We use abbreviations and acronyms all the time in English; not only in writing, but sometimes when speaking, too.
Usually, we use abbreviations for the convenience of not having to write or say a phrase in full, but in some cases they have become so ingrained in our language that we would never consider using the full version.
This list contains over 50 of the most common English abbreviations you’ll come across whether you’re texting, writing an email, or having a regular conversation. Of course, it’s important that you are familiar with this vocabulary not just so that you can use them yourself, but also so that you can understand what others are saying to you.
Abbreviations vs acronyms vs initialisms
Before we get to our list of English abbreviations, let’s clear up some terminology that can be confusing. What is the difference between an abbreviation, acronym, and initialism?
What is an abbreviation?
An abbreviation is any shortened version of a word or phrase. It is quite a broad term that covers several different ways of shortening words and phrases by removing certain letters from them.
What is an acronym?
An acronym is a type of abbreviation. Specifically, an acronym is formed by taking the initial letters from a phrase, name, or other multi-word term. Furthermore, some or all of the letters in an acronym are pronounced as one word rather than being said individually.
For example, AWOL is pronounced ‘A-WOL’ and YOLO is pronounced ‘YO-LO’, so these are both considered acronyms.
What is an initialism?
An initialism is similar to an acronym, except that instead of pronouncing the letters as one word, you say them individually. RIP and DIY are examples of initialisms, because you pronounce each letter as it is written: ‘R-I-P’ and ‘D-I-Y’.
In reality, most people use the term ‘acronym’ to refer to any abbreviation consisting of initials.
What is a contraction?
While we’re on the topic of shortening words, we might as well cover contractions as well. A contraction shortens a word or phrase by omitting letters from the middle, whereas an acronym omits letters from the end of each word.
Common examples of contractions are:
- I’m (I am)
- You’ve (you have)
- Can’t (can not / cannot)
- They’ll (they will)
We have a separate page all about using contractions in writing, so we won’t go into any more detail on this topic here.
English abbreviations for writing
When using these English abbreviations in writing, it’s usually a good idea to use capital letters as this draws attention to the fact that they are abbreviations rather than regular words. There are some exceptions, which have deliberately been shown in lowercase in this list.
This said, the less formal the context, the more likely that people will use lowercase letters for abbreviations. After all, if you don’t have time to write the words in full, you certainly don’t have time to switch to uppercase text as you write!
Anyway, we have a lot of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms to get through, so let’s begin.
AFAIK
Meaning: As far as I know
“Liam is joining us for dinner, AFAIK.”
Only used in writing for convenience; never spoken.
AKA
Meaning: Also known as
“Meet Delilah, AKA the Dancing Queen.”
Used to give an alternative name or nickname. This English abbreviation is spoken just as much as it is written.
AM / PM
Meaning: ante meridiem (before midday) / post meridiem (after midday)
“I’ll see you at 7PM tomorrow.”
These are the first of several Latin abbreviations for words in English featured on this list. Using AM and PM to tell the time has become so commonplace that nobody would understand you if you used the full Latin versions of these words!
These may also be written as a.m. and p.m.
ATM
Meaning: Automated teller machine / At the moment
“Can we stop by at the ATM? I need to get some cash.”
“Tom said he’s short on money ATM so he won’t be joining us.”
The abbreviation ATM has two completely different meanings in English, but fortunately, it’s easy to see which one applies from the given context.
Firstly, an ATM is an unattended, automated machine for withdrawing cash or carrying out other banking transactions. This is another English abbreviation that has become far more common than the full phrase, both in writing and speaking.
Secondly, and more recently, ATM may be used in chat messages to mean ‘at the moment’. The full phrase is always used when speaking.
ASAP
Meaning: As soon as possible
“Please can you get this report sent to Julia ASAP?”
Used to show urgency, usually in a work environment. Interestingly, this can be either an acronym or an initialism. Most people say ‘ASAP’, making it an initialism, but you will also hear ‘A-SAP’, making it an acronym.
AWOL
Meaning: Absent without leave
“Can you try and get hold of Simon for me? He’s gone AWOL and we have a meeting in half an hour.”
Originally a military term to describe a soldier absent from their duties without permission, this can also be used more generally whenever someone is not where they should be and their whereabouts is unknown.
This is an example of an English acronym as it is pronounced ‘A-WOL’.
BRB
Meaning: Be right back
“BRB, someone at the door.”
