This is a list of common abbreviations in the English language.
A
;ab
:abdominal muscle (slang)
:abalone
:abscess (slang)
;ad
:advantage (tennis)
:advertisement
;advert
:advertisement
;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
:ampoule
;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
:<!--not an apocopation; see the definition: because-->
: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
<!--not an apocopation of an English word: ;karaoke
: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<!--source: OED, second ed.-->
:macaroni
:(with initial capital) Apple Macintosh
:McIntosh apple
:(or mack) Mackintosh raincoat
;macro
:macroinstruction
;mag
:magazine
:magnet
:magnification
:magnesium alloy wheels
:magnum
;Man United<!--pronounced as written-->
: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)
;polio
:poliomyelitis
;poly
:polyamorous
:polyester
:polyethylene
: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
<!-- "retro", meaning "reviving the past", comes from the prefix "retro-" and so is not an apocopation-->
;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 <!--Source: Chambers Dictionary, 1998 ed.-->
: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