title: List of English abbreviations made by shortening words
text: # List of English abbreviations made by shortening words
  
  This is a list of common abbreviations in the English language.
  
  * Top
  * 0–9
  * A
  * B
  * C
  * D
  * E
  * F
  * G
  * H
  * I
  * J
  * K
  * L
  * M
  * N
  * O
  * P
  * Q
  * R
  * S
  * T
  * U
  * V
  * W
  * X
  * Y
  * Z
  
  ## A
  
  ### ab
  
      abdominal muscle (slang)
      abalone
      abscess (slang)
  
  ### ad
  
      advantage (tennis)
      advertisement
  
  ### advert
  
      advertisement
  
  ### addy
  
      [email] address
  
  ### admin
  
      administrator
      administration
  
  ### afish
  
      aficionado
  
  ### ag
  
      agriculture (informal)
  
  ### aggro
  
      aggravation or aggression
  
  ### agit-prop
  
      agitational propaganda
  
  ### alky
  
      an alcoholic
  
  ### amp
  
      ampere
      amphetamine (as in "amped up")
      amplifier
      amputation or amputee
      ampoule
      amplify
  
  ### app
  
      application
  
  ### arco
  
      arcology
  
  ### Argie
  
      Argentine, Argentinian
  
  ### Aspie
  
      Someone with Asperger syndrome
  
  ### auto
  
      automobile
      automatic
  
  ### av or avvie (also avvy)
  
      avatar
  
  ## B
  
  ### bennies
  
      benzedrine (slang)
      benefits
  
  ### bevvy
  
      beverage (usu. alcoholic)
  
  ### bi
  
      bisexual (slang)
  
  ### bike
  
      bicycle
  
  ### bio
  
      biology
      biography (informal)
  
  ### Birks
  
      Birkenstocks
  
  ### biz
  
      business (informal)
  
  ### black ops
  
      black operations
  
  ### bod
  
      body (slang/informal)
  
  ### bookie
  
      bookmaker
  
  ### bra
  
      brassiere
  
  ### bread
  
      bread and honey (money)
  
  ### bro
  
      brother (slang)
  
  ### bronc
  
      bronco
  
  ### bronto
  
      Brontosaurus
  
  ### bud
  
      buddy (informal)
  
  ### budgie
  
      budgerigar
  
  ### bunk
  
      bunkum
  
  ## 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
  
  ### 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
  
  ### 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 (considered rude)
  
  ### 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
  
  ### 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
  
      Newfoundlander
  
  ### Nip
  
      A Japanese (derogatory, Nipponese)
  
  ### nympho
  
      nymphomaniac
  
  ## O
  
  ### op
  
      optical art
      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
  
  ### pap, paps
  
      paparazzi
  
  ### pec
  
      pectoral muscle
  
  ### peeps
  
      people (slang)
  
  ### Peke
  
      Pekingese
  
  ### Penn
  
      Pennsylvania
  
  ### perk
  
      perquisite
  
  ### perp
  
      perpetrator (slang)
  
  ### perv
  
      pervert
  
  ### photo
  
      photograph (informal)
  
  ### photo op
  
      photo(graphic) opportunity
  
  ### phys ed
  
      physical education (informal)
  
  ### piano
  
      pianoforte
  
  ### pic (plural pics or pix)
  
      (motion) picture (slang)
      (photographic) picture (slang)
  
  ### pol
  
      politician (informal)
  
  ### polio
  
      poliomyelitis
  
  ### poly
  
      polyamorous
      polyester
      polyethylene
      polygraph (U.S. government, as in "full scope poly")
      polymer
      polytechnic
  
  ### po-mo
  
      post-modern
  
  ### pop
  
      popular (informal)
      popular music
  
  ### porn or porno
  
      pornography (slang)
  
  ### 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)
  
  ## 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 (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
  
  ### 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
  