Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stores.

A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing.

America's 50 states have some of the most historically interesting nicknames.

Alabama is known as the "Heart of Dixie" because it is in the very middle of a group of states in the Deep South. Dixie itself is a nickname for the American South. It started when Louisiana printed notes with the French word for "ten" on them. "Deece," or D-I-X, led to "Dixie."

Way up north, Alaska is called the "Last Frontier" for understandable reasons. Near the Arctic Circle, it was the final part of the nation to be explored and settled.

Next week we will tell you about the nicknames of more American states.