Most Commonly Used French Acronyms
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
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Do you know more?
Please share with us so we can make the list longer!
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