Most Common Spoken Acronyms

Unlock the world of spoken acronyms with our latest lesson! 🌐 Dive into the realm of everyday conversation as we break down and demystify the most common spoken acronyms. From LOL to ASAP, we’ve got you covered! 🚀 Elevate your language skills and stay in the loop with this comprehensive guide. Don’t miss out—hit play now and make those acronyms work for you! 🎥🔠

Vocabulary

Practice how to use acronyms.

Transcript

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Introduction:

• Host: Hello and welcome to the English Magnet. Today’s video: Most Common Spoken Acronyms made easy! (acronyms floating around) You’ve probably encountered these odd combinations of letters in emails, texts, or even in daily conversations. These are acronyms; words formed from the first letters of words in phrases or expressions and pronounced as a new word (acronym) or pronounced separately (initialism). Go over this list and you’ll never be caught off guard next time you come across one of these acronyms. Time to unravel this alphabet soup and enhance your English language skills. Alright, let’s jump right into it!
• 1) AD / BC:
  • Definition: AD stands for Anno Domini (in the year of the Lord) which refers to the years after the birth of Jesus Christ, so calendar years, while BC stands for Before Christ which refers to the years before his birth.
  • Example: The Roman Republic fell in 27 BC while the Roman Empire fell in the 5th century AD.
• 2) AKA:
  • Definition: AKA stands for Also Known As and is used to introduce an alternative name or alias.
  • Example: Samuel Clemens, AKA Mark Twain, was a famous American author.
• 3) AI:
  • Definition: AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, referring to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
  • Example: AI has just begun to change the world and it’s only going to get more far-reaching. 
• 4) AM / PM:
  • Definition: AM or Ante Meridiem (before midday) refers to the morning hours from midnight to noon, and PM Post Meridiem (after midday) refers to the afternoon and evening hours from noon to midnight.
  • Example: The meeting is scheduled for 10 AM and the interview for 2 PM. 
• 5) ASAP:
  • Definition: ASAP stands for As Soon As Possible indicating urgency or immediacy.
  • Example: Please submit the report ASAP.
• 6) ATM:
  • Definition: ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine, a device for banking transactions.
  • Example: I need to withdraw cash from the ATM.
• 7) BO:
  • Definition: BO stands for Body Odor, an unpleasant smell from a person’s body.
  • Example: After the workout, he had a strong BO.
• 8) B2B:
  • Definition: B2B stands for Business to Business referring to transactions between businesses.
  • Example: B2B sales involve selling products or services to other businesses.
• 9) DIY:
  • Definition: DIY stands for Do It Yourself, suggesting self-made projects done by oneself rather than employing a professional.
  • Example: She enjoys DIY home improvement projects even if the esthetics are questionable.
• 10) DM:
  • Definition: DM stands for Direct Message, a private message on social media.
  • Example: DM me if you have any questions, but keep it short. 
• 11) ETA:
  • Definition: ETA stands for Estimated Time of Arrival, indicating the expected arrival time from a trip or journey.
  • Example: I promised I’d be on time, but with traffic, detours, and a surprise coffee spill, my ETA to the meeting is now beyond acceptable. 
• 12) FYI:
  • Definition: FYI stands for For Your Information, used to underline valued information.
  • Example: FYI, the exam has been rescheduled to tomorrow.
• 13) GMO:
  • Definition: GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism, referring to living things with changes made to their genome.
  • Example: The debate over the safety of consuming GMOs continues.
• 14) GOAT:
  • Definition: GOAT stands for Greatest Of All Time, used to describe someone or something as the best.
  • Example: Michael Jordan is often considered the basketball GOAT. 
• 15) HR:
  • Definition: HR stands for Human Resources, the department within an organization dealing with employees.
  • Example: Contact HR for any issues related to employment.
• 16) ID:
  • Definition: ID stands for Identity Document, often referring to an official document proving one’s identity.
  • Example: I tried to use my Jedi mind tricks to get in the club without showing my ID, but the bouncer wasn’t fooled.
• 17) IOU:
  • Definition: IOU stands for I Owe You, which is a written acknowledgment of a debt.
  • Example: I’ll pay you back; here’s an IOU, save it with the other ones.
• 18) LOL:
  • Definition: LOL stands for Laugh Out Loud, used to indicate something’s funny.
  • Example: I sent a text to my friend about the dance-off, and all she replied was ‘LOL’.
• 19) OCD:
  • Definition: OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a mental health condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
  • Example: My friend’s OCD about organizing his bookshelf alphabetically makes finding a specific book an adventure in itself.
• 20) OMG:
  • Definition: OMG stands for Oh My God/ Oh My Goodness, expressing surprise or shock.
  • Example: OMG, I can’t believe you did that!
• 21) PIN:
  • Definition: PIN stands for Personal Identification Number, a numeric code used for authentication.
  • Example: I tried to create a PIN to access my bank account, but the bank app wouldn’t accept 1111. 
• 22) PR:
  • Definition: PR stands for Public Relations, which is the practice of managing communication to get attention and shape public opinion. 
  • Example: The ill-advised tweet turned into a PR disaster within minutes.
• 23) PS:
  • Definition: PS stands for Post Scriptum, referring to additional information added after the main body of a letter.
  • Example: PS: Don’t forget to bring your umbrella.
• 24) RSVP:
  • Definition: RSVP stands for Please Respond but originally from Répondez S’il Vous Plaît in French to require confirmation of an invitation. 
  • Example: RSVP by Friday if you’ll attend the party.
• 25) SOS:
  • Definition: SOS stands for Save Our Souls and is originally a Morse code distress signal, but is now often used to signal an emergency.
  • Example: SOS, I need you to call me with an excuse so I can leave this date.
• 26) TBA / TBD:
  • Definition: TBA stands for To Be Announced, and TBD stands for To Be Determined, indicating that information is not yet specified.
  • Example: The schedule for the event is TBA and the venue is TBD, we are so screwed! 
• 27) TGIF:
  • Definition: TGIF stands for Thank God It’s Friday, expressing relief that the workweek is ending.
  • Example: TGIF! I can’t wait for the weekend.
• 28) TLDR:
  • Definition: TLDR stands for Too Long; Didn’t Read, indicating that a lengthy piece of text was ignored.
  • Example: Here’s a TLDR version of the article for you since you like your news summarized. 
• 29) VIP:
  • Definition: VIP stands for Very Important Person, denoting someone of high importance or influence.
  • Example: Anybody still watching this is a VIP to us, thank you! 
• 30) YOLO:
  • Definition: YOLO stands for You Only Live Once, emphasizing living life to the fullest.
  • Example: Deciding to try skydiving for the first time because YOLO, she embraced the exhilarating free fall with a mix of fear and excitement.

There you have it! Although, we’ve most likely missed some acronyms, initialisms and abbreviations, let us know which ones. Still, we hope this has been helpful. By the way, a link to some free vocabulary material to practice by yourselves can be found in the description below. Thank you for watching. Until next time!