In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Portuguese, following the Southern Min pronunciation, called Kinmen "Quemoy" and Xiamen "Amoy." These transliterations spread, and were later used by the Dutch, French, British, and their colonies.
15 世紀末、16 世紀初，葡萄牙人以閩南語發音的葡文稱金門為 Quemoy，廈門為 Amoy，而這些稱謂就此流傳，並為後來的荷蘭、法國、英國等殖民國家所沿用。