This is a list of common apocopations in the English language. Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
- ab
- abdominal muscle (slang)[1]
- Abalone
- abscess (slang)[2]
- ad
- advantage (tennis)[3]
- advertisement[4]
- advert
- advertisement[5]
- addy
- (email) address [6]
- admin
- administrator[7] :administration[8]
- afish
- aficionado
- ag
- agriculture (informal)[9]
- aggro
- aggravation or aggression (UK slang)[10]
- agit-prop
- agitational propaganda[11]
- amp
- ampere[12]
- amphetamine (as in "amped up")
- amplifier[13]
- amputation or amputee[14]
- ampoule[15]
- amplify
- app
- application[16]
- arco
- arcology
- auto
- automobile[17]
- automatic[18]
- av or avvie (also avvy)
- avatar
B
- b
- bad (as in the phrase "my bad" meaning "my mistake" or "my apologies")
- bennies
- benzedrine (slang)[19]
- benefits[20][21][22]
- bi
- bisexual (slang)[23]
- bike
- bicycle[24]
- bio
- biology[25]
- biography (informal)[26]
- Birks
- Birkenstocks
- biz
- business (informal)[27]
- bod
- body(slang/informal)[28]
- bookie
- bookmaker[29]
- bra
- brassiere[30]
- bro
- brother(slang)[31]
- bronc
- bronco[32]
- bronto
- brontosaur(us)
- bud
- buddy (informal)[33]
- budgie
- budgerigar[34]
- bunk
- bunkum[35]
C
- cab
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- cabriolet
- caff (UK slang)
- café
- cal
- calorie (in combination, especially "lo-cal")
- Cal or Cali
- California
- Calcutta
- cam
- camera
- camouflage
- camo
- camouflage
- Can
- Canada or Canadian (in combination)
- cap
- captain
- caps
- capitals
- carbs
- carbohydrates
- cardio
- cardiovascular training (aerobic exercise)
- cat
- catalytic converter
- catamaran
- chem
- chemistry
- chemo
- chemotherapy
- chimp
- chimpanzee
- cig
- cigarette
- civ
- civilization
- civvy or civie
- civilian
- civvies
- civilian clothes (military slang)
- clit
- clitoris
- coed
- coeducational
- coke
- cocaine
- Coke
- Coca-Cola
- com
- command
- communication (especially in combinations)
- combi or combo
- combination
- con
- confidence trick
- convention
- convict
- condo
- condominium
- congrats
- congratulations
- co-op
- cooperative
- corp
- corporation
- cred
- credibility
- crip
- cripple
- croc
- crocodile
- curio
- curiosity
- cuz
- cousin
- cyber
- cybernetic (especially in combination)
D
- decaf
- decaffeinated
- decal
- decalcomania
- decij
- decision
- deco
- decoration
- deets
- details
- defrag
- defragment
- deli
- delicatessen
- delish
- delicious
- Dem
- Democrat
- demo
- demonstration
- demolition
- derm
- dermatologist
- dermatological
- detox
- detoxification
- dicot
- dicotyledon
- dif (or diff)
- difference
- digi
- digital
- digi cabes
- digital cable
- dino
- dinosaur
- dis (or diss)
- disrespect
- disco
- discotheque
- doc
- doctor
- document
- dorm
- dormitory
E
- ed
- education
- emo
- emotional
- ep
- episode
- ex
- ex-(boyfriend, wife, etc)
- exhibition
- war exercise
- exam
- examination
- exec
- executive
- expo
- exposition
F
- fab
- fabulous
- fan
- fanatic
- fed
- federal
- frag
- fragmentation grenade, also verb: to kill with such a grenade.
- frank
- frankfurter
- fridge
- refrigerator
G
- ganj
- ganja
- gas
- gasoline
- gat
- Gatling gun
- gig
- gigabyte
- gin
- Geneva[36]
- glutes
- gluteus maximus
- go fig
- go figure
- gov
- governor
- government
- grad
- graduate (or graduation, as in grad night)
- Guac
- Guacamole
- gym
- gymnasium
H
- hash
- hashish
- hep
- hepatitis
- hetero or het
- heterosexual
- hippo
- hippopotamus
- homo
- homosexual
- homogenized (milk)
- hydro
- hydroelectricity
- hydrotherapy
- hydrothermal
- hydroponic
- hype
- hyperbole
- hypo
- hypodermic
- hyper
- hyperactive
I
- Inc
- Incorporated
- inf
- infinitely
- info
- information
- infra dig
- infra dignitatem (beneath one's dignity) (borrowed from Latin)
- inti
- intifada
- intro
- introduction
- ipecac
- ipecacuanha
- Itey
- Italian
J
- Jap
- Japanese (considered rude)
K
- kilo
- kilogram
- klepto
- kleptomaniac
L
- lab
- laboratory
- (cap.) Labrador retriever
- lav
- lavatory
- legit
- legitimate
- les, lez or lesbo
- lesbian
- lib
- liberal
- liberation
- (cap.) Libertarian
- limo
- limousine
- lino
- linoleum
- lit
- literature
- lo-cal
- low-calorie
- log
- logarithm
M
- mac
- macadam
- macaroni
- (with initial capital) Macintosh
- McIntosh apple
- (or mack) mackintosh
- macro
- macroinstruction
- mag
- magazine
- magnet
- magnification
- magnesium alloy wheels
- magnum
- Man United
- Manchester United
- Mass
- Massachusetts
- maths (UK) or math (US)
- mathematics
- matric
- matriculation[37]
- max
- maximum
- mayo
- mayonnaise
- med
- medication
- medic
