Warwickshire is a county — an administrative area, a bit like a 縣 — in the middle of England, slightly to the west. Its name comes from the town of Warwick, which has a famous castle, plus the ending -shire that English county names often take.

Warwickshire「Warwickshire」 is a county是一個郡 — an administrative area一種行政區, a bit like a 縣有點像台灣的「縣」 — in the middle of England位於英格蘭中部, slightly to the west稍微偏西。 Its name comes from它的名字來自 the town of Warwick沃里克(Warwick)這個小鎮, which has a famous castle那裡有一座知名的城堡, plus the ending -shire再加上字尾「-shire」 that English county names often take英國郡名常見的。

The reason foreign learners meet this name at all is Shakespeare. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is in Warwickshire, so books about him say things like "the Warwickshire countryside" or "a Warwickshire man". The county leans on this heavily and sometimes calls itself "Shakespeare's County".

The reason外國學習者會接觸到這個地名的原因 foreign learners meet this name at all is Shakespeare就是莎士比亞。 He was born in他出生在 Stratford-upon-Avon雅芳河畔斯特拉福, which is in Warwickshire那裡就在沃里克郡裡, so books about him say things like所以介紹他的書常會說 "the Warwickshire countryside"「the Warwickshire countryside沃里克郡的鄉間」 or "a Warwickshire man"或「a Warwickshire man一個沃里克郡人」。 The county這個郡 leans on this heavily非常倚重這一點 and sometimes calls itself有時候還自稱是 "Shakespeare's County"「Shakespeare's County莎士比亞郡」。

The pronunciation catches everyone out. It is not "war-wick-shire". The middle w is silent, so the first part sounds like "WOR-rick", and the ending -shire is said "-sher" (a weak, quick syllable), not like the word "shire" meaning a rural area. So: WOR-rick-sher.

The pronunciation發音 catches everyone out會讓每個人都出錯。 It is not它不是唸成 "war-wick-shire"「war-wick-shire」。 The middle w is silent中間的w不發音, so the first part sounds like所以前半部聽起來像 "WOR-rick"「WOR-rick」, and the ending -shire is said結尾的「-shire」唸作 "-sher"「-sher」 (a weak, quick syllable)(一個弱而快的音節), not like the word "shire"不是像單獨的「shire」那個字 meaning a rural area意思是鄉村地區的那個發音。 So所以合起來唸: WOR-rick-sherWOR-rick-sher。

English place names very often shrink like this when spoken, and there is no rule that predicts it — you simply have to hear each one. As with all place names, it takes a capital letter and no "the".

English place names英語地名 very often shrink like this when spoken唸出來的時候常常會這樣縮短, and there is no rule that predicts it而且沒有規則可以預測 — you simply have to hear each one你只能一個一個聽過才知道。 As with all place names跟所有地名一樣, it takes a capital letter它的字首要大寫 and no "the"而且前面不加「the」。