121 useful French abbreviations & acronyms to get familiar with
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Nowadays, there are so many abbreviations that it’s sometimes hard to understand a message in one’s own language. Not to mention another language, right?
Don’t worry. We won’t overload you with useless French acronyms in this article. However, if you’re learning French, you’ll need to learn a few basic abbreviations in French to:
- understand personal and professional emails,
- text francophone people,
- understand French grammar and vocab (gender, number, verb types, pronouns, etc.)
- save some time when writing
- and, let’s be honest, sound cool.
There are many more reasons to learn French abbreviations, so let’s get to it ASAP!
What are abbreviations?
We all know what abbreviations and acronyms are. Or do we? If the difference is unclear, here is a short definition:
- Abbreviations: An abbreviation is a contracted or shortened form of a phrase or word. This is a blanket term that encompasses acronyms.
Example: Well, ex.
- Acronyms: An acronym is a type of abbreviation. It’s formed by the first letters of a multi-word noun, term, or phrase.
Example: UN, United Nations (ONU, Organisation des Nations unies, in French)
Types of abbreviations included in this article:
From the main French acronyms to the French abbreviations for Madame, we have you covered.
Keep reading for:
- Top common French abbreviations
- French abbreviations for texting
- French abbreviations for months
- Top common French acronyms
Top common French abbreviations
These French abbreviations are commonly used and super handy to learn. If you travel to a francophone country or interact with French-speaking people on a regular basis, you’ll see these everywhere!
| French | What is stands for | English equivalent/meaning | IPA (full word) |
| adj. | adjectif | adjective | adʒɛktif |
| adv. | adverbe | adverb | advɛɾbə |
| auj. | aujourd’hui | today | oʒuɾdɥi |
| bât. | bâtiment | building | bɑtimə |
| bcp | beaucoup | a lot | boku |
| bjr | bonjour | hello/good morning | bõʒuɾ |
| slt | salut | hi | saly |
| bsr | bonsoir | good evening | bõswaɾ |
| cad | c’est à dire | that is to say | kɛt‿ a diɾə |
| cdlt | cordialement | sincerely | kɔɾdjaləmə |
| dr | docteur | doctor | dɔktœɾ |
| ex. | exemple or exercice | example or exercise | ɛgzɑ̃pl ɔɾ ɛgzɛɾsisə |
| expr. | expression | expression | ɛkspɾɛsjõ |
| fam. | familier | familiar | familje |
| vulg. | vulgar | vulgar | vylgaɾ |
| v. | verb | verb | vɛɾ |
| sing. | singulier | singular | sɛ̃glje |
| pl. | pluriel | plural | plyɾjɛl |
| s. | siècle | century | sjɛklə |
| qq ch | quelque chose | something | kɛlkə ʃozə |
| qq’un | quelqu’un | someone | kɛlkœ̃ |
| quelque | some | kɛlkə | |
| psy | psychologue or psychiatre | psychologist or psychiatrist | psiʃɔlɔg ɔɾ psiʃjatɾə |
| prép. | préposition | preposition | pɾepozisjõ |
| prépa | preparation | preparation | pɾəpaɾasjõ |
| n.f | nom féminin | female noun | nõ feminɛ̃ |
| n.m. | nom masculin | male noun | nõ maskylɛ̃ |
| math. | mathématiques | mathematics | matematikə |
| J.-C. | Jésus Christ | Jesus Christ | ʒezy ʃɾi |
| irr. | irrégulier | irregular | irreglje |
| hist. | histoire | history | istwaɾə |
| géo. | géographie | geography | ʒeɔgɾapjə |
| we | weekend | weekend | wɛɛkɑ̃ |
| Mme | Madame | Mrs. | madamə |
| M. | Monsieur | Mr. | məsjø |
| Mlle | *Mademoiselle | Miss | madəmwazɛlə |
*Controversial term. Check this article for further information
French abbreviations for texting
Whether we like it or not, texting is here to stay!
Therefore, if you want to make friends — or something more — in France, make sure to keep the table below at hand.
