List of English abbreviations made by shortening words

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 ;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 ;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

:kara-ookesutora (borrowed from Japanese)-- ;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 raincoat ;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 (derogatory) :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 :Polynesian :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 (, of a motor vehicle) :regulation ;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 https://www.etymonline.com/word/scrum (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

References

1. "ab – American Heritage Dictionary".
2. "ab – American Heritage Dictionary".
3. "ad – American Heritage Dictionary".
4. "ad – American Heritage Dictionary".
5. [http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?Acronym=ADDY&p=dict dict – Acronym Finder]
6. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/admin admin – Dictionary.com]
7. [http://www.webster.com/dictionary/admin admin – Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary]
8. [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=ag ag – Dictionary.com]
9. "aggro – American Heritage Dictionary".
10. "agitprop – American Heritage Dictionary".
11. "amp – American Heritage Dictionary".
12. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/amp amp – Dictionary.com]
13. "app – American Heritage Dictionary".
14. "auto – American Heritage Dictionary".
15. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/auto auto – Dictionary.com]
16. "benny. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
17. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991014003006/http://www.businessweek.com/1997/51/b3558018.htm 12/22/97 BATTLE OF THE BENNIES]
18. [http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2003/06/09/story8.html A few biotechs still beat the drum for bennies – San Francisco Business Times]
19. [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OWVmMDgyYWRmOTNjOTM2M2JlNGZhZTI5YTlmYjY4ZWY= Stanley Kurtz on Gay Marriage on National Review Online]
20. "bi. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
21. "bike. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
22. [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=bio&r=66 bio – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
23. "bio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
24. "biz. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
25. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bod bod – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
26. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bookie bookie – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
27. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bra bra – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
28. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bro bro – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
29. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bronc bronc – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
30. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bud bud – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
31. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/budgie budgie – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
32. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bunk bunk – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
33. [http://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=gin gin 1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2014]
34. [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=matric matric – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
35. [http://www.webster.com/dictionary/op op – Definition by Merriam-Webster]
36. "pant 2. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
37. "pec. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
38. [http://www.webster.com/dictionary/peeps peeps – Definition by Merriam-Webster]
39. "perp. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
40. [http://www.webster.com/dictionary/perv perv – Definition by Merriam-Webster]
41. "photo. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
42. [http://www.webster.com/dictionary/photo%20op photo op – Definition by Merriam-Webster]
43. "phys ed. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
44. "piano 1. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
45. "pic. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
46. "pol. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
47. "polio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
48. "poly. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
49. [http://www.reference.com/search?q=CI%20poly&r=d&db=web CI poly – definition from Reference.com]
50. [http://www.webster.com/dictionary/poly poly – Definition by Merriam-Webster]
51. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/poly poly – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
52. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/po-mo po-mo – Definitions from Dictionary.com]
53. "pop 3. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
54. "porn. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000".
55. "rum – American Heritage Dictionary".