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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