After all, there’s nothing worse than a lost-in-translation misunderstanding without seeing the other person! And if you did make a faux pas, check out these compliments in French. They can go a long way! Check out a full list of French slang and texting vocab here.
| French | What is stands for | English equivalent/meaning | IPA (full word) |
| A+ | à plus tard/à plus | see you later | a ply taɾd/a ply |
| B1 | bien | good | bjɛ̃ |
| bz | bisou | kiss | bizu |
| c | c’est | it's | kɛ |
| ct | c’était | it was | kete |
| dmd | demander | ask | dəmɑ̃de |
| dsl | désolé(e) | sorry | dezɔle(ɛ) |
| é | et or est | and or is | et‿ ɔɾɛ |
| g | j’ai | I have | ʒe |
| jlé | Je l’ai | I have it | ʒə le |
| frR | frère | brother | fɾɛɾə |
| j’tdr | je t’adore | I adore you | ʒə tadɔɾə |
| JTM | je t’aime | I love you | ʒə tɛmə |
| ki | qui | who | wo |
| keske | qu’est-ce que | what is | kɛ-sə kə |
| keskec | qu’est-ce que c’est | what is it | kɛ-sə kə kɛ |
| koi | quoi | what | kwa |
| pk | pourquoi | why | puɾkwa |
| qd | quand | when | kɑ̃ |
| lkl | lequel | which | ləkɛl |
| kom | comme | like | kɔmə |
| l8 | lui | him | lɥi |
| l | elle | she | ɛlə |
| mm | même | even | mɛmə |
| mnt | maintenant | now | mɛ̃tənɑ̃ |
| mdr | mort(e) de rire | laughing out loud | mɔɾt(ɛ) də ɾiɾə |
| pcq | parce que | because | paɾsə kə |
| ptdr | pété(e) de rire | polling on the floor laughing | pete(ɛ) də ɾiɾə |
| ms | mais | but | me |
| msg | message | message | mɛsaʒə |
| nan | non | not | nõ |
| mwa | moi | me | mwa |
| twa | toi | you | twa |
| osi | aussi | also | osi |
| t | tu es | you are | tyɛ |
| xlt | excellent | excellent | ɛkssɛlə |
| 1 | un | a | œ̃ |
| 2 | de | of | də |
| 7 | cet or cette | this | sɛt‿ ɔɾ sɛtə |
| 9 | neuf | new | nœf |
| 100 | sans | without | sɑ̃ |
French abbreviations for months
The following table only mentions months that can be abbreviated in French. You’ll find all months in French in this article. It can also be helpful to learn the seasons in French as a complement!
| French | What is stands for | IPA |
| janv. | janvier | ʒɑ̃vje |
| févr. | février | fevɾje |
| juil. | juillet | ʒyje |
| sept. | septembre | sɛptɑ̃bɾə |
| oct. | octobre | ɔktɔbɾə |
| nov. | novembre | nɔvɑ̃bɾə |
| déc. | décembre | desɑ̃bɾə |
Top common French acronyms
Last but not least, we’ve gathered some of the most common French acronyms. In fact, French people loooove acronyms. The Economist even wrote an article on the subject!
