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You should know these English abbreviations

English abbreviations in everyday life

It is a fact that abbreviations have now entered our daily lives, in German but also in English. They make our communication easier because everyone knows immediately what is meant. Do you want to learn more and are you looking for an English course in Mainz ? Superprof shows you the best teachers!

Abbreviations are not only effective, they are real parts of everyday life, allowing us to express ourselves and to show a sensation, a reaction.

New characters from our society today, which are no less interesting than some written testimonies of earlier literature. All of this has been fueled by the Internet and telecommunications, which have made the abbreviation the commonly used sign of communication.

With abbreviations in English, we are able to communicate more easily and quickly, especially in written form. In everyday life all this is very useful, as these words show:

• WTF: This abbreviation is probably the most well known of all English abbreviations as most of us use it, sometimes even abusively. It's an expression of astonishment or outrage straight from America. A good foundation if you want to speak like a real native English speaker, with or without an accent!
• AC: You may sometimes wonder why this abbreviation is in our cars when it comes to turning on the air conditioning? Well, that's simply because "AC" is short for "air conditioning." One of life's mysteries, now solved!
• THX: Very simply, here "THX" is the logical abbreviation of "Thanks". This term is useful for anyone who wants to show that their English skills are very good, even familiar.
• LOL: You probably know this term used everywhere, always and by everyone. It's the simple translation of Laughing Out Loud, meaning the idea of ​​laughing yourself to death. I wish you would use it more often!
• OMG: This abbreviation is probably already one of those that you know so well you don't even think about it since everyone uses it or has used it before. It's the translation of "Oh my God" and the abbreviation of "Oh my God", a classic when you want to express surprise in English with an equivalent or paraphrase your surprise.
• DIY: If you're not new to the world of the internet, chances are that Do It Yourself is a household term. Coming from the United States, "Do It Yourself" in Germany very logically includes all manual activities that you do yourself. From cake batter to a wall decoration, a Christmas garland, everyone becomes a DIY enthusiast with DIY!
• YOLO: Maybe for the younger ones this acronym could be translated as "You Only Live Once", which means something like "You only live once", let's enjoy every moment. More and more present in oral conversations, it is often used in written form in everyday life, of course not in real estate law or in political institutions.

This small selection of well-known English abbreviations is essential if you want to speak English like a pro.

But what shortcuts can we find in a more formal, professional setting? Let's find out now!

English abbreviations in the professional context

Like the German language, the English language has certain must-have abbreviations that one must know in order to be part of the team of informed speakers in the workplace.

The, for, that, with, but, we, are, not, your... everyone knows and uses these terms, but what about specific abbreviations?

Whether it is a collection of jurisprudence, commercial law, departmental management, or even a global organization, all professions use this type of abbreviation to facilitate their communication:

• BTW: This abbreviation of By The Way is like the German term "by the way". Anyone who speaks English will have used this term before, so there's a good chance you've heard it before.
• ASAP: The acronym stands for As Soon As Possible and means that something should be done as soon as possible. So if your boss wants something ASAP, you should get on it quickly.
• DND: Do Not Disturb, this acronym has a more serious meaning here. If you see the sign with DND, you should not enter the room, because the abbreviation means "do not disturb".
• FYI: This abbreviation of For Your Information is quite commonly used in the business world to say something is for your information.

There are other abbreviations and many unusual words in English.

English abbreviations for travel

In short, it is not difficult to make yourself understood and even accepted by the native English speakers of the country you are in.

Anyone traveling through Europe or Spain can get far with English abbreviations. You can find your English course Wiesbaden for more information directly at Superprof!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind and abbreviations to know:

• ID: This abbreviation of Identification has also become very established in German and is found everywhere. Whether at the airport, at the train station or in a nightclub, the ID card is used for identification.
• SSN: Do you have your social security number handy in case of an emergency? The SSN is essential and knowing the English abbreviation is always a plus when needed to save time on an important conversation in the hospital and be as efficient as possible when travelling.
• USCIS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, a rather long and heavy name that was well worth the abbreviation. The immigration service is a useful institution to know if you are allowed to travel to the United States or to contact them if you have any doubts.

There are many difficult English words, as well as some other abbreviations.

Other common English expressions

Sometimes some abbreviations don't fit into the category of everyday life, travel or work. And, for, you, with, that, you know many words that you no longer have to learn. But the meaning of a business term may still need to be learned.

In German we speak of abbreviations, which in Shakespeare's language is called abbreviation. In business talk, abbreviations are a common means of communication.

Here is a small selection of short words that are used in English from time to time:

• AIDS: This term simply refers to the disease AIDS and has nothing to do with the issue of aid, humanitarian work, etc. A false friend when you think of the English word aid.
• FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, an acronym that can help you understand some movies.
• CIA: Central Intelligence Agency, a term that is probably not foreign to anyone.

In short, one understands very well that English is not only a rich language, but full of small abbreviations of all kinds that make a conversation more fluid, easier, faster and more enjoyable.

Once you master a few of these terms, you can communicate in English almost as well as a native speaker.