Used exclusively in writing, usually in chat messaging, and often without any further context or explanation. You can type ‘BRB’ if you want to quickly notify the other person or people that you will be away for a moment.
BYO / BYOB
Meaning: Bring your own (booze/beer/bottle)
“Food provided, BYOB.”
If you’re attending a party and are told to ‘BYOB’, it means that alcoholic drinks won’t be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own.
The written abbreviation ‘BYO’ could also be placed in front of a different word, for example: ‘BYO plates’ or ‘BYO yoga mat’.
CC / BCC
Meaning: Carbon copy / Blind carbon copy
“Please CC me in any emails you send to the new client.”
You might be familiar with these abbreviations from writing emails, but it’s interesting to know where they originate from. Long before emails and printers were invented, carbon paper was used to make copies of a document as it was being written. These became known as ‘carbon copies’, shortened to CC.
A ‘blind carbon copy’ duplicates a document, but without the recipient knowing it has been duplicated.
Coming back to emails, to CC someone is to include them in the email without addressing it to them directly. To BCC someone is to give them visibility over the message without any other recipients knowing that person was included.
Cont.
Meaning: Continued
This is the first of the English abbreviations on this list that is neither an acronym nor an initialism. You may also see it contracted as con’t or cont’d. In any case, use this abbreviation after a page break or some other interruption, to show that the next page or section continues from the one before.
DIY
Meaning: Do it yourself
“I’m not the best at DIY, but I manage some jobs around the house.”
DIY refers to doing home maintenance and home improvement jobs yourself, rather than hiring a decorator/plumber/carpenter/etc.
Although the original phrase is a verb phrase, the abbreviation is used as a noun. It’s pronounced ‘D-I-Y’.
DOB
Meaning: Date of birth
This abbreviation is most often found on forms, when personal information is required.
e.g.
Meaning: Exempli gratia (for example)
“Don’t forget to send something for Mother’s Day, e.g. flowers or chocolates.”
Here we have another Latin abbreviation that is still used in everyday English. It simply means ‘for example’, and is used to introduce one or more examples of the thing just mentioned. It is rarely spoken out loud in this form.
There many other words and phrases to give examples in English.
EOD / EOM / EOY
Meaning: End of day/month/year
“Will you have the file ready to send by EOD?”
“Let’s go through the EOY figures in tomorrow’s meeting.”
This is a written abbreviation most often used in business English. If you need help understanding terms like this, check out some of the best business English courses – many of them are free.
est.
Meaning: Established
You’ll most often see this abbreviation written alongside a business name, sometimes in a logo or signage. It just shows the year the business was established.
This can also be an abbreviation of ‘estimated’, but it should be clear from the context if this is the case.
ETA
Meaning: Estimated time of arrival
“I’m already here. What’s your ETA?”
You can use this abbreviation in writing or speaking. It refers to the time you expect to arrive somewhere.
etc.
Meaning: et cetera (and the rest; and so on)
“Make sure you’ve got all the decorations for the party. Balloons, streamers, banners, etc.”
Here is yet another English abbreviation that actually comes from Latin. Unlike the others featured on this list, this one is spoken in full. Only use the abbreviated form in writing.
FAQ
Meaning: Frequently asked questions
“Please check our FAQs page for further information.”
You’ll often see this abbreviation used on websites. Companies publish FAQs so that their customers can find the answers on their website rather than having to contact the company directly.
See also: When to use further or farther
FML
Meaning: F**k my life
“My mum made me clean my room and now my dad wants me to wash the car. FML.”
This abbreviation of an expletive is a way of expressing frustration. It should only be used in informal situations, and most often crops up in chats and messages.
FOMO
Meaning: Fear of missing out
“I should stay home and rest this weekend, by my FOMO wants me to go out.”
This is one of the abbreviations in English that counts as an acronym, because we pronounce it ‘FO-MO’.
FTW
Meaning: For the win
“I’m having some friends round to watch the game tonight. Pizza and beers FTW!”
Even knowing what this English abbreviation stands for, the meaning is not immediately obvious. It is generally added after a noun to show enthusiastic support for or approval of that thing.
FWIW
Meaning: For what it’s worth
“I don’t agree with him, FWIW.”
Adding FWIW to a statement shows that you realize it may or may not be considered helpful or important. This initialism is only written, not spoken. In fact, saying the abbreviation out loud would require twice as many syllables as saying the full version!
FYI
Meaning: For your information
“FYI, I’m going to be 10 minutes late.”
