List of Singapore abbreviations
This list of Singapore abbreviations sets out abbreviations that are commonly used in Singapore.
Overview
[edit]Abbreviations are of three basic kinds:
- Clippings, in which a shortened form of a word occurs. Common clippings in Singapore are: air-con (from "air-conditioner"),[1] condo (from "condominium"),[2] sabo (from "sabotage"),[3] and cert (from "certificate").[4]
- Acronyms, in which the initial letters are formed into a single word, such as scuba, which is derived from "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus". Creation of acronyms such as this is rare in Singaporean English, though TIBS (/ˈtɪbz/, "Trans-Island Bus Service") and CISCO (/ˈsɪskoʊ/, "Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation") are found.[5]
- Initialisms, in which the individual letters are spelled out. This is by far the most common category in Singapore, including PAP ("People's Action Party") and PIE ("Pan-Island Expressway"), which are pronounced /ˌpiː ˌeɪ ˈpiː/ and /ˌpiː ˌaɪ ˈiː/ respectively and never */ˈpæp/ and */ˈpaɪ/. Some analysts regard initialisms such as these as one kind of acronym,[6] but others prefer to distinguish between the two categories.[7]
Initialisms are extremely common in Singapore, and many have become better known and more widely used than the full form of the words they represent. One example is the Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, which is more commonly referred to as KKH.
The most important category of Singapore initialisms are those for government departments and public institutions. Among the earliest examples are PUB ("Public Utilities Board") and HDB ("Housing Development Board"). Abbreviations such as these were especially important in the past when most Singaporeans were not educated in English, and their use facilitated communication in the public services where the main administrative language is English. Government departments have therefore promoted the use of these initialisms, so they occur even in non-English publications. Although the younger generation of Singaporeans are now all educated in English, abbreviations remain a major characteristic of Singapore English!!!
There are efforts to maintain some consistency among the initialisms.[citation needed] Three letters are used for government institutions (PUB, HDB, CPF, MOH, CWO) and for expressways (AYE, PIE, KJE), while two letters are used for polytechnics (SP, RP). To maintain this consistency, some abbreviations are not direct initials; for example CTE is used for "Central Expressway" instead of *CE, and NP is used for "Ngee Ann Polytechnic" instead of *NAP. When the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was established in 1991, the name was chosen instead of the alternative "Nanyang University of Technology" because the latter would have resulted in the unsuitable NUT. While Anderson Secondary School has shortened its name to ANDSS instead of ASS!!!
Recently, there have emerged a number of unconventional abbreviations, such as A*STAR for Agency for Science, Technology and Research.) When SAFTI (Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute) was reorganised in 1995, it acquired the name SAFTI Military Institute, further abbreviated as SAFTI MI, which when fully expanded would form a rather awkward title Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute Military Institute!!!
Abbreviations
[edit]0–9
[edit]- 4D - 4-Digits, a Singapore lottery
- 5 C's - 5 C's of Singapore: Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium, Country club
- 6 C's - 6 C's of Singapore: Career, Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium, Country club
A
[edit]- A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research
- AA - Asian Aerospace
- ACS (J) - Anglo-Chinese Junior School
- ACM - Asian Civilisations Museum
- ACPS - Anglo-Chinese Primary School
- ACRA - Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
- ACRES - Animal Concerns Research and Education Society
- ACS - Anglo-Chinese School
- ACS(I) - Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
- ACSBR - Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
