Learn the Spanish Abbreviations You Should Know

Spanish has dozens of abbreviations, and theyre common in both formal and informal writing. Differences Between Abbreviations in English and Spanish Unlike in English, where most abbreviations are capitalized, many Spanish abbreviations are not. Generally, abbreviations that are capitalized are personal titles (such as Sr. and Dr., even though the words themselves are not capitalized when spelled out) and those derived from proper nouns. But there are exceptions. Note also that, as in English, some abbreviations are used with or without periods varying with the style of writer or publication. The points of the compass usually arent abbreviated in running text. List of Spanish Abbreviations Here are the most common Spanish abbreviations. This list is far from complete, as Spanish has hundreds of abbreviations. Among those not listed here are those that are common in only one country, including acronyms for government agencies such as JUJEM for Junta de Jefes del Estado Mayor, the Spanish Joint Chiefs of Staff. This list shows the Spanish abbreviation in boldface, the Spanish meaning and the corresponding English abbreviation or translation. A/A — a la atencià ³n — to the attentiona.C., a. de C., a.J.C., a. de J.C. — antes de Cristo, antes de Jesucristo — B.C. (before Christ), BCE (before Common Era)a. m. — antes del mediodà ­a — a.m. (before noon)apdo. — apartado postal — P.O. Boxaprox. — aproximadamente — approximatelyAv., Avda. — avenida — Ave. (avenue, in addresses)Bs. As. — Buenos Aires — Buenos Airescap.o — capà ­tulo — chapterc.c. — centà ­metros cà ºbicos — c.c. (cubic centimeters)Cà ­a — compaà ±Ãƒ ­a — Co. (company)cm — centà ­metros — cm. (centimeters)c/u — cada uno — apieceD. — don — SirDa. — doà ±a — Madamd.C., d. de C., d.J.C., d. de J.C. — despuà ©s de Cristo, despuà ©s de Jesucristo — A.D. (anno domini), CE (Common Era)dna. — docena — dozenDr., Dra. — doctor, doctora — Dr.E — este (punto cardinal) — E (east)EE. UU. — Estados Unidos — U.S.esq. — esquina — street corneretc. — etcà ©tera — etc.f.c., F.C. — ferrocarril — R.R. (railroad)FF. AA. — fuerzas armadas — armed forcesGob. — gobierno — Gov.Gral. — general — Gen. (military title)h. — hora — hourIng. — ingeniero — engineerkg — kilogramos — kg (kilograms)km/h — kilà ³metros por hora — kilometers per hourl — litros — litersLic. — licenciado — attorneym — metros — metersmm — milà ­metros — millimetersm.n. — moneda nacional — sometimes used to distinguish the national currency from others, especially in areas used by foreign touristsms. — manuscrito — manuscriptN — norte — N (north)no., nà ºm. — nà ºmero — No. ( number)O — oeste — W (west)OEA — Organizacià ³n de Estados Americanos — OAS (Organization of American States)ONU — Organizacià ³n de Naciones Unidas — UN (United Nations)OTAN — La Organizacià ³n del Tratado Atlà ¡ntico Norte — NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)pà ¡g. — pà ¡gina — pageP.D. — postdata — P.S.Pdte., Pdta. — presidente (masculine), presidenta (feminine) — presidentp.ej. — por ejemplo — e.g. (for example)p. m. — post meridien — p.m. (after noon)Prof, Profa. — profesor, profesora — Professorq.e.p.d. — que en paz descanse — R.I.P. (rest in peace)S — sur — S (south)S.A. — Sociedad Anà ³nima — Inc.S.L. — Sociedad Limitada — Ltd.Sr. — seà ±or — Mr.Sra. — seà ±ora — Mrs., Ms.Srta. — seà ±orita — Miss, Ms.s.s.s. — su segu ro servidor — your faithful servant (used as a closing in correspondence)tel. — telà ©fono — telephoneUd., Vd., Uds., Vds. — usted, ustedes — youv. — và ©ase — go seevol. — volumen — vol. (volume)W.C. — water closet — bathroom, toilet Abbreviations for Ordinal Numbers Just as in English we might use a spelling such as 5th for fifth, Spanish speakers often abbreviate ordinal  numbers using the numerals themselves. A big difference in Spanish is that the abbreviations vary with gender. For example, octavo (eighth) is written as 8o if its masculine and 8a if its feminine. Such forms arent common for numbers above 10. Note that in masculine forms a superscripted zero is used rather than a degree symbol.