List of English apocopations

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This is a list of common apocopations in the English language.

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] A

ab: abdominal muscle (slang)[1]; abcess (slang)[2]
abs: abdominal muscles (slang)[3]
ad: advantage (tennis)[4]; advertisement [5]
advert: advertisement [6]
addy: (email) address (UK)^{[citation needed]}
admin: administrator [7] :administration [8]
afish: aficionado^{[citation needed]}
ag: agriculture (informal)[9]
aggro: aggravation or aggression (UK slang)[10]
agit-prop: agitational propaganda [11]
amp: ampere [12]; amphetamine (as in "amped up")^{[citation needed]}; amplifier [13]; amputation or amputee[14]; ampoule [15]; amplify^{[citation needed]}
app: application [16]
arco: arcology^{[citation needed]}
auto: automobile [17]; automatic [18]
av or avvie (also avvy): avatar^{[citation needed]}

[edit] B

b: bad (as in the phrase "my bad" meaning "my mistake" or "my apologies")^{[citation needed]}
bennies: benzedrine (slang)[19]; benefits [20][21][22]
bi: bisexual (slang)[23]
bike: bicycle [24]
bio: biology; biography (informal)[25]
Birks: Birkenstocks
biz: business (informal)[26]
bod: body
bookie: bookmaker
bra: brassiere
bro: brother
bronc: bronco
bronto: brontosaur(us)
bud: buddy
budgie: budgerigar
bunk: bunkum

[edit] C

cab: cabriolet
cal: calorie
Cal or Cali: California
cam: camera; camouflage
camo: camouflage
Can: Canada or Canadian (in combining forms)
cap: captain
carbs: carbohydrates
chem: chemistry
chemo: chemotherapy
chimp: chimpanzee
cig: cigarette
civ: civilization
civvy or civie: civilian
clit: clitoris
coke: cocaine
Coke: Coca-Cola
com: command (military formation); communication (especially in combinations)
combi or combo: combination
con: convict, confidence trick, convention
condo: condominium
congrats: congratulations
co-op: cooperative
corp: corporation
cred: credibility
crip: cripple
croc: crocodile
curio: curiosity
cyber: cybernetics (esp. in combinations)

[edit] D

decaf: decaffeinated
decal: decalcomania
deco: decoration
deets: details
defrag: defragment
deli: delicatessen
delish: delicious
Dem: Democrat
demo: demonstration; demolition
derm: dermatologist; dermatological
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 (commonly a Microsoft Word document)
dorm: dormitory

[edit] E

ed: education
emo: emotional
ep: episode
ex: ex-(boyfriend, wife, etc); exhibition; war exercise
exam: examination
exec: executive
expo: exposition

[edit] F

fab: fabulous
fan: fanatic
fed: federal
frag: fragmentation grenade, also verb: to kill with such a grenade.
frank: frankfurter

[edit] G

ganj: ganja
gas: gasoline
gat: Gatling gun
gig: gigabyte
glutes: gluteus maximus
go fig: go figure
gov: governor; government
grad: graduate (or graduation, as in grad night)
gym: gymnasium

[edit] H

hash: hashish
hep: hepatitis
hetero or het: heterosexual
hippo: hippopotamus
homo: homosexual; homogenized (milk)
hydro: hydroelectricity; hydrotherapy; hydrothermal
hype: hyperbole
hypo: hypodermic
hyper: hyperactive

[edit] I

Inc: Incorporated
inf: infinitely
info: information
infra dig: infra dignitatem (beneath one's dignity) (borrowed from Latin)
inti: intifada
intro: introduction
ipecac: ipecacuanha
Itey: Italian

[edit] J

Jap: Japanese (considered rude)

[edit] K

karaoke: kara-ookesutora (borrowed from Japanese)
kilo: kilogram
klepto: kleptomaniac

[edit] L

lab: laboratory; (cap.) Labrador retriever
lav: lavatory
legit: legitimate
les, lez or lesbo: lesbian
lib: liberal; liberation; (cap.) Libertarian
limo: limousine
lino: linoleum
lit: literature
lo-cal: low-calorie
log: logarithm

[edit] M

mac: macaroni; (cap.) Macintosh; McIntosh apple
mack: mackintosh
macro: macroinstruction
mag: magazine; magnet; magnification; magnesium alloy wheels; magnum
Mass: Massachusetts
maths (UK) or math (US): mathematics
max: maximum
mayo: mayonnaise
med: medication; medic; (cap.) Mediterranean
meg: megabyte
meth: methamphetamine
Mex or Mexi: Mexican
mezc: mescaline
mike (or mic): microphone; microgram
Minn: Minnesota
Miss: Mississippi
mod: moderator; modern; modification; modular; modulo operation
mono: mononucleosis; monaural; monochrome
monocot: monocotyledon

[edit] N

natch: naturally
negs: (photographic) negatives
neocon: neoconservative
nympho: nymphomaniac

[edit] O

ob-gyn: obstetrician-gynecologist; obstetrics-gynecology
op: optical art [27]; optical; operation; operator; opportunity
op-ed: "opposite the editorial (page)"
orang: orangutan

[edit] P

Paki: Pakistani (pejorative)
pants: pantaloons[28]
pec: pectoral muscle [29]
peeps: people (slang) [30]
Peke: Pekingese
Penn: Pennsylvania
perp: perpetrator (slang)[31]
perv: pervert [32]
photo: photograph (informal) [33]
photo op: photo(graphic) opportunity[34]
phys ed: physical education (informal)[35]
piano: pianoforte[36]
pic (plural pics or pix): (motion) picture (slang)[37]; (photographic) picture (slang)[38]
pol: politician (informal)[39]
polio: poliomyelitis [40]
poly: polyester [41]; polyethylene [42]; polymer [43]; polytechnic [44]
po-mo: post-modern [45]
pop: popular (informal)[46]
porn or porno: pornography (slang)[47]
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
psych: psychology
psycho: psychopath
pub: publication; public house
pullie: pullover
pulsar: pulsating; star
pyro: pyromaniac

[edit] Q

quad: quadrangle; quadruplet
quasar: quasi-stellar
quint: quintuplet

[edit] R

rad: radian; radiator; radical; (military) radio
radio: radiotelegraphy
Rasta: Rastafarian
Reb: Rebel (i.e. Confederate)
rec: recreation
recon: reconnaissance
ref: referee; reference
rehab: rehabilitation
rep: repetition; representative; (cap.) Republican; reputation
repo: repossession
res: reserve (Indian or military); residence; resolution
rhino: rhinoceros
ruck: rucksack

[edit] S

San Fran: San Francisco
sarge: sergeant
sarky (UK): sarcastic
Satch: Joe Satriani
sax: saxophone
schizo: schizophrenic
Scottie: Scottish Terrier
Sea-Tac: Seattle-Tacoma
sec: second; secant
Semper Fi!: Semper Fidelis
sig: signal; (Internet) signature
sim: simulation
sis: sister
soph: sophomore
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: submarine; substitute
sum: summarize
sus (or suss): suspect
sush: sushi
sync or synch: synchronization
synth: synthesizer
syph: syphilis

[edit] T

tan: tangent
tarp: tarpaulin
taxi or taxicab: taximeter cabriolet
tech: technician; technology
techno: technology
teddy: teddy bear
teen: teenager
tele or telly: television
tog: obsolete togeman, from obsolete French togue, cloak, from Latin toga, garment
trad: tradition(al)
tranq: tranquilizer
trig: trigonometry
tux: tuxedo
typo: typographical error