- (with initial capital) Mediterranean (the sea or the surrounding area)
- meg
- megabyte
- memo
- memorandum
- meth
- methamphetamine
- meths
- methylated spirits
- Mex or Mexi
- Mexican
- mezc
- mescaline
- mike or mic
- microphone
- microgram
- mil
- millilitre
- Minn
- Minnesota
- Miss
- Mississippi
- mod
- moderator
- modern
- modification
- modular
- modulo
- mono
- monaural
- monochrome
- mononucleosis
- monocot
- monocotyledon
N
- natch
- naturally
- negs
- (photographic) negatives
- neocon
- neoconservative
- nympho
- nymphomaniac
O
- op
- optical art[38]
- optical
- operation
- operator
- opportunity
- op-ed
- "opposite the editorial (page)"
- orang
- orangutan
P
- Paki
- Pakistani (pejorative)
- pants
- pantaloons[39]
- pec
- pectoral muscle[40]
- peeps
- people (slang) [41]
- Peke
- Pekingese
- Penn
- Pennsylvania
- perp
- perpetrator (slang)[42]
- perv
- pervert[43]
- photo
- photograph (informal) [44]
- photo op
- photo(graphic) opportunity[45]
- phys ed
- physical education (informal)[46]
- piano
- pianoforte[47]
- pic (plural pics or pix)
- (motion) picture (slang)[48]
- (photographic) picture (slang)[49]
- pol
- politician (informal)[50]
- polio
- poliomyelitis[51]
- poly
- polyester[52]
- polyethylene[53]
- polygraph (U.S. government, as in Full Scope Poly)[54]
- polymer[55]
- polytechnic[56]
- po-mo
- post-modern[57]
- pop
- popular (informal)[58]
- porn or porno
- pornography (slang)[59]
- pram
- perambulator, a baby carriage.
- prefs
- preferences
- preg
- pregnant
- prelim
- preliminary (examination)
- prep
- preparatory
- pres or prez
- president
- pro
- professional
- prof
- professor
- prom
- promenade
- promo
- promotion
- prop
- propaganda
- propeller
- proposition
- property
- psych
- psychology
- psycho
- psychopath
- pub
- publication
- public house
- pullie
- pullover
- pulsar
- pulsating
- star
- pyro
- pyromaniac
Q
- quad
- quadrangle (courtyard)
- quadruplet
- quin, quint (US and Canada)
- quintuplet
R
- rad
- radian
- radiator
- radical
- (military) radio
- radio
- radiotelegraphy
- Rasta
- Rastafarian
- Reb
- Rebel (i.e., Confederate)
- rec
- recreation
- recon
- reconnaissance
- ref
- referee
- reference
- reg
- registration ([rɛdʒ] UK; of a motor vehicle)
- regulation ([rɛɡ])
- rehab
- rehabilitation
- rep
- repetition
- representative
- (with initial capital) Republican
- reputation
- repo
- repossession
- res
- reserve (Indian or military)
- residence
- resolution
- retro
- retro-rocket
- rev
- revolution (of a record, engine, etc)
- rhino
- rhinoceros
- ruck
- rucksack
- rum
- rumbullion (obsolete)[60]
S
- San Fran
- San Francisco
- sarge
- sergeant
- sarky (UK)
- sarcastic
- Satch
- Joe Satriani
- sax
- saxophone
- schizo
- schizophrenic
- Scottie
- Scottish Terrier
- Sea-Tac
- Seattle-Tacoma
- sec
- second
- secant
- Semper Fi!
- Semper Fidelis
- sig
- significant (figures)
- signal
- (Internet) signature
- sim
- simulation
- sis
- sister
- soph
- sophomore
- spats
- spatterdashes
- spec
- specialist
- specification
- speculation
- specs
- specifications
- spectacles
- sperm
- spermaceti
- spermatozoön
- staph
- staphylococcus
- stat
- statim (borrowed from Latin)
- stats
- statistics
- steno
- stenographer
- stereo
- stereophony
- strep
- streptococcus
- stude
- student
- sub
- subaltern
- subeditor
- subsidiary
- sublieutenant
- submarine
- subordinate
- subscriber
- (especially as subs) subscription
- subsistence money (an advance payment)
- substitute
- subway
- sum
- summarize
- sus (or suss)
- suspect
- sush
- sushi
- sync or synch
- synchronization
- synth
- synthesizer
- syph
- syphilis
T
- tan
- tangent
- tarp
- tarpaulin
- taxi or taxicab
- taximeter cabriolet
- tech
- technician
- technology
- techno
- technology
- teddy
- teddy bear
- teen
- teenager
- tele or telly
- television
- tog
- obsolete togeman, from obsolete French togue, cloak, from Latin toga, garment
- trad
- tradition(al)
- tranq
- tranquilizer
- trig
- trigonometry
- tux
- tuxedo
- typo
- typographical error
U
- undies
- underwear
- uni
- university
- unicam
- (unicameral) legislature -- Nebraska (U.S.) only
V
- veg
- vegetate
- veg or veggie
- vegetable
- vegetarian
- vet
- veterinarian
- veteran
W
- Wisc
- Wisconsin
X
- xolo
- xoloitzcuintli
Y
- Yank
- Yankee
Z
- zep
- zeppelin
- Zin
- Zinfandel
- zinco
- zincograph
- zoo
- zoological garden
The form of apocopation found in Cockney rhyming slang is called hemiteleia:
- bread from bread and honey = money
- raspberry from raspberry tart = fart (but more commonly the derisive sound made with the tongue and lips; a Bronx cheer)
- titfer from tit for tat = hat
