#29 French Abbreviations｜French Language Column

When you read French texts or browse social media, you may encounter shortened words such as M., Mme, and etc. In messaging apps, it is also common to see even more heavily abbreviated expressions such as bjr and stp.

These abbreviations are widely used not only in newspapers, books, and business documents, but also in everyday life and online communication. Learning some of the most common abbreviations can therefore make French texts much easier to read.

In this article, I will explain what French abbreviations are, the main types you may encounter, some representative examples, and the points you should keep in mind when using them.

What Are French Abbreviations?

An abbreviation is a shortened written form of a word or phrase. In French, an abbreviation is called an “abréviation.” Abbreviations are used to make writing more concise or to communicate information within a limited amount of space.

An abbreviation is not a new word. It is simply a shortened form of an existing word. For example:

• Monsieur → M.
• Madame → Mme
• Docteur → Dr

Abbreviations are used for a variety of reasons. Newspapers and magazines use them to make efficient use of space, business documents use them to keep writing concise and easy to read, and smartphone users use them to reduce typing time.

Some abbreviations are long-established and used in formal contexts, while others have emerged naturally through social media and online chats.

When learning abbreviations, I recommend first learning the original word and then memorizing its abbreviated form.

Abbreviations Used in Formal Contexts

French has many standard abbreviations that are used in official documents, newspapers, and books.

These are widely recognized forms that also appear in dictionaries, so they are useful to know when you study French.

Here are some common examples:

For example, “M. Dupont” means “Mr. Dupont,” while “Dr Martin” means “Dr Martin.”

Abbreviations are also frequently used in addresses. For example, “av. Victor Hugo” means “Victor Hugo Avenue.”

The title Mlle, an abbreviation of “Mademoiselle,” traditionally referred to an unmarried woman. In modern France, however, it is rarely used in official forms or administrative procedures because of concerns about gender equality. Today, “Madame,” abbreviated as Mme, is generally used regardless of whether a woman is married.

Abbreviations Used on Social Media and in Messages

On smartphones and social media, you may encounter expressions that have been shortened even further.

These forms are used to type quickly within a limited number of characters or to communicate casually with friends. They became particularly common with the spread of SMS and messaging apps.

Some of these forms appear in dictionaries, while others have spread naturally through online communication.

Even when expressions are abbreviated, distinctions in politeness may remain. For example, stp is used with someone you address informally, while svp is the more polite form. Therefore, the fact that an expression is abbreviated does not mean that you can use it freely in every situation.

Although these abbreviations are common on social media and between friends, you should generally avoid them in business emails and formal writing.

Rules for Writing Abbreviations

French abbreviations follow certain conventions.

For example, when only the beginning of a word is retained, a full stop may be added. M., from “Monsieur,” and av., from “avenue,” are typical examples.

On the other hand, abbreviations such as Mme and Dr are often written without a full stop. Today, forms without full stops are widely used, depending on the style rules followed by dictionaries, publishers, and organizations.

There are also established conventions regarding uppercase and lowercase letters. Titles used before people’s names, such as M. and Mme, begin with a capital letter. By contrast, abbreviations of common nouns, such as av. and etc., are generally written in lowercase.

These rules may seem rather detailed at first. However, newspapers, books, and official documents usually follow a consistent style. When writing in French, it is therefore helpful to develop the habit of checking a dictionary or an official reference source.

Points to Consider When Using Abbreviations

Abbreviations are convenient, but they are not appropriate in every context.

For example, you may use bjr or stp when chatting with a friend. In a business email, résumé, or school report, however, it is more appropriate to write the full forms “Bonjour” and “S’il vous plaît.”

Abbreviations can also be difficult to understand when the other person is unfamiliar with them. In particular, using too many abbreviations may make your writing harder to read for beginners or for people whose first language is not French.

Some abbreviations used on social media and messaging apps are mainly popular among younger speakers or exist only in online communication. As a result, not every French speaker will necessarily use or understand the same abbreviations.

Abbreviations are useful for making writing shorter and more concise. However, it is important to choose them according to the person and the situation. You should use full expressions in formal contexts and reserve casual abbreviations for communication with people you know well.

Summary

French abbreviations are used in a wide range of contexts, from formal documents to social media.

The main points can be summarized as follows:

You do not necessarily need to memorize French abbreviations at the beginning of your studies. It is enough to learn them gradually as you encounter authentic French.

Nevertheless, knowing the most common abbreviations will deepen your understanding when reading newspapers, social media posts, and emails, and will help you become more familiar with natural French usage.