You know that feeling when someone uses an acronym and you have no idea what it stands for? It happens in our own language so never mind in a foreign language! It’s not pleasant not knowing what people are talking about, is it? So that’s why I made a short list for you of some acronyms you might hear when traveling or simply conversion with French people.

AB Agriculture Biologique = organic farming

You can also say that something is bio to say it’s organic.

AOC Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée = guarantee of origin

BCBG Bon Chic Bon Genre = preppy

CB Carte Bleue or Carte Bancaire = debit card

DAB Distributeur Automatique de Billets = ATM

HLM Habitation à Loyer Modéré = low income housing

HS Hors Service = out of service

Jour J = D Day

ONU Organisation des Nations Unies = UN United Nations

OVNI Objet Volant Non Identifié = UFO Unidentified Flying Object

PDG Président Directeur Général = CEO Chief Executive Officer

PIB Produit Intérieur Brut = GDP Gross Domestic Product

PV Procès Verbal = fine

QG Quartier Général = HQ Head Quarters

RDC Rez De Chaussée = First floor (US)

RF République Française

RSVP Répondez S’il Vous Plaît = Respond please so don’t write RSVP please because if you do you are saying respond please please.

RV Rendez-Vous = appointment

SDF Sans Domicile Fixe = homeless

SIDA Syndrome Immunodéficitaire Acquis = AIDS

SNCF Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français = French railway system

SPA Société Protectrice des Animaux = ASPCA (US)

SVP S’il Vous Plaît = please, literally if it pleases you

TGV Train à Grande Vitesse = Fast Speed Train

TVA Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée = VAT

UE Union Européenne = european union

The next two are for going to à French cinema

VF Version Française = film dubbed into French

VO Version Originale = film in its original language

VTT Vélo Tout Terrain = mountain bike

And to end in style

WC Water Closet = Toilets

–

Do you know more?

Please share with us so we can make the list longer!