What is an abbreviation?
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. It is created by removing some letters or sounds from the original word or phrase.
Abbreviations are commonly used in written and spoken language to save time, space, or effort. They can be used in different contests such as informal communication, formal/academic writing, technical and government fields, and more. For example: “USA” is the abbreviation for the United States of America, “Ave” for Avenue, or “etc.” for etcetera.
Abbreviations play an important role in communication. Whether you are chatting with friends, reading an article, or dealing with official documents, understanding common abbreviations is crucial for effective communication in English-speaking environments.
Common abbreviations in English
1. Daily Life 📅
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ASAP | As Soon As Possible |
| FYI | For Your Information |
| DIY | Do It Yourself |
| RSVP | Répondez s’il vous plaît (Please respond) |
| ATM | Automated Teller Machine |
| PIN | Personal Identification Number |
| CEO | Chief Executive Officer |
| HR | Human Resources |
2. Time ⌛
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time |
| PT/ET/CT/MT | Pacific Time / Eastern Time / Central Time / Mountain Time |
| hrs | Hours |
| mins | Minutes |
| sec | Seconds |
| mo | Month |
| yr | Year |
3. Rental Advertisements 🛋️
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bdrm | Bedroom |
| ba | Bathroom |
| apt | Apartment |
| condo | Condominium |
| sq ft | Square Feet |
| utils | Utilities |
| W/D | Washer/Dryer |
| pkg | Parking |
| avail | Available |
| neg | Negotiable |
| dep | Deposit |
| app fee | Application Fee |
| ref req | References Required |
| furn | Furnished |
| unfurn | Unfurnished |
| incl | Included |
| excl | Excluded |
| priv. entry | private entry |
| n/s | no smoking allowed in the apartment |
| n/pets | no pets allowed |
| a/c | air conditioning |
| +util | cost of the apartment does not include utilities |
4. Bureaucratic Applications 🗳️
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SSN/SIN | Social Security Number (USA) / Social Insurance Number (Canada) |
| DL | Driver’s License |
| ID | Identification |
| DOB | Date of Birth |
| POA | Power of Attorney |
| IRS/ CRA | Internal Revenue Service (USA) / Canada Revenue Agency (Canada) |
| FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions |
| TBD | To Be Determined |
5. Traveling 🧳
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| TSA | Transportation Security Administration |
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival |
| FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions |
| RT | Round Trip |
| OOO | Out of Office |
| PTO | Paid Time Off |
| ETA | Electronic Travel Authorization |
| VAT | Value Added Tax |
6. School 🏫
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| GPA | Grade Point Average |
| SAT | Scholastic Assessment Test |
| ACT | American College Testing |
| PhD | Doctor of Philosophy |
| BA | Bachelor of Arts |
| MA | Master of Arts |
| STEM | Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics |
| PE | Physical Education |
7. Technology 🐱💻
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| IT | Information Technology |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator |
| HTML | Hypertext Markup Language |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network |
| CPU | Central Processing Unit |
| RAM | Random Access Memory |
| SSD | Solid State Drive |
| GUI | Graphical User Interface |
8. Shopping 🛍️
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| VIP | Very Important Person |
| BOGO | Buy One, Get One |
| DIY | Do It Yourself |
| LTD | Limited |
| SALE | Discounted Prices |
| MSRP | Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price |
| NWT | New With Tags |
| B2B | Business to Business |
9. Medical ⚕️
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CPR | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
| ER | Emergency Room |
| Rx | Prescription |
| OTC | Over-the-Counter |
| BMI | Body Mass Index |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| EKG | Electrocardiogram |
| ICU | Intensive Care Unit |
10. Online chatting 💻
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| LOL | Laugh Out Loud |
| BRB | Be Right Back |
| OMG | Oh My Gosh/Goodness |
| FYI | For Your Information |
| BTW | By The Way |
| IMHO | In My Humble Opinion |
| ASAP | As Soon As Possible |
| TTYL | Talk To You Later |
| IDK | I Don’t Know |
| FYEO | For Your Eyes Only |
| GTG | Got To Go |
| TMI | Too Much Information |
| SMH | Shaking My Head |
| FWIW | For What It’s Worth |
| AFK | Away From Keyboard |
| NP | No Problem |
| TYT | Take Your Time |
| YOLO | You Only Live Once |
| FOMO | Fear Of Missing Out |
| IMO/IMHO | In My Opinion/In My Humble Opinion |
| ROFL | Rolling On the Floor Laughing |
| BFF | Best Friends Forever |
| DM | Direct Message |
| ICYMI | In Case You Missed It |
| JK | Just Kidding |
| DM | Direct Message |
| SMH | Shaking My Head |
🍁Canadian abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BC | British Columbia |
| AB | Alberta |
| SK | Saskatchewan |
| MB | Manitoba |
| ON | Ontario |
| QC | Quebec |
| NB | New Brunswick |
| NL | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| NS | Nova Scotia |
| PE | Prince Edward Island |
| YT | Yukon Territory |
| NT | Northwest Territories |
| NU | Nunavut |
| CAN | Canada |
| CAD | Canadian Dollar |
| GST | Goods and Services Tax |
| PST | Provincial Sales Tax |
| MP | Member of Parliament |
| PM | Prime Minister |
| CBC | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |
| RCMP | Royal Canadian Mounted Police |
| TTC | Toronto Transit Commission |
| YVR | Vancouver International Airport |
| YYZ | Toronto Pearson International Airport |