List of English abbreviations made by shortening words

This is a list of common abbreviations in the English language.

A

ab: abdominal muscle (slang)^[1]; abalone; abscess (slang)^[2]
ad: advantage (tennis)^[3]; advertisement^[4]
advert: advertisement^[4]
addy: [email] address^[5]
admin: administrator^[6]; administration^[7]
afish: aficionado^{[citation needed]}
ag: agriculture (informal)^[8]
aggro: aggravation or aggression^[9]
agit-prop: agitational propaganda^[10]
alky: an alcoholic
amp: ampere^[11]; amphetamine (as in "amped up")^{[citation needed]}; amplifier^[11]; amputation or amputee^[12]; ampoule^[12]; amplify^{[citation needed]}
app: application^[13]
arco: arcology^{[citation needed]}
Argie: Argentine, Argentinian
Aspie: Someone with Asperger syndrome
auto: automobile^[14]; automatic^[15]
av or avvie (also avvy): avatar

B

bennies: benzedrine (slang)^[16]; benefits^[17]^[18]^[19]
bevvy: beverage (usu. alcoholic)
bi: bisexual (slang)^[20]
bike: bicycle^[21]
bio: biology^[22]; biography (informal)^[23]
Birks: Birkenstocks
biz: business (informal)^[24]
black ops: black operations
bod: body (slang/informal)^[25]
bookie: bookmaker^[26]
bra: brassiere^[27]
bread: bread and honey (money)
bro: brother (slang)^[28]
bronc: bronco^[29]
bronto: Brontosaurus^{[citation needed]}
bud: buddy (informal)^[30]
budgie: budgerigar^[31]
bunk: bunkum^[32]

C

cab: Cabernet Sauvignon; cabriolet
caff (UK slang): café
cal: calorie (in combination, especially "lo-cal")
Cal or Cali: California; Calcutta
cam: camera; camouflage
camo: camouflage
Can: Canada or Canadian (in combination)
cap: captain; lie (informal)
caps: capitals
carbs: carbohydrates
cardio: cardiovascular training (aerobic exercise)
cat: catalytic converter; catamaran
chem: chemistry
chemo: chemotherapy
Chevy: Chevrolet
chimp: chimpanzee
cig: cigarette
cishet or cis-het: cisgender-heterosexual
civ: civilization
civvy or civvie: civilian
civvies: civilian clothes (military slang)
clit: clitoris
coed: coeducational
coke: cocaine
Coke: Coca-Cola
com: command; communication (especially in combinations)
combi or combo: combination
Commie: Communist
con: confidence trick; convention; convict
condo: condominium
congrats: congratulations
contacts: contact lenses
co-op: cooperative
corp: corporation
cred: credibility
crip: cripple
croc: crocodile
curio: curiosity
cuz: cousin
cyber: cybernetic (especially in combination)

D

decaf: decaffeinated
decal: decalcomania
decij: decision
deco: decoration
deets: details
defrag: defragment
deli: delicatessen
delish: delicious
Dem: Democrat
demo: demonstration; demolition
derm: dermatologist; dermatological
depict: depicture
detox: detoxification
dicot: dicotyledon
dif (or diff): difference
digi: digital
digi cabes: digital cable
dino: dinosaur
dis (or diss): disrespect
disco: discotheque
doc: doctor; document
dorm: dormitory
Dub: Dubliner

E

e-: electronic (e.g. email, efit, emeter)
ed: education
emo: emotional
ep: episode
eppie, eppy: epileptic seizure
ex: ex-(boyfriend, wife, etc.); exhibition; war exercise
exam: examination
exec: executive
expo: exposition

F

fab: fabrication; fabulous
fan: fanatic
fav: favorite
fed: federal
frack: fracture
frag: fragmentation grenade, also verb: to kill with such a grenade.
frank: frankfurter
fridge: refrigerator

G

ganj: ganja
gas: gasoline
gat: Gatling gun
gig: gigabyte
gin: Geneva^[33]
glutes: gluteus maximus
go fig: go figure
gov, guv: governor; government
grad: graduate (or graduation, as in "grad night")
gran, granny: grandmother
guac: guacamole
gym: gymnasium

H

ham, hammy: hamster
hash: hashish
hep: hepatitis
hetero or het: heterosexual
hifi: high fidelity system
hi(gh) res: high resolution
hippo: hippopotamus
homo: homosexual; homogenized (milk)
hydro: hydroelectricity; hydrotherapy; hydrothermal; hydroponic
hype: hyperbole
hypo: hypodermic
hyper: hyperactive

I

Inc: Incorporated
indie, indy: independence, independent; independent music; independent film
Indy 500: Indianapolis 500
inf: infinitely
info: information
infra dig: infra dignitatem (beneath one's dignity) (borrowed from Latin)
inti: intifada
intro: introduction
ipecac: ipecacuanha
Itey: Italian (offensive)

