Blog Archives

The essential acronyms in English to speak like a native

In all languages, regardless of the country in which we are, there are small specificities, typical languages ​​of the region in which we find ourselves. In the region, but also and above all in the discourse. English, which is one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world, is not an exception to the rule, on the contrary. Indeed, this language has managed to prevail throughout the world and make known all the expressions that we use today.

Give me an abbreviation known and used today, and there is a good chance that it was taken from English, from its grammar, from its idiomatic expressions, from an alphabetic, typographical or even orthographical feature. Without knowing how to speak the language of Shakespeare fluently, everyone masters some basic elements of the familiar language, and, better still, of certain local dialects. Wonderful, right?

All this makes you want to learn through online English courses and to know acronyms, abbreviated words and other adverbial phrases, but what are the most famous abbreviations, which cannot be dispensed with in English? Don't worry, here is a brief, non-exhaustive selection. Here we go!

Discover our guide to be an expert in English !

English abbreviations of everyday life

It is evident that nowadays abbreviations have invaded our daily lives, both in Spanish and in English. In addition to being effective, abbreviations are authentic vectors of everyday life, which allow us to express ourselves and show a sensation, a reaction.

They are new elements of our contemporary society, which are no less interesting than some written testimonies of actors of our time. All this has been promoted by the Internet and telecommunications, which have been able to popularize abbreviations and standardize these types of words, to simplify and speed up speech, especially in writing. In everyday life, they are very useful, as these terms show:

• WTF: This abbreviation (what the fuck) is probably the most well-known of all, since most of us use it, sometimes even incorrectly. It is an acronym that comes directly from the United States, which means something like "but What is that?" It's good to show that you speak like a true native, with or without an accent!
• AC: Sometimes you wonder why this abbreviation appears in our cars, in the heating area. It is because «AC» means Air Conditioning or Air Conditioning, in Spanish. Another mystery solved!
• THX – In a very simple way, THX is the logical abbreviation for Thanks, which means “Thank you” in English. We hope it will be very useful for those who want to stand out and show that their level of English is very good, even familiar.
• LOL: I'm sure you're familiar with this term, used everywhere, all the time, by everyone. It's short for Laughing Out Loud, which expresses the idea that one is "dead laughing." We hope you use it often!
• OMG: You probably already know this abbreviation, since everyone uses it or has used it. It is the abbreviation for Oh my God, which translates as "Oh my God", a classic when you want to express surprise in English or transcribe your astonishment.
• DIY: if you like the world of the Internet, surely you know the Do It Yourself. Coming from the United States, in Spain "do it yourself " includes all the crafts that we practice and that we do ourselves. A noodle necklace, a Christmas wreath... you can do a lot of things with DIY!
• YOLO: perhaps intended more for young people, this is the abbreviation for You Only Live Once, that is, "you only live once", enjoy every moment. Increasingly present in oral conversations, it is used in writing on a daily basis, but not in real estate law or political institutions, of course.

You can look up the meaning of some of the most commonly used acronyms in any online dictionary such as Wordreference.

This is our brief selection of the most common English abbreviations, especially in conversations in Spain. But in a more formal, more professional way, what are the abbreviations that we can find? Let's see it right now!

Do you also want to know what are the most common mistakes in English ?

English abbreviations of the professional context

Like Spanish, English has some essential abbreviations that you need to know to communicate in the professional world. Whether it is a collection of jurisprudence, commercial law, a departmental address or a world organization, all institutions use these types of abbreviations to facilitate their communications:

• BTW: This abbreviation for By The Way is a simple way of saying "by the way". An acronym used by all Anglophones, just like the Spanish. Surely you have already heard or seen it somewhere!
• ASAP: this abbreviation is the contraction of As Soon As Possible, that is to say “as soon as possible”. Surely your boss has told you more than once.
• DND: This abbreviation for Do Not Disturb is a bit more serious. The abbreviation for "Do not disturb" can be used on a door or in a mail in case of absence, important meeting or any other event that forces you to be unavailable.
• FYI: This abbreviation for For Your Information is used in a more concrete and formal setting. " For Your Information " is also used in everyday life, but is closely linked to the professional world, from the chamber of commerce to business law.

Are you also interested in knowing the most unusual words in English ?

English abbreviations for travel

In addition to the English courses Medellin, With a few words, it is possible to make yourself understood, even be accepted by the English-speaking locals of the country in which you are. To achieve this, here are some basic abbreviations:

• ID: You will find this abbreviation for Identification everywhere abroad and it simply means “card/identification”. It is good to know so as not to go through a completely lost tourist from the first moment.
• SSN: do you have your Social Security Number in case of emergency? Your Social Security Number is essential, and knowing the abbreviation in English will always be an advantage in case of need, to save time in your conversation and be more effective on the trip.
• USCIS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, a rather long name that is worth abbreviating. The " immigration service " is an institution worth knowing if you travel to the United States, if only to find out where it is.

Also take a look at our article on the most difficult expressions to pronounce in English.

Other common expressions in English

Finally, there are certain abbreviations that do not fit the category of everyday life, or travel, or the professional world. Here is a small selection of acronyms that you can use from time to time in English:

• AIDS: This term refers to AIDS.
• FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, an acronym that will even help you understand certain movies.
• CIA: Central Intelligence Agency, a term that is probably unknown to anyone.

In summary, as you can see, English, apart from being a rich language, is full of abbreviations and acronyms that speed up a conversation, make it simpler, faster and more pleasant. By learning some of these expressions, you will almost be taken for a native English speaker. It's worth a try, right?

Come to Superprof for your first English classes. And, if you are more into studying from the comfort of home, we also have online English classes.

Are you looking for an English academy in Madrid?