List of homophonic abbreviations

This is a list of homophonic abbreviations in the English language.

A

ad: advantage (tennis)^[1]; advertisement^[2]
advert: advertisement^[2]
auto: automobile^[3]; automatic^[4]
av or avvie (also avvy)

B

benny: benzedrine (slang)^[5]; benefits^[6]^[7]^[8]
bevvy: beverage (usu. alcoholic)
bi: bisexual (slang)^[9]
bio: biology^[10]; biography (informal)^[11]
Birks: Birkenstocks
bronc: bronco^[12]
bronto: Brontosaurus^{[citation needed]}
bud: buddy (informal)^[13]
budgie: budgerigar^[14]
bunk: bunkum^[15]

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: 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^[16]
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

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; macaroni; (with initial capital) Apple Macintosh; McIntosh apple; (or mack) mackintosh
macro: macroinstruction
mag: magazine; magnet; magnification; magnesium alloy wheels; magnum
Man United: Manchester United F.C.
Mass: Massachusetts
maths (UK) or math (U.S.): mathematics
matric: matriculation^[17]
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: Newfoundlander
Nip: A Japanese (derogatory, Nipponese)
nympho: nymphomaniac

O

op: optical art^[18]; 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^[19]
pap, paps: paparazzi
pec: pectoral muscle^[20]
peeps: people (slang)^[21]
Peke: Pekingese
Penn: Pennsylvania
perk: perquisite
perp: perpetrator (slang)^[22]
perv: pervert^[23]
photo: photograph (informal)^[24]
photo op: photo(graphic) opportunity^[25]
phys ed: physical education (informal)^[26]
piano: pianoforte^[27]
pic (plural pics or pix): (motion) picture (slang)^[28]; (photographic) picture (slang)^[28]
pol: politician (informal)^[29]
polio: poliomyelitis^[30]
poly: polyamorous; polyester^[31]; polyethylene^[31]; polygraph (U.S. government, as in "full scope poly")^[32]; polymer^[33]; Polynesian; polytechnic^[34]
po-mo: post-modern^[35]
pop: popular (informal)^[36]; popular music
porn or porno: pornography (slang)^[37]
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 (UK: /ˈrɛdʒ/, of a motor vehicle); regulation /ˈrɛɡ/
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
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)^[38]

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 [1] (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: 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

References

^ "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "auto – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-05-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ auto – Dictionary.com
^ "benny. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-11-28. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ 12/22/97 BATTLE OF THE BENNIES
^ A few biotechs still beat the drum for bennies – San Francisco Business Times
^ Stanley Kurtz on Gay Marriage on National Review Online
^ "bi. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ bio – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ "bio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-26. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
^ bronc – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bud – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ budgie – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ bunk – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ gin 1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2014
^ matric – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ op – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "pant 2. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "pec. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ peeps – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "perp. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ perv – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "photo. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ photo op – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ "phys ed. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "piano 1. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b "pic. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "pol. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-09-07. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "polio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ ^a ^b "poly. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-01-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ CI poly – definition from Reference.com
^ poly – Definition by Merriam-Webster
^ poly – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ po-mo – Definitions from Dictionary.com
^ "pop 3. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "porn. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
^ "rum – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-12-11.

[1] "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[advertisement-2] "ad – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[3] "auto – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2005-05-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[4] uto – Dictionary.com

[5] "benny. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-11-28. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[6] 12/22/97 BATTLE OF THE BENNIES

[7] A few biotechs still beat the drum for bennies – San Francisco Business Times

[8] Stanley Kurtz on Gay Marriage on National Review Online

[9] "bi. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[10] – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[11] "bio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-26. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

[12] ronc – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[13] ud – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[14] udgie – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[15] unk – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[16] 1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2014

[17] tric – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[18] – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[19] "pant 2. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[20] "pec. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[21] s – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[22] "perp. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[23] rv – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[24] "photo. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[25] to op – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[26] "phys ed. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[27] "piano 1. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-21. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[pic-28] "pic. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[29] "pol. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-09-07. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[30] "polio. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[poly-31] "poly. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-01-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[32] CI poly – definition from Reference.com

[33] y – Definition by Merriam-Webster

[34] y – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[35] -mo – Definitions from Dictionary.com

[36] "pop 3. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[37] "porn. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000". Archived from the original on 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2006-09-26.

[38] "rum – American Heritage Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-12-11.

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