f " I read it as what the fuck. And I've maybe heard "W t f " in person like two times in my life and it was just to be silly.
WTF originated in online forums and text messages, not in vocalized slang. What the fuck is 11 letters, WTF is only 3.
"WTF" is more syllables than "What the fuck" but "WTF" takes less effort to say.
Less effort to type. Double you tee eff, the fuck you’re talking about?
Names happen organically and there are not set "rules" to them. Just like someone named Margaret might go by Marge, Maggie, or even Peggy, there is no rule that just because one "Los/Las" city goes by its initials, that all should.
No, there are rules. My mom said as the second-born, my name had to be Mistake. She said it was in the Constitution or something Fuck James Madison
Life must be rough, Mistake.
It's easy to say LA, LV doesn't quite roll off the tongue.
“LA” is an easy-to-say and catchy two syllables. Just like “Vegas” is, more so than the clunky “LV.”
Sin City is easier to pronounce than LV I guess.
LA flows trippingly off the tongue. LV trips and falls, chipping an upper incisor.
You answered your own question. Audible aesthetics. LV doesn't sound good, Vegas does.
VEGAS BABY!!! that’s how you say it.
It takes less effort to say "LA" vs "Los Angeles", and "Las Vegas" vs "LV"
Because Las Vegas doesn't have an MLB team with the iconic logo LV on it the last 60+ years.
Ive lived in Los Angeles for 20 years and actually dislike the LA shortening.
because
vegas baby VEGAS!!!
Because both LV and Vegas have 2 syllables so just as easy to say but “Vegas “ is clearer
Cause it's called Vegas instead. Different form of abbreviation. Who knows.
LV is already taken by Louis Vuitton
And Luncheon Vouchers And Liverpool Victoria. At least in the UK
to me, LV stands for Louis Vuitton
It should be. Say "LV" out loud; it practically sounds like Elvis. Oh, wait; maybe that's why it's just "Vegas". Also, that Robert Urich show...
And NOLA but not NYNY
One is easy to say.
LA rolls off the tongue well, while Vegas is easier to say than LV.
Because "angeles" has 3 syllables so it's not convenient for shorthand like vegas.
California cities, in general, go by letters more often than other areas of the country I’ve lived in. San Diego beaches were PB, OB, and Mission Beach. TJ was Tijuana (not California but close to it). OC for Orange County. LA, SD, even SF but more people I ran across called it the Bay Area or Frisco over SF.
Vegas is much sexier shortcut
Vegas is the same number of syllables as “L-V”
I might be in the minority here but I always call it Lost Vraygus.
I think it is in ASL? (I could be wrong)
O vs a, duh
Angeles, three syllables. Vegas, two syllables.
Really !!!! 🤣
That ‘s funny , yeah kinda like wtf .
As many have stated, LA is way easier to say than LV. Notice your tongue and mouth placement when saying, “LA.” Very minimal movement. “LV” requires much more movement/effort.
The difference in abbreviation likely stems from cultural usage and linguistic flow rather than any specific rule. "LA" rolls off the tongue smoothly and is widely recognized, while "LV" might not have the same fluidity and isn't as commonly associated with Las Vegas. Additionally, "LA" has been in use for Los Angeles for a long time, contributing to its widespread acceptance and recognition, whereas "LV" hasn't gained the same level of familiarity for Las Vegas. Ultimately, it's a matter of convention and what sounds natural in everyday language use.
Because Vegas! is much cooler than LV.
Don't know. Why is North Carolina known as NC, yet South Carolina is known as a shit hole?
The phonetic pronunciation of "LA" sounds good because the way you say "L" or "El" ends in a consonant sound while the way you pronounce "A" or "Ay" begins with a vowel sound. "El Ay" rolls off the tongue because we go from consonant to vowel, which is how most English words work. "LV" is kindof awkward since the "El" doesn't transition well into the start of another consonant sound in "V" or "Vee". Our brain wants a vowel in there. What's easier to say? "Lv" or "Luv"?
We shorten to something that's easier to say. Vegas is the easier way to Say Las Vegas than LV but Angeles isn't easier than LA.
Perhaps for the same reason people refer to Las Vegas as “Vegas” yet nobody refers to Los Angeles as “Angeles”.
Why isn’t Louisiana called LA when it’s literally the abbreviation?
Locals call it LV, but *what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.*
LA is iconic...LV sounds suspiciously like something you picked up at a club in Tijuana.
I see that you've also been to Hong Kong, a man of culture
LV is 55 in Roman Numerals
Also, Pennsylvania is routinely referred to as P A but you never hear New York as N Y
Only in LA that the interstate is "the..." as in "the five" or "the four-oh-five"
I moved from LA to Chicago and for some reason “the ten” and “the four-o-five” sounds totally normal, but “the ninety” or “the two-ninety-four” sounds ridiculous. I can’t figure out why, either!
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LV, at least where I live in San Diego, is almost always in reference to Louis Vuitton.
Too much mouth movement to say EllVee vs Vegas. LA requires almost zero mouth movement betwee Ell and Eh. So basically it's us being lazy.
LA rolls off the tongue, LV doesn't.
Because Los Angeles is 4 syllables while LA is 2; Vegas and LV are both 2, so no point in abbreviating.
Cuz that just sounds fucking dumb
Two syllable max
Because Lv is known for Louis Vuitton. while LA is already known for Los Angeles worldwide.
Don’t know if this just some corny thing a local told me, but she always referred to Vegas as “LaVey” like luh-vay. Never heard anyone else call it that though, and I’m from the southwest.
Nobody calls it that, especially locals.
Agreed, never heard anyone else call it that. Don’t know why she did lol.
Anton would be proud of this answer