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Abbreviations, acronyms and acronyms in English

One of the first things that strikes you when you start learning English is the contractions between subject and auxiliary (I'm) or between auxiliary and negative (don't). Later, you discover that the pronunciation hardly ever matches what is written. In fact, they seem to have an aversion to long words. But, when you discover the 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 "that's funny!" On the other hand, much of that characteristic language of telephone messaging comes from English. So, chances are you 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.

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 the doubt arises 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 you can find the correct answers.

• Abbreviations– when we remove letters and syllables from a word to leave a shortened version of it. In this way, a pen or a motorcycle become 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, beware, 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.

Abbreviations, acronyms and acronyms in English

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 nobody knows how to say the whole word in England.

English abbreviations

We are going to divide this section into two parts. The first, for all those abbreviations that are used in writing, but don't even think about saying it, because you're 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 (avenida)
etc.: Etcetera (etcetera)
Encl.: enclosed (attached, both for emails and letters or packages)
eg: exempli gratia (for example)
ft.: feet (feet, as a measure of distance)
lb.: pounds (pounds, as a measure of weight)
Mr./Mrs./Ms.: Mister, Missis, Miss (señor, Mrs, miss).
Sq.: Square (square)
Rd.: Road (road, street)
tbs/tbsp.: tablespoon (tablespoon, as a measure)
Xmas: Christmas (Christmas)
2nite: tonight (this night)
CU L8R: see you later (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 (laboratory)
Lav: lavatory (toilets)
Rehab: rehabilitation (rehabilitation)
Veggie: vegetarian, vegetables (vegetarian, vegetable)
Max: maximum (maximum)
Sax: saxophon (saxophone)
Abs: abdominal muscles (abdominals)
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 ones are and which ones are not, those that appear in the second part are more common to appear in writing.

acronyms you can say

CCTV: closed circuit television
TV: television (television)
aka: Also Known As (also known as)
am: ante meridiem (in the morning)
pm: post meridiem (in the 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 any identity document)
EU: European Union (European Union)
USA: United States of America (USA)
DIY: Do It Yourself
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
GPS: Global Positioning System
HD: High Definition (high definition)
KO: Knocked Out (unconscious, as after receiving a punch)
OK: of unknown origin, although it means "in agreement"
UN: United Nations (United Nations)
ASAP: As Soon As Possible (as soon as possible)
Ph. D.: Philosophiae Doctor (doctorate)

written acronyms

LOL: Laughing Out Loud
FYI: For Your Information
BTW: By The Way
BBL/BBS: Be Back Later/Soon
BBQ: Barbecue)
OMG: Oh My God
DND: Do Not Disturb
IMO: In My Opinion
IDK: I Don't Know
NRN: No Reply Necessary response missing)
NFC: No Further Comment
NTM: Not To Mention
411: (information)
LMK: Let Me Know

English acronyms

To finish, remember that the following acronyms are pronounced as a single word. In fact, most of these acronyms have become independent words in their own right. Some will ring a bell. But we are sure that you are going to say “Come on!” when you read any of them.

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (SIDA)
Laser: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
YOLO: You Only Live Once (used when someone wants to do something but there is an implied risk)
BAE: Before Anyone Else (boyfriend/girlfriend)
Amphetamine: Alpha-Methyl-PHeneThylAMINE
AWOL: Absent Without Official Leave (formerly used for deserters in the military, but current usage 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: Graphic Interchange Format
Taser: Thomas A Swift Electric Rifle
Spam: Special Processed American Meat (a brand of corned beef, but changed to spam in a Monty Python skit)