Despite my impression that the Americans are quite laid-back and taking their time, they are quick indeed when it comes to dealing with long words. Any word can be chopped to the most significant syllable(s). It doesn't matter that, what with all the Latin in English, many of these words share the same initial syllable (because it's the same Latin prefix), they often end up being shortened to it.
| Expression | Cut down to | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| abdominal muscles | abs | |
| ad libitum | ad lib | this is a verb, meaning "to improvise" |
| advertisement | ad | |
| alligator | gator | |
| ammunition | ammo | |
| ampere | amp | |
| amplifier | amp | |
| ampoule | amp | |
| as soon as possible | ayessaypee | ASAP is a word now. |
| bicycle | bike | |
| biography | bio | |
| brassiere | bra | |
| cabernet | cab | |
| cabin | cab | |
| cabinet | cab | |
| caesarian section | c section | |
| camera | cam | |
| camouflage | camo | as verb or noun |
| capacitor | cap | |
| capital letters | caps | |
| carnival | carny | |
| cartoon | toon | |
| celebrity | celeb | |
| certificate | cert | |
| communication(s) | com | |
| compact | comp | |
| company | comp | |
| compensation | comp | |
| complementary | comp | |
| complimentary | comp | |
| composite | comp | |
| composition | comp | |
| computer | comp | |
| condominium | condo | |
| confidence artist | con (artist) | full form rarely in use |
| conservative | con | |
| contra | con | as in "pros and cons" |
| convict | con | reference: film "Con Air" |
| Corvette | vette | |
| counter editorial | op-ed | because it's traditionally printed on the page opposite to where editorial goes |
| credentials | cred | |
| credibility | cred | |
| crocodile | croc | |
| cucumber | cuke | |
| decelleration | decel | |
| delicatessen | deli | |
| democrat | dem | |
| demographic | demo | |
| demonstrate | demo | this one is a verb |
| demonstration | demo | this one is a noun |
| department | dept | |
| developer | dev | |
| distillery | still | |
| distribution | distro | |
| doctor | doc | |
| document | doc | |
| emergency room | ee-ahr | (ER) |
| episode | ep | |
| escherichia coli | e coli | pronounced as ee-coal-eye |
| executive officer | exec | |
| fabulous | fab | |
| favo(u)rite | fave, fav | |
| foreign exchange | forex | |
| former convict | ex con | |
| former spouse | ex | |
| fundamentalist | fundie | |
| graduation ball | prom | |
| gymnasium | gym | |
| gyroscope | gyro | |
| helicopter | chopper | |
| helicopter | helo | |
| hydrocarbonate | carb | |
| independent | indy, indie | |
| information | info | |
| intelligence | intel | |
| introduction | intro | |
| juvenile | juvie | |
| kilocalory | calory | |
| kilocalory | cal | |
| laboratory | lab | |
| labrador dog | lab | |
| laminated wood | lam-wood | Though, truth be told, I found this in a real estate magazine; such editions tend to have their own slang. On the other hand, they expect the general audience to buy what they sell, so some understanding is implied. |
| legitimate | legit | |
| limousine | limo | |
| literary critics | lit crit | |
| literature | lit | |
| lubrication | lube | |
| magazine | mag | |
| master of ceremonies | emcee | not much in the way of ceremonies is required; this one is actually short for announcer. |
| medication | med | |
| medicine | med | |
| mercenary | merc | |
| metastasis | met | |
| methamphetamine | meth | |
| metropolitan | met | |
| metropolitan | metro | |
| microphone | mike | |
| modification | mod | |
| motherboard | mobo | |
| motion picture | movie | |
| motorcycle | bike | |
| movie theater | theater | |
| non-combatant | noncom | |
| obstetrics and gynecology | ob gyn | |
| operation | op | as in "special ops" |
| opportunity | op | as in "photo-op" |
| parenthesis | paren | |
| penitentiary | pen | |
| pepper up | pep | |
| permanent undulation | perm | |
| perpetrator | perp | |
| politician | pol | |
| prenuptial agreements | prenups | |
| preparation | prep | |
| preparatory | prep | |
| president | prez | |
| president | pres | |
| press conference | presser | |
| pro et contra | pro and con | plural: pros and cons |
| pro tempore | pro tem | |
| procedure | proc | pronounced "prock" (!) |
| professional | pro | |
| promotion(al) | promo | |
| propeller | prop | not so frequently used, but then the things that have them arent frequent either. |
| proportional(ly) | pro (rated) | |
| proposition | prop | |
| public relations | pee-ar | euphemism for propaganda |
| recapitulate | recap | |
| reciprocal engine | recip | |
| reconnaissance | recon | |
| record | rec | |
| recreation | rec | |
| referee | ref | |
| refinancing | refi | |
| registration | reg | |
| rehabilitation | rehab | |
| renovation | reno | |
| reorganization | reorg | |
| reposession | repo | |
| representative | rep | |
| republican | rep | |
| repurchase agreement | repo | |
| reputation | rep | |
| requirement | rec | |
| rest and recreation | ar-en-ar | |
| rest and recuperation | ar-en-ar | |
| rhinoceros | rhino | |
| saturated | sat | |
| scavenging | scav | |
| shock absorbers | shocks | |
| specifications | specs | |
| specifications | spex | |
| spectacles | spex | |
| staphilococcus | staph | officially so in the dictionary |
| statistics | stats | |
| steroids | roids | |
| still photograph | still | |
| stolichnaya | stoli | |
| streptococcus | strep | |
| submarine | sub | |
| submarine sandwich | sub | |
| substitute teacher | sub | |
| subwoofer | sub | |
| supervisor | super | |
| synchronization | sync | |
| tabloid | tab | |
| tarpauline | tarp | |
| taxicab | cab | |
| temperature | temp | |
| temporary worker | temp | |
| Tutankhamon | King Tut | |
| typographical error | typo | |
| undergraduate | undergrad | |
| variable | var | |
| vegetable | veggie | |
| vegetarian | vegan | |
| veteran | vet | |
| veterinarian | vet | |
| video | vid | |
| vulnerability | vuln |