- ACJC - Anglo-Chinese Junior College
- A & G - Allen & Gledhill, a law firm
- AG - Attorney-General
- AGC - Attorney-General's Chambers
- AHS - Anglican High School
- AISS - Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School, Australian International School Singapore
- AJ - (Pig Latin slang) Gay (typically male)
- AJC - Anderson Junior College (now merged with Serangoon Junior College to form Anderson Serangoon Junior College)
- ALL - Animal Lovers League
- AMK - Ang Mo Kio
- AMP - Association of Muslim Professionals
- ANDSS - Anderson Secondary School
- APP - Assistant Public Prosecutor (see also "DPP" and "PP")
- APPLES - Application for Passport On-line Electronic System
- AR - Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore
- ASRJC - Anderson Serangoon Junior College
- AWARE - Association of Women for Action and Research
- AWWA - Asian Women Welfare Association
- AY - Academic Year
- AYE - Ayer Rajah Expressway
B
[edit]- BB - Boys' Brigade
- BBSS - Bukit Batok Secondary School
- BC - Birth Certificate
- BCA - Building and Construction Authority
- BCM - Bus Contracting Model
- BBDC - Bukit Batok Driving Centre
- BBFA - ( internet slang) Bui Bui Forever Alone
- BBT - Bukit Batok / Bubble Tea
- BDK - Bedok
- BDS - Bedok South Secondary School
- BF - Buddhist Fellowship (Singapore)
- BGR - (slang) boy-girl relationship
- BJ - Bugis Junction
- BKE - Bukit Timah Expressway
- BMT - Basic Military Training
- BPGHS - Bukit Panjang Government High School
- BPLRT - Bukit Panjang LRT Line
- BPP - Bukit Panjang Plaza
- BPT - Basic Police Training
- BPJ - Bukit Panjang
- BRT - Basic Rescue Training
- BSEP - Bus Service Enhancement Programme
- BTO - Build To Order (HDB)
- BTS - Baptist Theological Seminary
- BTT - Basic Theory Test
- BTYSS - Beatty Secondary School
- BVSS - Buona Vista Secondary School
- BWSS - Bowen Secondary School
C
[edit]- CAAS - Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
- CBD - Central Business District
- CBP - Changi Business Park
- CBPU - Central Building Plan Unit
- CCA - Co-curricular activity
- CCC - Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Citizen's Consultative Committee
- CCHS - Chung Cheng High School
- CCK - Choa Chu Kang
- CCL or CC - Circle MRT line
- CCR - Core Central Region
- CDAC - Chinese Development Assistance Council
- CDC - Community Development Council
- CEPAS - Contactless e-Purse Application System
- CHC - City Harvest Church
- CHIJ - Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
- CHS - Catholic High School, Singapore
- CNB - Central Narcotics Bureau
- CID - Criminal Investigation Department
- CIP - Community Involvement Project (now replaced by "VIA")
- CIQ - Custom & Immigration Quarantine
- CIS - Corporate Individual Scheme
- CJ - Chief Justice
- CJC - Catholic Junior College
- CMC - Chinese Media & Communication
- CMPB - Central Manpower Base
- CNA - Channel NewsAsia
- COE - Certificate of Entitlement
- COTMA - COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020
- CPF - Central Provident Fund
- CPIB - Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
- CRL - Cross Island MRT line
- CS - Century Square
- CSC - Community Sports Club
- CSM - City Square Mall
- CTE - Central Expressway
- CTSS - Clementi Town Secondary School
- CWO - Corrective Work Order
- CWP - Causeway Point
- CWS - Cat Welfare Society
D
[edit]- D & D - Dinner & Dance, a function usually organised annually by companies
- D & N - Drew & Napier LLC, a law firm
- DART - Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team
- DBS - Development Bank of Singapore (now known as DBS Bank)
- DBSS - Design, Build and Sell Scheme
- DHS - Dunman High School
- DJ - District Judge
- DMN - Dunman Secondary School
- DPP - Deputy Public Prosecutor (see also "APP" and "PP") or Direct Entry Scheme to Polytechnic Programme (via ITE)
- DR - Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court or the Subordinate Courts of Singapore
- DSO - Defence Science Organisation
- DSTA - Defence Science and Technology Agency /ˈdɛstə/
- DTE - Downtown East
- DTL or DT - Downtown MRT line
E
[edit]- EC - Executive Condominium