This English abbreviation can be written or spoken in casual contexts. It doesn’t change the meaning of the information presented, but shows you are making sure the listener or reader is aware of it. Sometimes it’s said in irritation, to prove a point.
i.e.
Meaning: id est (that is; in other words)
“My wife is making my favorite dessert for my birthday, i.e. apple pie.”
Often confused with e.g., i.e. is used to clarify the thing just mentioned (but not to give an example that is one of many possibilities). This one is sometimes said out loud.
IDK
Meaning: I don’t know.
“IDK why he keeps messaging me when I said I’m not interested.”
Here is another abbreviation that’s generally confined to messages. It’s simply convenient to write these three initials instead of the words in full.
IKR
Meaning: I know, right?
Use this as a standalone comment to wholeheartedly agree with what the other person has just said. This abbreviation usually appears in social media comments, chats, and text messages.
IMO / IMHO
Meaning: In my opinion / In my honest opinion
“IMHO you should probably think about joining a gym.”
This abbreviation can be added to the beginning or end of a statement, usually to warn the reader that you are saying something bluntly.
IOU
Meaning: I owe you
“IOU $20”
“I’m out of cash; can I give you an IOU?”
Here is one English abbreviation that pre-dates text messaging; in fact, it was used as far back as the 1600s. Turns out 90s kids were not the first to shorten ‘you’ to ‘u’.
Used in writing, you may use the letters IOU to replace the full phrase, often on a note left for another person to see. This abbreviation can also be used as a noun, as in the example above. An IOU is a promise to pay or give back what is owed.
IRL
Meaning: In real life
“I hope one day we can meet IRL.”
This may seem like a strange phrase to have earned an abbreviation, since it’s not used that commonly in everyday conversation. However, as the digital world has grown, there has become more need to distinguish between the ‘real’ world and the online/gaming/virtual one.
LMK
Meaning: Let me know
“We’re going to the pub later. LMK if you can make it.”
Here’s another English abbreviation that is written, but never spoken.
LOL
Meaning: Laugh out loud / Lots of love
Used as a standalone expression, this can either show that you find something funny, or that you want to express affection. Unfortunately, this mixed meaning can create awkward situations if the intention is misunderstood.
You could try one of these other laugh idioms instead, to avoid any confusion.
MIA
Meaning: Missing in action
“Hugh is MIA. I guess we’ll have to get started without him.”
Here’s another military term that has merged into everyday speech. When someone is described as MIA, it means their location is unknown.
MTD / YTD
Meaning: Month-to-date / Year-to-date
“Our YTD earnings are up 15% year-on-year.”
‘Month-to-date’ means ‘so far this month’, and ‘year-to-date’ means ‘so far this year’. You’ll mainly see these initialisms used in business and finance settings.
N/A
Meaning: Not applicable / Not available
This English abbreviation is not used in sentences, but when filling in tables or forms. When a particular answer or data field cannot be given because it is not applicable or not available, N/A denotes this.
NSFW
Meaning: Not safe for work
“Warning: NSFW”
The label NSFW precedes content that is explicit in some way and therefore should not be viewed anywhere that there is a risk of onlookers seeing (or hearing) it.
NVM
Meaning: Never mind
“NVM, I’ve found it myself.”
This one is a straightforward informal shortening of the phrase ‘never mind’; no alternative meanings! It’s interesting to note that this is one of the few abbreviations that takes a letter from the middle of one of the words.
OAP
Meaning: Old-age pensioner
“OAPs receive a 50% discount on weekdays.”
This is a predominantly British English abbreviation, referring to a person who receives a state pension. In American English, the term ‘senior’ may also be used to refer to someone of this age.
You can read about more differences between UK and US words here.
OMG
Meaning: Oh my god
“OMG did you really just do that?!”
This must be one of the most common abbreviations in English in the modern age. Although originally used in writing and popularized in text messaging, now it is just as often spoken out loud.
OMW
Meaning: On my way
“OMW, see you in 5.”
Lets someone know that you have already departed (usually to meet them). May be used alone or as part of a sentence, but only ever written.
PIN
Meaning: Personal identification number
“Please enter your PIN on the keypad.”
This is the number you use to verify your identity when making a card transaction or certain online transactions.
Note that this abbreviation is commonly misused by people saying ‘PIN number’. When you look at the meaning of the abbreviation, you’ll see that this would mean ‘personal identification number number’, so the extra ‘number’ is redundant.
