List of English abbreviations made by shortening words
# 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