- ECP - East Coast Park / East Coast Parkway
- EDB - Economic Development Board
- EDP - Endeavour Primary School
- eGAP - eGovernment Action Plan
- EJC - Eunoia Junior College
- EP - Employment Pass or Exit Permit
- ERP - Electronic Road Pricing
- EWL or EW - East–West MRT line
- EFSS - Edgefield Secondary School
F
[edit]- FAS - Financial Assistance Scheme
- FAS - Football Association of Singapore
- FCBC - Faith Community Baptist Church
- FG - Filmgarde Cineplexes
- FHSS - Fuhua Secondary School
- FMSS - Fairfield Methodist Secondary School
- FMPS or FFP - Fairfield Methodist Primary School
- FTT - Final Theory Test
- FT - Foreign Talent
G
[edit]- GAD - Go and Die
- GAS - Go-Ahead Singapore
- GB - Girls' Brigade
- GBTB - Gardens by the Bay
- GCE - General Certificate of Education
- GCM - Government Contracting Model (now replaced by Bus Contracting Model)
- GCT - Goh Chok Tong
- GE - General Election, Great Eastern
- GEP - Gifted Education Programme
- GIS - Global Indian School
- GP - General Practitioner, General Paper, Gladiolus Place
- GRC - Group representation constituency
- GSS - Great Singapore Sale
- GST - Goods and Services Tax
- GV - Golden Village
- GWA - GEMS World Academy
- GWC - Great World City
- GYSS - Guangyang Secondary School
H
[edit]- HCI - Hwa Chong Institution
- HCJC - Hwa Chong Junior College (now merged with The Chinese High School to form Hwa Chong Institution)
- HDB - Housing Development Board
- HEB - Hindu Endowments Board
- HG - Hougang
- HOGC - Heart of God Church
- HIP - Home Improvement Programme
- HPB - Health Promotion Board
- HPPS - Henry Park Primary School
- HS - Hougang Secondary School
- HSA - Health Sciences Authority
- HYSS -Hua Yi Secondary School
- HSCS -Hai Sing Catholic School
I
[edit]- IC - Identity health, In charge or Identification Certificate/Card
- ICBC - Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
- ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
- ICS - International Community School of Singapore
- IDA - Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
- IJC - Innova Junior College (now merged with Yishun Junior College to form Yishun Innova Junior College)
- IMDA - Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore
- IMH - Institute of Mental Health
- IO - Investigation Officer
- IP - Integrated Programme
- IPPT - Individual Physical Proficiency Test
- IR - Integrated Resort
- IRO - Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore
- ISA - Internal Security Act
- ISD - Internal Security Department
- ITE - Institute of Technical Education
- IUP - Interim Upgrading Programme
J
[edit]- J - Judge (plural: JJ)
- J8 - Junction 8 Shopping Centre
- JA - Judge of Appeal (plural: JJA)
- JB - Johor Bahru
- JC - Judicial Commissioner or Junior College
- JCA - Jewel Changi Airport
- JBJ - Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
- JEM - Jurong East Mall
- JEMP - Jurong East Modification Project
- JJC - Jurong Junior College (now merged with Pioneer Junior College to form Jurong Pioneer Junior College)
- JP - Jurong Point Shopping Mall
- JPJC - Jurong Pioneer Junior College
- JPS - Jagoh Primary School
- JRL or JR - Jurong Region MRT line
- JSS - Jurong Secondary School
- JTC - Jurong Town Corporation (now known as JTC Corporation)
K
[edit]- KCPSS - Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School
- KIV - Keep In View; refers to items, documents or papers that should be kept around for later consideration
- KJE - Kranji Expressway
- KK - Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital
- KL - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- KMSPKS - Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
- KPE - Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway
- KTPH - Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
L
[edit]- LCK - Lim Chu Kang
- LCCS - Lutheran Community Care Services
- LHL - Lee Hsien Loong
- LKCM - Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
- LKY - Lee Kuan Yew
- LRT - Light Rapid Transit
- LTA - Land Transport Authority
- LUP - Lift Upgrading Programme
- LYSS - Loyang Secondary School
M
[edit]- MAH - Mount Alvernia Hospital
- MAS - Monetary Authority of Singapore