J

Jap: Japanese (offensive)
Jerry: German (offensive, historical)

K

kilo: kilogram
klepto: kleptomaniac

L

lab: laboratory; (cap.) Labrador retriever
lav, lavvy: lavatory
legit: legitimate
les, lez, or lesbo: lesbian
lib: liberal; liberation; library (computer science); (cap.) Libertarian
Lib-Lab: Liberal-Labour (UK)
limo: limousine
lino: linoleum; Linotype machine
lit: literature
lit crit: literary criticism
lo-cal: low-calorie
log: logarithm

M

mac: macadam; macaroni; (with initial capital) Apple Macintosh; McIntosh apple; (or mack) mackintosh
macro: macroinstruction
mag: magazine; magnet; magnification; magnesium alloy wheels; magnum
Man United: Manchester United F.C.
Mass: Massachusetts
maths (UK) or math (U.S.): mathematics
matric: matriculation^[34]
max: maximum
mayo: mayonnaise
med, meds: medication; medic; (with initial capital) Mediterranean (the sea or the surrounding area)
meg: megabyte
memo: memorandum
meth: methamphetamine
meths: methylated spirits
Mex or Mexi: Mexican
mezc: mescaline
mike or mic: microphone
mig: milligram mg
mil: military; millilitre
Minn: Minnesota
Miss: Mississippi
mod: moderator; modern; modification; modular; modulo
mono: monaural; monochrome; mononucleosis
monocot: monocotyledon
movie: feature film (i.e. moving picture)

N

natch: naturally
neg: negative
negs: (photographic) negatives; negative hits
net: Internet
neocon: neoconservative
neolib: neoliberal
Newfy (derogatory): Newfoundlander
Nip: A Japanese (derogatory, Nipponese)
nympho: nymphomaniac

O

op: optical art^[35]; optical; operation; operator; opportunity
op-ed: "opposite the editorial (page)", possibly "Opinion-Editorial" page
orang: orangutan

P

Paki: Pakistani (pejorative)
Paleo diet: Paleolithic diet
pants: pantaloons^[36]
pap, paps: paparazzi
pec: pectoral muscle^[37]
peeps: people (slang)^[38]
Peke: Pekingese
Penn: Pennsylvania
perk: perquisite
perp: perpetrator (slang)^[39]
perv: pervert^[40]
photo: photograph (informal)^[41]
photo op: photo(graphic) opportunity^[42]
phys ed: physical education (informal)^[43]
piano: pianoforte^[44]
pic (plural pics or pix): (motion) picture (slang)^[45]; (photographic) picture (slang)^[45]
pol: politician (informal)^[46]
polio: poliomyelitis^[47]
poly: polyamorous; polyester^[48]; polyethylene^[48]; polygraph (U.S. government, as in "full scope poly")^[49]; polymer^[50]; Polynesian; polytechnic^[51]
po-mo: post-modern^[52]
pop: popular (informal)^[53]; popular music
porn or porno: pornography (slang)^[54]
postgrad: postgraduate
pram: perambulator, a baby carriage
prefs: preferences
preg: pregnant
prelim: preliminary (examination)
prep: preparatory
pres or prez: president
pro: professional
prof: professor
prom: promenade
promo: promotion
prop: propaganda; propeller; proposition; property (especially in theater sense)
psych: psychology
psycho: psychopath
pub: publication; public house
pullie: pullover
pulsar: pulsating; star
pyro: pyromaniac; pyrotechnic

Q

quad: quadrangle (courtyard); quadruplet; quadriceps muscles; quadcopter (quad-engine helicopter); quadbike (New Zealand)
quin, quint (U.S. and Canada): quintuplet

R

rad: radian; radiator; radical; (military) radio
radfem: radical feminist
radio: radiotelegraphy
raspberry, razzy: raspberry tart (fart; more commonly, the derisive sound made with the tongue and lips; a Bronx cheer)
rasp: raspberry
Rasta: Rastafarian
Reb: Rebel (i.e., Confederate)
rec: recreation; (all capital) record
recon, reccy: reconnaissance
ref: referee; reference
reg: registration (UK: /ˈrɛdʒ/, of a motor vehicle); regulation /ˈrɛɡ/
rehab: rehabilitation
rep: repetition; representative; (with initial capital) Republican; reputation
repo: repossession; repo man – repossession person
res: reserve (Indian or military); residence; resolution
resp: respiratory
retro: retro-rocket; retrospective
rev: revolution (of a record, engine, etc.); reverend
rhino: rhinoceros
ril: really
Rhodie: Rhodesian ridgeback; Rhodesian; Rhode Island red
Rolls: a Rolls-Royce
ruck: rucksack
rum: rumbullion (obsolete)^[55]