POV
Meaning: Point of view
“Filipe, would you care to share your POV on this matter?”
Although POV has long been used as an abbreviation in writing and sometimes speaking, it has more recently been popularized by POV memes, which present a unique and humorous perspective on a situation.
PTO
Meaning: Please turn over
Used at the end of a page to direct the reader to turn over and continue reading.
RIP
Meaning: Requiescat in pace / Rest in peace
“RIP Bob: Much loved husband, father, and friend.”
This is said as a prayer or condolence when somebody has died. Interestingly, it’s a Latin abbreviation but the Latin and English translations both use the same letters.
RN
Meaning: Right now
“Can’t chat RN”
Another written abbreviation; this has a straightforward meaning similar to ‘ATM’ for ‘at the moment’.
RSVP
Meaning: Répondez s’il vous plaît (please respond)
This is a rare French abbreviation used in English. It’s placed at the end of an invitation to request that the invitee replies to accept or decline the invite.
You’ll often see people writing ‘please RSVP’ to be more polite, even though the extra ‘please’ is redundant because its meaning is included in the abbreviation.
TBA / TBC
Meaning: To be announced / To be confirmed
“Exact location TBC”
Use this initialism when a particular detail is not yet confirmed, but you want to communicate the rest of the information that is available. For example, when making a plan to meet someone, you may want to set the date and time before agreeing the exact place to meet.
TBF
Meaning: To be fair
“Gary isn’t great at DIY but he has done a nice job with the decorating, TBF.”
This English abbreviation is generally confined to chats, messaging, and social media comments. Adding this to a statement offers some extra support or rationale, often as a counter-argument to something previously mentioned.
TBH
Meaning: To be honest
“I don’t see the point of all these meetings TBH.”
TBH is similar to IMO, in that it shows you are not holding back with your opinion or comment.
TGIF
Meaning: Thank god it’s Friday
“TGIF! This has been a tough week.”
If Friday is the end of your work week and the beginning of the weekend, you can use this expression to demonstrate your relief when this day arrives.
Thx
Meaning: Thanks
This informal English abbreviation comes from the ‘x’ sound made from the ‘ks’ at the end of the word.
TL;DR
Meaning: Too long; didn’t read
Someone may use this comment to explain that they didn’t bother reading something in full (an article, message or comment) because it was too long.
You’ll also see it added to the top of some articles to give a brief summary for anyone who doesn’t want to read the whole thing. If you need a more formal way to introduce a summary, check out these phrases for summarizing and concluding.
TMI
Meaning: Too much information
“Ewww mum, TMI!”
Used as a response to information that you didn’t really need or want to hear, usually because it was of a graphic or explicit nature.
TTFN
Meaning: Ta-ta for now
‘Ta-ta’ is an old-fashioned, affectionate way of saying goodbye in British English. Therefore, the abbreviation TTFN is a way of saying ‘goodbye for now’ in a text message or chat.
TTYL
Meaning: Talk to you later
Similar to the one above, you can use this abbreviation to say goodbye in a chat or signal that you are going offline or leaving a conversation for the time being.
TY
Meaning: Thank you
“TY for the flowers, they are beautiful.”
Here is just another way to give a quick expression of thanks in informal written contexts.
VIP
Meaning: Very important person
“Excuse me sir, these are VIP seats. The standard seating is to your left.”
This is quite a common English abbreviation. It can be used as a noun to refer to the person themselves, or as an adjective to describe something assigned to or reserved for people of this status.
WFH
Meaning: Work(ing) from home
“I think Jenny is WFH today. One of her kids is sick.”
This abbreviation became much more widely used during the Covid pandemic when most of the world’s population was forced to work from home for a while.
WOW / MOM / YOY
Meaning: Week on week / Month on month / Year on year
“Looking at our MOM earnings, things are not going well.”
Use this abbreviation in English to show you are comparing one period of time with another of the same length (usually the one immediately before). The ‘O’ can also stand for ‘over’, but this doesn’t change the meaning.
YOLO
Meaning: You only live once
We conclude this list with a final acronym, pronounced ‘YO-LO’. Say this when you wish to encourage yourself or others to make the most of every opportunity and live life to the full. It isn’t used in sentences so much as by itself, whether on a motivational poster or as a word of encouragement.
This list features some of the most common English abbreviations, but there are many more that you may encounter in day-to-day life or specific situations. Leave a comment if you can think of any more that should be listed here.