- MBFC - Marina Bay Financial Centre
- MBLM - Marina Bay Link Mall
- MBS - Marina Bay Sands
- MBSC - Marina Bay Singapore Countdown
- MC - Medical Certificate
- MCD - Ministry of Community Development (now MCYS)
- MCE - Marina Coastal Expressway
- MCI - Ministry of Communications and Information
- MCS - Methodist Church in Singapore
- MCYS - Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (Singapore)
- MDA - Media Development Authority
- MDIS - Management Development Institute of Singapore
- MENDAKI - Yayasan MENDAKI (formerly the Council for the Education of Muslim Children, now the Council for the Development of Singapore Muslim Community)
- MGS - Methodist Girls' School
- MI - Millennia Institute
- MJC - Meridian Junior College (now merged with Tampines Junior College to form Tampines Meridian Junior College)
- MJR - Manjusri Secondary School
- MINDEF - Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
- MINDS - Movement For The Intellectually Disabled Of Singapore
- MOE - Ministry of Education (Singapore)
- MOF - Ministry of Finance (Singapore)
- MOH - Ministry of Health (Singapore)
- MOHH - Ministry of Health (Holdings)
- MOM - Ministry of Manpower (Singapore)
- MOS - Minister of State
- MP - Member of Parliament
- MPS - Meet the People Session
- MRT - Mass Rapid Transit
- MSCP - Multi Storey Car Park
- MSHS - Maris Stella High School
- MSL - Marsiling Secondary School
- MSS - Meridian Secondary School or Montfort Secondary School
- MUIS - Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
N
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/PIEroadsign-Singapore-20060727.jpg/220px-PIEroadsign-Singapore-20060727.jpg)
- NAPS - Ngee Ann Primary School
- NAFA - Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
- NAPFA - National Physical Fitness Award
- NAS - National Archives of Singapore
- NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore) or New Creation Church
- NCDCC - National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (Singapore)
- NCMP - Non-constituency Member of Parliament
- NCS - National Computer Systems
- NCSS - National Council of Social Service
- NDP - National Day Parade
- NE - National Education
- NEA - National Environment Agency
- NEL or NE - North East MRT line
- NETS - Network for Electronic Transfers
- NHG - National Healthcare Group
- NHHS - Nan Hua High School
- NIE - National Institute of Education
- NJC - National Junior College
- NKF - National Kidney Foundation Singapore
- NLB - National Library Board
- NMP - Nominated Member of Parliament
- NMS - National Museum of Singapore
- NP - Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- NPARKS - National Parks Board
- NPCC - National Police Cadet Corps
- NRIC - National Registration Identity Card
- NRP - Neighbourhood Renewal Programme
- NS - National Service in Singapore
- NSE - North–South Expressway (Singapore)
- NSF - Full-time National Servicemen
- NSL or NS - North–South MRT line
- NSTB - National Science and Technology Board
- NTC - National Technical Certificate
- NTFGH - Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
- NTPS - New Town Primary School
- NTU - Nanyang Technological University
- NTUC - National Trade Union Congress
- NUH - National University Hospital
- NUHS - National University Health System
- NUS - National University of Singapore
- NUSH or NUSHS - National University of Singapore High School of Mathematics and Science
- NWC - National Wages Council
- NYGH - Nanyang Girls' High School
- NYK - Nanyang Kindergarten
- NYP - Nanyang Polytechnic
- NYPS - Nanyang Primary School
- NYJC - Nanyang Junior College
O
[edit]- OB - Out of Bounds (see OB marker)
- OBS - Outward Bound Singapore
- OCBC - Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
- OCR - Outside of Central Region
- OCS - Officer Cadet School (Singapore)
- OFS - Overseas Family School
- OPSS - Orchid Park Secondary School
- ORD - Operationally Ready Date, refers to the date on which a National Serviceman completes his 2-year term of service.
- OSS - Outram Secondary School
- OUB - Overseas Union Bank
- O$P$ - owe money, pay money – used in loan sharks' harassing graffiti.
