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Acronyms in French
Losa acronyms in French are much more widely used than in Spanish. Therefore, if you are studying this language, it is very likely that you will find them in all kinds of fields: cultural, political, educational, and other aspects of everyday life. This little glossary of French acronyms will help you the next time you come across one. Bonne chance!
Small list of acronyms in French
- AF (Alliance Française). French alliance. It is an institution created with the aim of making the French language and culture known abroad, and it is based in Spain.
- ANPE (Agence Nationale Pour l'Emploi). The equivalent in Spain to the National Employment System or INEM.
- BD (Bande Dessinée). It is a very common way of referring to a comic or comic book. Literally, it means drawn band.
- BnF (Bibliotheque nationale de France). This is a French acronym used to refer to the French National Library, one of the most important in the world.
- BP (Boîte Postale). It literally translates as postal box, and we translate it into Spanish as post office box.
- CAP (Certificate of Professional Aptitude). This diploma is the equivalent to the one received after completing a Training Cycle in Spain.
- CDD (Contract à Durée Déterminée). A contract that is made for a defined period of time.
- CDI (Contract à Durée Indeterminée). It can be translated as an indefinite contract, in which there is no end date.
- CNED (Centre National d'Enseignement à Distance). It is the national center for distance learning, and could be compared to our UNED (National University of Distance Education).
- DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française). It is a French language diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education, and offered by the Alliance Française. Corresponds to the most advanced levels (C1 and C2).
- DELF (Diplôme d'Etudes de Langue Française). It is another type of French language diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education, also offered by the French Alliance. It corresponds to the levels that go from A1 to B2.
- DOM-TOM (Departement d'Outre-Mer et Territoires d'Outre-Mer). With this acronym we refer to the many territories that are part of the French Republic outside the European continent.
- HRD (Director of Human Resources). P ara referimos al Director de Recursos Humanos de una empresa.
- FN (Front National). This acronym in French identifies the National Front, a far-right party led by Marine Le Pen that has gained popularity in France in recent years.
- IVG (Interruption Volontaire de Grossesse). We refer to a voluntary abortion, which literally translates as voluntary termination of pregnancy.
- LR (Les Republicains). It is one of the majority parties in France, of a conservative nature and to which Nicolas Sarkozy belonged.
- GMO (Organisme Génétiquement Modifié). These acronyms identify products that have been genetically altered.
- PDG (President Directeur General). With this acronym in French we refer to the director or head of a company, and it could be translated into English with the acronym CEO, as we saw in the entry on anglicisms in the labor market.
- PS (Socialist Party). It is one of the majority parties in France, and to which the current president François Hollande belongs.
- R&D (Research and Development). Research and Development, which is Spain, we usually express as R&D.
- RSVP (Répondez S'il Vous Plaît). It is usually found at the end of a formal invitation (for a wedding, for example), and it is used to confirm attendance at the event.
- RTT (Reduction du Temps de Travail). This is the acronym used to refer to the reduction of working hours.
- RV (Rendez-vous). With this acronym we refer to a date or meeting, which can be both formal and informal.
- SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance). It is the minimum French interprofessional salary, which for the year 2016 is €1,467 per month, compared to €655.20 in Spain.
- SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français). It is an acronym that in French translates as Sociedad Nacional de Ferrocarriles, and corresponds to the Spanish Renfe.
- SVP (S'il Vous Plait). This is an acronym used to express 'please' in text messages, emails or small notes.
- TGV (train à grande vitesse). It is the French high-speed train, the AVE in Spain.
- TV5 (TV5 World). It is an international television channel that offers content in French that is very useful for students of this language.
- TVA (Taxe à la Valeur Ajoutée). This acronym identifies the value added tax (VAT).
- VTT (velo tout terrain). To refer to all-terrain bikes.
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