But it's only used in written form. You don't actually say out loud "kay eight es", do you?
Sounds like “coso” (“thingy”, mildly despective).
Clearly it’s “Kates”. Like “sk8er boy”.
Something like slurring the word “internationalization” combined with 18. “Ill-ateen-yon”
(In general I hate these numeric abbreviations, they’re terribly opaque to anyone who’s not clued in)
Most people are confused by it. When I start to explain it, I sound like a jerk who hates foreigners.
The programmers on the street point and smile at it. If they work in `l14n`, they come up and give me a hug.
But it's always Dennis.