| French | What is stands for | English equivalent/meaning | IPA (full word) |
| AB | agriculture biologique | ciological (organic) agriculture | agɾikyltyɾə bjɔlɔʒikə |
| ADN | acide désoxyribonucléique | deoxyribonucleic acid | asidə dezɔgziɾibɔnykleikə |
| DOM-TOM | Départements d'outre-mer et Territoires d'outre-mer | Overseas departments and territories | depaɾtəmɑ̃ dutɾəmεɾe tɛritwaɾə dutɾəmεɾ |
| AF | allocations familiales | family allowances (social subsidies) | alɔkatjõ familjalə |
| AR | accusé/avis de réception | notice of receipt | akyze/avi də ɾesɛpsjõ |
| BCBG | bon chic bon genre | elegant/posh (Parisian upper class) | bõ ʃik bõ ʒɑ̃ɾə |
| BTP | bâtiments et travaux publics | building and public works | bɑtimɑ̃z‿e tɾavo pyblik |
| BTS | brevet de technicien supérieur | senior technician diploma | bɾəve də tɛʃnisjɛ̃ sypeɾjœɾ |
| BP | boîte postale | post office box | boitə pɔstalə |
| CB | carte bancaire/carte bleue | bank card/credit card | kaɾtə bɑ̃kɛɾɛ/kaɾtə blø |
| CDD | contrat à durée déterminée | fixed-term work contract | kõtɾat‿ a dyɾeə detɛɾmineə |
| CDI | contrat à durée indéterminée | work contract for an indefinite period | kõtɾat‿ a dyɾe ɛ̃detɛɾmineə |
| CNED | centre national d’enseignement à distance | remote learning national center | sɑ̃tɾə natjɔnal dɑ̃sɛɲɛmət‿ a distɑ̃sə |
| COD | complément d’objet direct | direct object complement | kõplemə dɔbʒe diɾɛk |
| COI | complément d’object indirect | indirect object complement | kõplemə dɔbʒɛkt‿ ɛ̃diɾɛk |
| CV | curriculum vitae | curriculum | kyrikylœ̃ vitaə |
| DAB | distributeur automatique de billets | ATM | distɾibytœɾ otɔmatikə də bije |
| DALF | diplôme approfondi de langue française | diploma of advanced French language | diplom apɾɔfõdi də lɑ̃gə fɾansɛzə |
| DELF | diplôme d’études en langue française | diploma of French language studies | diplomə detydəz‿ɑ̃ lɑ̃gə fɾansɛzə |
| É.-U. | États-Unis | United States | etaz‿-yni |
| HLM | Habitation à loyer modéré | low-income housing | abitasjõn‿ a lwaje mɔdeɾe |
| HS | hors service | out of order | ɔɾ sɛɾvisə |
| jour J | Jour J | D-day | ʒuɾ |
| NDLR | note de la rédaction | editor's note | nɔtə də la ɾedaksjõ |
| OGM | organisme génétiquement modifié | genetically modified organism | ɔɾganismə ʒenetikəmə mɔdifje |
| ONG | organisation non gouvernementale | non-governmental organization | ɔɾganizasjõ nõ guvɛɾnəmɑ̃talə |
| ONU | Organisation des Nations unies | United Nations organization | ɔɾganizasjõde natjõz‿ ynjə |
| OVNI | objet volant non identifité | unidentified flying object | ɔbʒe vɔlɑ̃ nõn‿ idɑ̃tifite |
| PACS | Pacte civil de solidarité | civil solidarity pact | paktə sivil də sɔlidaɾite |
| PDG | Président-directeur général | President and Chief Executive Officer | pɾezidə-diɾɛktœɾ ʒeneɾal |
| PIB | produit intérieur brut | gross domestic product | pɾɔdɥit‿ ɛ̃teɾjœɾ bɾy |
| RSVP | répondez s’il vous plait | please answer | ɾepõde sil vu ple |
| SAMU | secours d’aide médicale d’urgence | emergency medical aid | səkuɾ dɛdə medikalə dyɾʒɑ̃sə |
| TGV | train à grande vitesse | high speed train | tɾɛ̃n‿ a gɾɑ̃də vitɛsə |
| vf | version française | French version | vɛɾsjõ fɾansɛzə |
| vo/vost | version originale/version originale sous-titrée | original version/subtitled original version | vɛɾsjõn‿ ɔɾiʒinalɛ/vɛɾsjõn‿ ɔɾiʒinalə su-titɾeə |
| VTT | Vélo tout terrain | mountain bike | velo tu tɛrɛ̃ |
We are really dsl if you think there were bcp d’abbréviations.
Svp, excuse us!
And if you don’t have enough with these acronyms and abbreviations in French, you’ll be thrilled to know that French people also love to shorten words. Just because. Here is a short video to help you understand.
After all, who doesn’t like a language challenge?
Sur ce, à 1 2 c 4 les amis !
