186 top useful Spanish abbreviations & acronyms you need in life

In a hurry? Try using one of these 180+ Spanish abbreviations and acronyms!

It seems that everyone is in a rush these days, and that comes through even in how we speak. From the way we talk to the way we write, abbreviations help us be succinct by shortening long words, thus helping us avoid unnecessary repetition. 

While abbreviations in Spanish very commonly involve some Spanish slang, they are also used in formal settings all the time. Abbreviations like Dr. or Mr. can be spotted in the fanciest of events, and even organizations of global importance, like the UN or the IMF, rely on acronyms. So, whether you’re learning Spanish to talk with your extended family, to do big business in a Spanish-speaking country, or simply to order a meal at a restaurant, learning some acronyms will be truly helpful. 

In the spirit of brevity, let’s get right to it! We’ve covered 180+ acronyms and abbreviations in Spanish, which we’ve broken down into different categories to help you navigate them more easily.   

What are abbreviations?

Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases that are generally understood by the majority of the population. For example, a common abbreviation in English is “USA.” Through extensive use, this three-word acronym has become synonymous with — if not central to the identity of — the United States of America. See how that three-word acronym saved us 18 whole characters? Nifty!

Types of abbreviations included in this article:

There are many different types of abbreviations. While many of them are initialisms, such as in our example above, there are many other common types of abbreviations that we use in our daily life. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Acronyms:These are abbreviations that use the first letter or first couple of letters of each word and are pronounced as a new word. For example, NASA is an acronym as it’s pronounced as a word rather than as individual letters.
• Initialisms: These are abbreviations that use the first letter of each word and are read as individual letters. For example, you say U-S-A instead of USA as one word (oosa). 
• Portmanteaus: These take a part of two or more words and blend them together to form a new one. For example, brunch takes a part from “breakfast” and “lunch” and combines them into a better meal, often involving some fun drinks!  
• Clipped words: These abbreviations take a shortened version of a word that makes what you’re trying to say clear enough without having to say the full word. For example, “approx” is a common way to clip “approximately.”
• Symbols: These are symbols used to measure things like time, weight, and length. Think lbs, mins, and in! 

One common type of abbreviation that is absent from Spanish is contractions. These are very common in English, as they help us contract two words into one, such as it’s (it is), they’re (they are), and won’t (will not). Spanish doesn’t use contractions, so you’ll have to spell out each word individually. 

Top common Spanish abbreviations

There are countless abbreviations that may be a little confusing to a non-native speaker. But fret not! This handy guide will walk you through all the essential acronyms, initialisms, and symbols that you need. In no time, you’ll be using these to speak Spanish like a true native!

Here are the most common Spanish abbreviations.

Spanish abbreviations for texting

If you’ve checked out our tips to learn Spanish fast, you know that making Spanish-speaking friends is one of the best ways to give your learning a boost. As you keep in touch with your friends through WhatsApp, you’ll definitely run into some of the following common Spanish abbreviations for texting. 

Abbreviations for time and space

Abbreviating time and space is one of the best ways to save time and energy. Who wants to say, “Hey, let’s grab a coffee at 1 post meridien”? Nobody! That’s why we use these handy abbreviations to help us simplify our everyday conversations.

Spanish months abbreviations

Abbreviating the months in Spanish can be an easy way to make specific plans with friends and family. You can even use these on a digital flier if you want to plan a fun party! 

Spanish days of the week abbreviations

Like the month abbreviations above, these can help you when you need to plan an event or simply want to get an ice-cold beer with your friends. We all know the days of the week in Spanish, so why waste time writing them out when we’re all on the same page? 

Abbreviations for professions

Abbreviated professions and titles are very common ways to introduce people. You’ll very commonly see these in directories, name lists, business cards, office doors, and even on event invitations!

Spanish measurement abbreviations

We use abbreviations for measurements all the time. From cooking recipes to clothes sizing guides, we can’t escape them! And in case you’re wondering, all Spanish-speaking countries use the metric measuring system, so forget about inches and start getting used to centimeters! 

Spanish abbreviations by country

Even within Spanish speaking countries, there are many regional and national variations of abbreviations. What could mean something in one place can also mean something completely different in another. For example, the acronym SAT in Spain stands for Sociedades Agrarias de Transformación (agrarian societies), whereas in Mexico it stands for the much-dreaded Servicio de Administración Tributaria — the tax authority!

We’ll cover a few variations of common abbreviations in a few Spanish-speaking countries.

Global

Before we go in on the individual countries, let’s take a look at some acronyms of global importance. Here are a few international organizations and agencies that you

Spain

Spain uses acronyms to describe a number of governmental and non-governmental agencies. These are just a few to keep in mind if you’re thinking about moving to Spain or even for a fun summer trip!

Mexico

Mexico uses acronyms and abbreviations for a number of places, agencies, and even food! Knowing a few of these can be extremely helpful even if you’re just going down to Mexico for a quick weekend trip. 

Colombia

Like the other countries on this list, Colombia uses abbreviations for government agencies and other organizations. Here are a few important ones to keep in mind.

Argentina

If you’re visiting Argentina, there is one abbreviation that you must know: Bs As. Perhaps you can figure out what it means if you already have some experience in the country, and if not, we’ll let you know in the table below!

FAQs about abbreviations in Spanish

How do I say LOL in Spanish?

You’re probably used to saying “LOL” “lol” or any of the many variations to express that something is really funny in English. However, in Spanish, using acronyms to laugh isn’t all that popular. Instead, we use one of the following: 

• Jajajaja
• JAJAJAJAJA
• Jejejeje
• Jiji
• Ajajaja
• Qué risa

Of course, “jaja” is the most common, and the more “ja”s you add, the louder and deeper the laugh! You can also use all caps if you found something intensely funny — don’t be shy!  

Can you abbreviate 1st 2nd and 3rd in Spanish?

Yes! Abbreviating ordinal numbers in Spanish is as easy as adding a º or ª after the number. This is depending on the gender of the noun that you’re trying to modify —  º for masculine and ª for feminine. Here are some examples:

How do you abbreviate United States in Spanish?

The abbreviation of the United States in Spanish is EE. UU. This abbreviation uses two initials because it is abbreviating a plural word. In Spanish, you have to use double initials to represent a plural word. If you abbreviated Estados Unidos as simply E.U., then it would stand for Estado Unido! 

Here are a few examples of the initial doubling in Spanish:

Shortcut your way to a higher level!

Just because you’ve learned some great new abbreviations and acronyms doesn’t mean you have to cut your study time short! Now you can use the time saved to continue working on improving your Spanish fluency. Perhaps you might want to try out some of the longest words in Spanish to balance it out!

Make sure to take a look at our free Spanish blog vocabulary lessons for more helpful guides. We publish actionable, vocabulary-centered content that is designed to help you improve your Spanish right away.