S

sales rep: sales representative
San Fran: San Francisco
sarge: sergeant
sarky (UK): sarcastic
Satch: Joe Satriani
sax: saxophone
schizo: schizophrenic
Scottie: Scottish Terrier
scrum: scrummage [1] (now mostly used in rugby football)
Sea-Tac: Seattle-Tacoma
sec: second; secant
Semper Fi!: Semper Fidelis
sig: significant (figures); signal; (Internet) signature
sim: simulation
sis: sister
soph: sophomore
sosh: social (in the context of social security number)
spats: spatterdashes
spec: specialist; specification; speculation
specs: specifications; spectacles
sperm: spermaceti; spermatozoön
staph: staphylococcus
stat: statim (borrowed from Latin)
stats: statistics
steno: stenographer
stereo: stereophony
strep: streptococcus
stude: student
sub: subaltern; subeditor; subsidiary; sublieutenant; submarine; subordinate; subscriber; (especially as subs) subscription; subsistence money (an advance payment); substitute; subway
sum: summarize
sus (or suss): suspect
sush: sushi
sync or synch: synchronization; syncopation
synth: synthesizer
syph: syphilis

T

tab: tabulation
tan: tangent
tarp: tarpaulin
taxi or taxicab: taximeter cabriolet
tech: technician; technology
techno: technology
teddy: teddy bear
teen: teenager, teenage
tele or telly: television
terb: terrible
titfer: tit for tat (hat)
tog: obsolete togeman, from obsolete French togue, cloak, from Latin toga, garment
trad: tradition(al)
tranny: transmission; transsexual or transgender (slur/offensive); transistor radio (obsolete)
tranq: tranquilizer
trans: transgender
trig: trigonometry
Trot: Trotskyite
turp, turps: turpentine
tux: tuxedo
twofer: two for one, two for the price of one
typo: typographical error

U

undies: underwear
uni: university
unicam: (unicameral) legislature (Nebraska, United States only)

V

vag, vadge: vagina
veg: vegetate
veg or veggie: vegetable; vegetarian or vegan
vet: veterinarian; veteran

W

Westie: West Highland Terrier
Wisc: Wisconsin
women's lib: women's liberation

X

xolo: xoloitzcuintli

Y

Yank: Yankee
Yid: Jew (Yiddisher; offensive)

Z

zep: zeppelin
Zin: Zinfandel
zinco: zincograph
zoo: zoological garden

References

^ "ab – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "ab – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ dict – Acronym Finder
^ admin – Dictionary.com
^ admin – Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
^ ag – Dictionary.com
^ "aggro – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2006-12-09. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "agitprop – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2006-03-12. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b "amp – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-08-23. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b amp – Dictionary.com
^ "app – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-05-09. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "auto – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-05-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ auto – Dictionary.com
^ "benny. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-11-28. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ 12/22/97 BATTLE OF THE BENNIES
^ A few biotechs still beat the drum for bennies – San Francisco Business Times
^ Stanley Kurtz on Gay Marriage on National Review Online
^ "bi. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ "bike. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ bio – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ "bio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-26. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ "biz. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-11. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ bod – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bookie – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bra – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bro – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bronc – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bud – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ budgie – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bunk – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ gin 1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2014
^ matric – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ op – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "pant 2. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "pec. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ peeps – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "perp. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ perv – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "photo. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ photo op – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "phys ed. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "piano 1. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b "pic. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "pol. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-09-07. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "polio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b "poly. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-01-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ CI poly – definition from Reference.com
^ poly – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ poly – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ po-mo – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ "pop 3. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "porn. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "rum – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-12-11.

[1] "ab – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[2] "ab – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[3] "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[advertisement-4] "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[5] t – Acronym Finder

[6] – Dictionary.com

[7] – Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

[8] – Dictionary.com

[9] "aggro – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2006-12-09. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[10] "agitprop – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2006-03-12. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[amp-11] "amp – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-08-23. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[amp2-12] – Dictionary.com

[13] "app – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-05-09. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[14] "auto – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-05-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[15] uto – Dictionary.com

[16] "benny. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-11-28. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[17] 12/22/97 BATTLE OF THE BENNIES

[18] A few biotechs still beat the drum for bennies – San Francisco Business Times

[19] Stanley Kurtz on Gay Marriage on National Review Online

[20] "bi. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[21] "bike. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[22] – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[23] "bio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-26. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[24] "biz. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-11. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[25] – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[26] – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[27] ra – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[28] ro – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[29] ronc – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[30] ud – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[31] udgie – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[32] unk – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[33] 1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2014

[34] tric – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[35] – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[36] "pant 2. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[37] "pec. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[38] s – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[39] "perp. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[40] rv – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[41] "photo. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[42] to op – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[43] "phys ed. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[44] "piano 1. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[pic-45] "pic. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[46] "pol. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-09-07. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[47] "polio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[poly-48] "poly. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-01-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[49] CI poly – definition from Reference.com

[50] y – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[51] y – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[52] -mo – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[53] "pop 3. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[54] "porn. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[55] "rum – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-12-11.

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