EFL, VIP, UN, ID, IT… learn 24 really

24 USEFUL ACRONYMS IN ENGLISH! EFL, VIP, B2B, FBI… UNDERSTAND 24 USEFUL ACRONYMS IN ENGLISH!

How many acronyms* do you know in English? Acronyms are common in writing and speaking. So, it’s important that you understand the most important ones. In this article, you’ll learn some acronyms in English, which will really help with your listening and speaking skills. In most cases, it’s necessary to say each letter separately, unless indicated.

1 EFL = English as a foreign language

An EFL course is an English language program for non-native students: “More and more EFL students are starting to use online learning systems.”

2 IT = Information technology

IT refers to the use of computer software, systems and networks: “We had to ask the IT department to help us with the computer virus.”

3 AM (ante meridiem) / PM (post meridiem)

AM is before midday (12 in the afternoon) and PM is after midday: “I spoke to her at 5pm.” [17:00]

4 ID = Identification

An ID card has your photo, name and ID number on it: “You need to show your ID card to enter this building.”

5 FAQs = Frequently asked questions

A list of questions that people often ask related to a service or product: “You can find a list of FAQs on our website.”

6 SUV = Sports utility vehicle

A car that you can drive off-road (on trails in the country) because it has four-wheel drive: “They drove the SUV up the hill.”

7 UFO = Unidentified flying object

An unusual object in the sky that might be from an alien planet: “There has been an increase in UFO sightings in this area.”

8 CC = Carbon copy

If you CC someone in an e-mail, you include them in the list of people who receive the e-mail: “Please CC me in all future emails.”

9 BCC = Blind carbon copy

If you BCC someone in an e-mail, you include them in the list of people who receive the message, however, they can’t see the other e-mail addresses or names – they’re “blind”: “I forgot to BCC the e-mail recipients and got into trouble with my boss.”

10 WHO = World Health Organization

An agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health: “The WHO has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.”

11 DIY = Do it yourself

Little jobs you do at home to improve, build or repair things: “I’m good at DIY jobs such as painting and putting up shelves.”

B2B work involves selling things to other businesses or companies: “Most of our work here at Global Health is B2B.”

16 FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation

A law enforcement agency in the United States that investigates major crimes involving the Mafia, drug cartels, terrorists, etc.: “The FBI are investigating the murders.”

19 VIP = Very important person

A famous or high-ranking person (such as a celebrity, diplomat, president, prime minister, etc.) who is given special treatment: “We sat in the VIP section of the club because we knew the owner.”

22 SWOT = Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats

[pronounce this as a word] SWOT analysis is a method for learning more about your company or business by looking at any possible dangers, areas where you can expand etc.: “We carried out a SWOT analysis.” B2C activities involve selling things directly to customers: “We do mostly B2C through our shops and online store.”

16 CIA = Central Intelligence Agency

A spy agency of the US government which collects information about other countries: “The CIA operative prevented a terrorist attack.”

20 UN = United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 (and based in New York City) that aims to maintain international peace: “Several members in the UN meeting voted against the proposal.”

23 NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization

[pronounce this as a word] An international organization which consists of the US, UK, Canada and many European countries: “NATO countries have agreed to support each other if they’re ever attacked.” The HR department in a company helps employees with things such as salaries, holidays, benefits, etc.: “The HR department’s main responsibility is hiring and firing people.”

17 EU = European Union

An organization of European countries: “Most EU countries use the euro as their official currency.”

21 ASAP = As soon as

possible [pronounce this as a word, or the individual letters] “We need you to do this asap.”

24 NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration

[pronounce this as a word] NASA is the US organization that’s responsible for space missions: “She works as a NASA engineer.” If a company carries out “R&D”, it investigates things and develops new products and services: “By investing more in R&D, we can stay ahead of the competition.” [R&D&I = Research, Development and Innovation]

AUDIO LISTEN & REPEAT!

Listen and repeat these acronyms so you can learn how to say them. For this first set, you need to pronounce each letter separately: EFL, IT, AM, PM, ID, FAQs, SUV, UFO, CC, BCC, WHO, DIY, B2B, B2C, HR, R&D, R&D&I, FBI, CIA, EU, VIP, UN, ASAP The following acronyms are pronounced as words: ASAP, SWOT, NATO, NASA

*ACRONYMS

An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words: NASA, NATO, SWOT... Strictly speaking, words such as IT, VIP and ATM are initialisms (and not acronyms) because we pronounce each letter separately. However, most people use the term acronym to refer to all these types of words. Interestingly, with most acronyms, we pronounce each letter separately – only a few are pronounced as words.

GLOSSARY

a trail n a dirt road in the countryside that goes through a forest, over a mountain, along a river, etc. a sighting n if there’s a “sighting” of something, people see that thing (often something unusual or mysterious) blind adj someone who is “blind” can’t see a shelf / shelves n a wooden, metal or plastic flat object that’s fixed on the wall for books, food, photos, ornaments… to hire vb if you “hire” someone, you give them a job at your company to fire vb if someone is “fired”, they have to leave their job high-ranking adj someone “high-ranking” is a senior or important position in an organisation