Learn English Abbreviations (English Abbr)

Abbreviations in modern English

Expand your vocabulary with popular abbreviations that you might need in different areas

"The word abbreviation sure is long for what it means."

— Zach Galifianakis

What are abbreviations?

An abbreviation (from Latin 'short') is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method including shortening, contraction and initialism (which includes acronym). An abbreviation may be a shortened form of a word, usually ended with a trailing full stop (period). For example, the term etc. is the usual abbreviation for the Latin phrase 'et cetera'.

Knowledge of abbreviations is necessary because they play an important role in communication. Incorrect use or ignorance of abbreviations can lead to misunderstandings and awkward situations. Studying the history and meanings of English abbreviations will be useful and interesting for students, especially given their mobility.

On this website, you can familiarise yourself with abbreviations that are most commonly used in various areas of life (online slang, the business world, IT technology, education, etc.).

Types of abbreviations

Have you ever wondered why we pronounce NASA as a word, but FBI as letters? Or why brunch is perceived as a single word, rather than simply an abbreviation of “breakfast and lunch”? Not all abbreviations are created equal. Beneath the surface of these compact forms lies a fascinating system of rules, patterns, and creative wordplay.

Understanding these types of abbreviations is more than just a linguistic exercise. It helps us communicate more clearly, avoid common mistakes (such as confusing i.e. and e.g.) and appreciate the inventive ways in which language evolves to meet our needs. Whether you are a writer, student, professional, or simply an inquisitive conversationalist, knowing why abbreviations occur will make you a more attentive and effective user of language.

Acronym

Formed from initial letters and pronounced as a single word. Created by taking the first letter(s) of each word in a phrase and combining them into a pronounceable word. Acronyms often become so common that people forget the original phrase.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

RADAR - Radio Detection and Ranging

SCUBA - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

PIN - Personal Identification Number
Note: Often treated as a word ("pin") rather than saying P-I-N

LASER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

Z

I

P

Zone Improvement Plan

L

O

L

Laugh out loud

2. Initialism (Alphabetism)

Formed from initial letters and pronounced letter-by-letter. Similar to acronyms in formation but crucially different in pronunciation. Each letter is spoken individually. Most abbreviations with three or more capital letters are initialisms.

Digital Versatile Disc

DVD

FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation

CEO - Chief Executive Officer

DIY - Do It Yourself

PDF - Portable Document Format

ATM - Automated Teller Machine

ATM

Automated Teller Machine

3. Clipping (Truncation)

Shortening a longer word by removing syllables. Creating a new word by cutting off part of an existing word, either from the beginning, end, or both. The clipped form retains the same meaning.

Back-clipping (Apocope): Removing the end.
Exam (Examination) Photo (Photograph)

Fore-clipping (Aphaeresis): Removing the beginning.
Plane (Airplane) Bus (Omnibus)

Middle-clipping (Syncope): Removing the middle.
Flu (Influenza) Fridge (Refrigerator)

Complex clipping: Removing multiple parts.
Sitcom (Situation Comedy)

4. Blending (Portmanteau)

Fusing parts of two or more words to create a new word. Combines the sounds and meanings of two source words. The new word often describes a modern concept or invention.

Smog (Smoke + Fog)

Brunch (Breakfast + Lunch)

Motel (Motor + Hotel)

Blog (Web + Log)

Spork (Spoon + Fork)

Pixel

tap tap tap

Picture + Element

Forex

tap tap tap

Foreign + Exchange

5. Contraction

Omitting internal letters, marked with an apostrophe. Shortens a word, number, or phrase by omitting letters or numbers. The apostrophe shows where letters have been removed.

Can't - Cannot

I'm - I am

Class of '99 - 1999

Gov't - Government
Common in formal titles/names

O'clock - Of the clock

Don't

You'll

6. Latin Abbreviation

Shortened forms of common Latin phrases. Used primarily in scholarly, legal, and formal writing to save space while referencing common Latin expressions. Always used with periods; retained from Latin tradition.

e.g. (exempli gratia) – for example

i.e. (id est) – that is

etc. (et cetera) – and so forth

cf. (confer) – compare

et al. (et alii) – and others

Categories of abbreviations

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