Spanish Acronyms and Abbreviations List

F. Abbreviations
A s in many other languages, there are a a lot of abbreviations in written Spanish, which are often similar or identical to those used in other languages, but in other cases are quite different. Below is a fairly ample sampling of the most commonly used abbreviations in Spanish.
a.C.
— Antes de Cristo
Before Christ
A.C.
— Asociación Civil
Civil Association; used after the name of a non-profit, tax exempt, service organization, usually charitable)
a/C
— a cuenta
on account (an advance payment or down payment).
afmo.
— Afectísimo
most affectionately (seldom used now to sign off letters)
atte.
— Atentamente
attentively (very much used to sign off letters)
atto.
— atento
with full attention
c.c.
— centímetro cúbico
cubic centimeter
Cía.
— compañía
company
cl.
— centilitro
centiliter
cm.
— centímetro
centimeter
col.
— columna
column
D.; Dn.
— Don
respectful way of addressing a gentleman
D.m.
— Dios mediante
God willing (“I will be there in April, God willing”).
Da., Dña.
— Doña
respectful way of addressing a lady.
Dr.
— Doctor
Doctor
E.
— este
east
ed.
— edición
edition
etc.
— etcétera
et cetera
Excmo. (a)
— Excelentísimo (a)
Most excellent (to address a bishop, embassador, etc.)
F.C.; FF.CC.
— ferrocarril(es)
railroad
Fr.
— Fray
Brother; used before the name of clergy in religious orders
gr.
— gramo (s)
gram
Gral.
— General
(Army) General
ib.; ibid.
— ibidem
in the same place
izq.
— izquierda
left
kg.
— kilogramo
kilogram
km.
— kilómetro
kilometer
Lic.
— Licenciado
Persons with a bachelor’s degree or lawyer are licenciados , and use the title before their names.
m.
— metro
meter
M.N.
— Moneda nacional
Mexican pesos, as opposed to foreign currency
mg.
— miligramo
milligram
mm.
— milímetro
millimeter
Mons.
— Monseñor
Monsegnor
Mtro.
— Maestro
used before the name of school teachers and orchestra conductors
N.; Nte.
— norte
north
N.E.
— noreste
northeast
N.O.
— noroeste
northwest
N.S.
— Nuestro Señor
Our Lord
No.
— número
number
núm.
— número
number
O.
— Oeste
west
P.; pág.
— página
page
P.p.
— páginas
pages
P.D.
— postdata
(the equivalent of PS in English, which is also used in Spanish on occasions)
p.ej.
— por ejemplo
for example
p.p.
— por poder
used only when signing for someone else
P.S.
— post scriptum (Latin)
Post script
Pbro.
— presbítero
used before the name of a Roman Catholic priest
Pdo.
— pasado
past
Prof.
— profesor
professor
prol.
— prólogo o prolongación
prologue or prolongation
q.e.p.d.
— que en paz descanse
rest in peace
R.I.P.
— Requiescat in pace (latin)
rest in peace
Rev.
— Reverendo
Reverend
S.A.
— Sociedad Anónima
the equivalent of Ltd. or Inc.
S.A. de C.V.
— Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable
same as S.A., except that additional capital contributions can be made during the lifetime of the company
S.C.
— Sociedad Civil
used after the name of a professional service organization or partnership
S.E.
— Su excelencia
His (Her, Your) Excellency
S.M.
— Su Majestad
His (Her, Your) Majesty
S.O.
— Sudoeste
southwest
S.S.
— Su Santidad
Your Holiness; used preceding the Pope’s name
s.s.
— seguro servidor
your certain servant
sig. (s).
— siguiente (s)
following
Smo.
— Santísimo
Holy
Sr. (a)
— Señor (a)
Mister
Srita.
— Señorita
Miss
Sto. (a).
— Santo (a)
Saint
su afmo. y s.s.
— su afectísimo y seguro servidor
your devoted and unfailing servant
T.; t.
— tomo
book
Ud. (s)
— usted/es
you
V.gr.
— verbigracia
for example, such as
Vda.
— viuda
widow
Vo.Bo.
— Visto Bueno
approval or authorization; used just before a signature okaying something
Vol. (s)
— volumen (volúmenes)
volumes
The abbreviation for Estados Unidos (United States) is E.E.U.U. or just E.U. The abbreviations of the Mexican states might also prove useful, as they are seldom familiar to English speakers.