Common English Abbreviations – List, Meanings, and PDF for English Learners
Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases that make sentences shorter and easier to read. They are often used when space is limited or when a long phrase can be replaced with a shorter form. For English language learners, abbreviations can be difficult to understand unless they are studied in advance. To help, we’ve created a list of common English abbreviations, grouped into categories for easier learning. You can also download a printable PDF version of the list to use for study or classroom teaching.
English Abbreviations List
The table below lists common English abbreviations, arranged into categories such as titles, addresses, education, internet slang, and more.
| Abbreviation | Full Form |
|---|---|
| Titles and Names | |
| Dr. | Doctor |
| Mr. | Mister |
| Mrs. | Misses |
| Ms. | Miss |
| Addresses & Directions | |
| Ave | Avenue |
| Blvd. | Boulevard |
| Dr. | Drive |
| Ln. | Lane |
| Rd. | Road |
| E | East |
| N | North |
| NE | North East |
| NW | North West |
| S | South |
| SE | South East |
| SW | South West |
| W | West |
| St. | Street |
| Education & Jobs | |
| BA | Bachelor of Arts |
| BS | Bachelor of Science |
| MA | Master of Arts |
| MBA | Master of Business Administration |
| MFA | Master of Fine Arts |
| Asst. | Assistant |
| Corp. | Corporation |
| Ltd | Limited |
| Inc. | Incorporated |
| VP | Vice President |
| PA | Personal Assistant |
| Internet Slang & Informal Abbreviations | |
| brb | be right back |
| lol | laugh out loud |
| np | no problem |
| ty | thank you |
| yw | you’re welcome |
| sry | sorry |
| ofc | of course |
| IMO | in my opinion |
| tbh | to be honest |
| FYI | for your information |
| jk | joking |
| bro | brother |
| bros | brothers |
| sis | sister |
| Academic & Latin Abbreviations | |
| etc. | etcetera |
| e.g. | exempli gratia (for example) |
| i.e. | id est (that is) |
| n.b | nota bene (take note) |
| P.S. | post scriptum (written after) |
| et al. | et alia (and others) |
| C.V. | curriculum vitae |
| fig. | figure |
| Measurements & Time | |
| ft. | feet |
| hr. | hour |
| min. | minute |
| sq. | square |
| yd. | yard |
| tbsp. | tablespoon |
| a.m. | ante meridiem (before noon) |
| p.m. | post meridiem (after noon) |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time |
| UTC | Universal Time Coordinated |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time |
| CST | Central Standard Time |
| General Use / Miscellaneous | |
| n/a | not applicable |
| approx. | approximately |
| appt | appointment |
| no | number |
| tel | telephone |
| temp | temporary |
| vs | versus |
Download the English Abbreviations PDF
Want a copy to keep or share with students? Download the free PDF version of this abbreviations list. It’s perfect for study, quick reference, or classroom activities.