EsPAñOLspAÑOL - Abbreviations in Spanish219

Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases that are used to save time and space. They are commonly used in both written and spoken Spanish, and can be found in a variety of contexts, from everyday conversations to formal documents.

There are many different types of abbreviations in Spanish, including:
Acronyms: Acronyms are abbreviations that are formed from the first letters of a series of words. For example, the acronym "ONU" stands for "Organización de las Naciones Unidas" (United Nations).
Initialisms: Initialisms are abbreviations that are formed from the first letters of a series of words, but they are pronounced as individual letters. For example, the initialism "USA" stands for "Estados Unidos de América" (United States of America).
Clipped words: Clipped words are abbreviations that are formed by removing the end of a word. For example, the clipped word "profe" is short for "profesor" (professor).
Contractions: Contractions are abbreviations that are formed by combining two words into one. For example, the contraction "del" is short for "de el" (of the).

Abbreviations can be used in a variety of contexts, including:
Formal documents: Abbreviations are often used in formal documents, such as contracts, legal documents, and scientific papers.
Everyday conversations: Abbreviations are also commonly used in everyday conversations. For example, people might say "voy a la uni" (I'm going to the university) instead of "voy a la universidad" (I'm going to the university).
Social media: Abbreviations are frequently used on social media, where space is limited. For example, people might use the abbreviation "LOL" (laughing out loud) instead of writing out the full phrase.

It is important to note that not all abbreviations are universally recognized. Some abbreviations may be more common in certain regions or contexts than others. If you are not sure whether an abbreviation is appropriate to use, it is always best to err on the side of caution and write out the full word or phrase.

Here is a list of some of the most common abbreviations in Spanish:

Abbreviation
Meaning

a.C.
antes de Cristo (before Christ)

a.m.
ante meridiem (before noon)

ADN
ácido desoxirribonucleico (deoxyribonucleic acid)

AL
América Latina (Latin America)

CIA
Central Intelligence Agency (Central Intelligence Agency)

d.C.
después de Cristo (after Christ)

.
Estados Unidos (United States)

etc.
etcétera (et cetera)

FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

km
kilómetro (kilometer)

ONU
Organización de las Naciones Unidas (United Nations)

p.m.
post meridiem (after noon)

RAE
Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy)

TV
televisión (television)

UE
Unión Europea (European Union)

USA
Estados Unidos de América (United States of America)

URSS
Unión de Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)