略語(りゃくご)

Refers to a word or phrase that has been shortened from its full form. Combines 略(りゃく) (abbreviation, omission) and 語(ご) (word, language).

Usage

• Used for both abbreviations (shortened words) and acronyms (words formed from initials)
• Japanese has many abbreviations formed by taking the first two mora of compound words (e.g., スマホ from スマートフォン)
• English-origin acronyms are also common in Japanese (e.g., SNS, IT, AI)

Common collocations

• 略語(りゃくご)を使(つか)う: to use an abbreviation
• 略語(りゃくご)の意味(いみ): the meaning of an abbreviation
• 略語(りゃくご)で言(い)う: to say in abbreviated form
• 略語(りゃくご)一覧(いちらん): list of abbreviations

Similar words

• 省略(しょうりゃく): omission, abbreviation — the act of shortening, broader in scope
• 頭文字(かしらもじ): initials, acronym — specifically refers to initial letters
• 短縮形(たんしゅくけい): shortened form — a more technical/linguistic term