One of the first things that strike you when you start to learn English is the contractions between subject and auxiliary (I'm) or between auxiliary and negative (don't). Later, you discover that the pronunciation almost never matches what is written. In fact, they seem to have a grudge with long words. But, when you discover abbreviations, acronyms, and acronyms in English ... well, that seems like a new language.


Although, in reality, you also do the same. For example, when you see an HBO movie on TV about the CIA. Or, without going any further, if you write LOL in a text message instead of saying "how funny!" On the other hand, much of that characteristic language of telephone messaging comes from English. So, you most likely know the meaning of many terms that appear in this article.


However, before showing you the abbreviations, acronyms, and acronyms in English, you should know what the difference is between each of these words. Because, in most cases, we misuse them.



Table of Contents



Difference between abbreviations, acronyms, and acronyms in English

Abbreviations, acronyms, and acronyms in English

Abbreviations in English

Acronym in English


Difference between abbreviations, acronyms, and acronyms in English

If you reread the examples in the second paragraph of the introduction, you will discover that there are five words in a shortened version. Could you identify the abbreviations, acronyms, and acronyms that appear? Perhaps you have a doubt between the last two terms, right? Well now we are going to make it more difficult for you: which of all those words is an acronym in Spanish, but an acronym in English? Come on, we leave you a clue below so that you can find the correct answers.


Abbreviations: when we remove letters and syllables from a word to leave a reduced version of it. In this way, a pen or a motorcycle becomes a pen and a motorcycle, respectively.

Acronyms: In general, we use the first letter (sometimes more) of a series of words to form one. Although be careful, the resulting word is read letter by letter. For example, RTVE is the acronym for Radio Televisión Española.

Acronyms - Same as acronyms, but the resulting word is read as a single word. If you like to travel by train, you will know that RENFE is the acronym for Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles.

Now that you are clear about what an abbreviation, an acronym, and an acronym are, it is time to see them in English. In the case of abbreviations, some of them are so common that no one can say the whole word in England.


Abbreviations in English

We are going to divide this section into two parts. The first, for all those abbreviations that are used in writing, but do not even think about saying, because you are going to cause a certain stupor. With the second, however, you can use them both written and spoken.


Written abbreviations:


Lib .: Library (library)

St .: Street / State / Saint (street / state / saint)

Ave .: Avenue (avenue)

etc .: Etcetera (etc.)

Encl .: enclosed (attached, both for emails, letters, or packages )

eg: example gratia (for example)

ft .: feet (as a measure of distance)

lb .: pounds (as a measure of weight)

Mr./Mrs./Ms .: Mister, Missis, Miss (sir, Mrs, miss).

Sq .: Square

Rd .: Road

tbs / tbsp .: tablespoon

Xmas: Christmas

2nite: tonight

CU L8R: see you later )

B4: before (before)

PS: Post Script (postscript)


Oral abbreviations


Bevy: beverage

Telly: television

Cam: camera

Mike: microphone

Hi-fi: high fidelity

Hood: neighborhood

Sci-fi: science fiction )

Lab: laboratory

Lav: lavatory

Rehab: rehabilitation

Veggie: vegetarian, vegetables

Max: maximum

Sax: saxophone

Abs: abdominal muscles

Carbs: carbohydrates

App: Application

Fab: Fabulous

Intro: introduction

Info: information

Shrooms: mushrooms

Stache: mustache

Memo: memorandum

Mo: moment


Acronym in English

As in the previous case, there are acronyms that can be said and others that, in principle, only make sense in writing. Although, due to their popularity, they are used orally quite frequently.


But do not worry. Because, to avoid problems of which yes and which no, those that appear in the second part are more common to appear in writing.


Acronyms you can say


CCTV: closed-circuit television

TV: television

aka: Also Known As (aka)

am: ante meridiem (morning)

pm: post meridiem (afternoon)

ATM: Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

DJ: Disc Jockey

B n B: Bed and Breakfast (accommodation where to spend the night and have breakfast)

QC: quality control (quality control)

ID: Identification (DNI, but also an identity document)

EU: European Union (European Union)

USA: United States of America (USA)

DIY: Do It Yourself (DIY)

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

GPS: Global Positioning System

HD: High Definition (high definition)

KO: Knocked Out (unconscious, as after being punched)

OK: of unknown origin, although it means "agree"

UN: United Nations (United Nations)

ASAP: As Soon As Possible (as soon as possible) possible)

Ph. D .: Philosophiae Doctor (doctorate)


Written acronyms


LOL: Laughing Out Loud (what fun!)

FYI: For Your Information (for your information)

BTW: By The Way (by the way)

BBL / BBS: Be Back Later / Soon (I'll be back in a bit)

BBQ: Barbecue (barbecue )

OMG: Oh my God (OMG)!

DND: Do not disturb (DND)

IMO: in my opinion (in my opinion)

IDK: I Do not know (do not know)

NRN no Reply Necessary (does missing answer)

NFC: No Further Comment (no further comment)

NTM: Not To Mention (needless to say)

411: (information)

LMK: Let Me Know (let me know)


English acronyms

Finally, remember that the following acronyms are pronounced as one word. In fact, most of these acronyms have become independent words with full rights. Some will sound familiar to you. But we're sure you're going to say "Go!" when you read any of them.


AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Laser: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

YOLO: You Only Live Once (used when someone wants to do something but there is an implicit risk)

BAE: Before Anyone Else (boyfriend /

girlfriend ) Amphetamine: Alpha-Methyl-PHEneThylAMINE

AWOL: Absent Without Official Leave (previously used for deserters in the military, but its current use identifies someone who has left without permission)

CAPTCHA: Completely Automated Public Turing Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

PIN : Personal Identification Number

SIM: Subscriber Identification Module

RAM: Random Access Memory

Radar: Radio Detection and Ranging

Sonar: SOund NAvigation and Ranging

NASA: National Aeronautic and Space Administration

SWAT: Special Weapons And Tactics

Virus: Vital Information Resource Under Siege (but only for computers)

Modem: Modulator Demodulator

Scuba: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

GIF: Graphics Interchange Format

Taser: Thomas A Swift Electric Rifle