P
[edit]- PA - People's Association
- PAP - People's Action Party
- PCK - Phua Chu Kang, a popular TV sitcom
- PDI - Private Driving Instructor
- PE - Physical Education
- PES - Physical Employment Status. Pre-enlistment medical categorisation used by the Singapore Armed Forces to determine fitness for combat or non-combat duties
- PFP - Polytechnic Foundation Programme
- PG or PGL - Punggol
- PGP - Prince George's Park Residences, NUS
- PHS - Presbyterian High School
- PIE - Pan Island Expressway
- PJC - Pioneer Junior College (now merged with Jurong Junior College to form Jurong Pioneer Junior College)
- PLQ - Paya Lebar Quarter
- PLS - Paya Lebar Square
- PLU - People Like Us, a gay equality lobby group
- POFMA - Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019
- POSB - Post Office Savings Bank (now known as POSBank)
- PP - Public Prosecutor (see also "APP" and "DPP") or Parkway Parade
- PROGRESS - Providing Opportunities through Growth, Remaking Singapore for Success
- PS - Plaza Singapura
- PSA - Port of Singapore Authority (now known as PSA International)
- PSC - Public Service Commission
- PSLE - Primary School Leaving Examination
- PSP - Progress Singapore Party
- PSR - Pasir Ris
- PUB - Public Utilities Board
- PWD - Public Works Department
- PR - Permanent resident
- PT - Practical Test or Physical Training
- PDL - Provisional Driving Licence
- PLMGPS - Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary)
- PLMGSS - Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)
Q
[edit]- QDL - Qualified Driving Licence
- QPS - Qihua Primary School
R
[edit]- R & T - Rajah & Tann, a law firm
- RC - Residents' Committee
- RCR - Rest of Central Region
- RCS - Radio Corporation of Singapore
- RCY - Singapore Red Cross Youth
- REP - Renaissance Engineering Programme
- RGPS - Raffles Girls' Primary School
- RGS - Raffles Girls' School
- RI - Raffles Institution
- RJ or RJC - Raffles Junior College
- RMPS - Radin Mas Primary School
- ROM - Registry of Marriages
- RP - Republic Polytechnic
- RRP - Recommended retail price
- RS - Rosyth School
- RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force
- RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy
- RSS - Riverside Secondary School or Republic of Singapore Ship
- RWS - Resorts World Sentosa
- RVHS - River Valley High School, Singapore
- RVRC - Ridge View Residential College, NUS
S
[edit]- SAF - Singapore Armed Forces
- SAFRA - SAFRA National Service Association
- SAJC - St Andrew's Junior College
- SAL - Singapore Academy of Law
- SAM - Singapore Art Museum
- SANA - Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association
- SAP - Special Assistance Plan
- SAR - Senior Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore
- SAS - Singapore American School
- SAWL - Singapore Association of Women Lawyers
- SBF - Singapore Buddhist Federation
- SBI - State Bank of India
- SBM - Singapore Buddhist Mission
- SBS or SBST - SBS Transit
- SBW - Sembawang
- SBYM - Singapore Buddhist Youth Mission
- SC - Senior Counsel
- SChO - Singapore Chemistry Olympiad
- SCDF - Singapore Civil Defence Force
- SCGS - Singapore Chinese Girls' School
- SCS - Specialist Cadet School or Science Centre Singapore or Singapore Computer Systems
- SDA - Singapore Democratic Alliance
- SDJ - Senior District Judge
- SDP - Singapore Democratic Party
- SDU - Social Development Unit
- SERS - Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme
- SFC - SkillsFuture Credit
- SFI - Singapore Food Industries
- SG - Solicitor-General
- SGH - Singapore General Hospital
- SGSS - St. Gabriel's Secondary School or Serangoon Garden Secondary School
- SGX - Singapore Exchange
- SIA or SQ - Singapore Airlines
- SICC - Singapore Island Country Club
- SILE - Singapore Institute of Legal Education
- SILS - Singapore Institute of Labour Studies
- SIM - Singapore Institute of Management
- SINDA - Singapore Indian Development Association
- SIO - Senior Investigation Officer
- SIT - Singapore Institute of Technology
- SJAB - St. John Ambulance Brigade
- SJI - St. Joseph's Institution
- SJII - St. Joseph's Institution International
- SJIJ - St. Joseph's Institution Junior
- SK - Sengkang
- SKH - Sengkang General Hospital
- SLA - Singapore Land Authority
- SLF - Singapore Labour Foundation
- SLO - Singapore Lyric Opera
- SLS - Sim Lim Square
- SLSS - Si Ling Secondary School
- SLT - Sim Lim Tower
- SMF - Singapore Manufacturers' Federation
- SMC - Single Member Constituency
- SMO - Singapore Mathematics Olympiad
- SMRT - SMRT Corporation
- SMSS - St. Margaret's Secondary School
- SMU - Singapore Management University
- SNO - Special Needs Officer
- SNOC - Singapore National Olympic Council
- SNPC - Singapore National Paralympic Council
- SOS - Samaritans of Singapore or (slang) struggling in silence
- SOTA - School of the Arts, Singapore
- SP - Singapore Polytechnic
- SPA - School-based Practical Assessment (for students taking GCE 'O' level)
- SPC - SingPost Centre
- SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- SPF - Singapore Police Force
- SPH - Singapore Press Holdings
- SPG - (slang) sarong party girl
- SPS - Saint Patrick's School
- SPhO - Singapore Physics Olympiad
- SRCS - Singapore Red Cross Society
- SRJC - Serangoon Junior College (now merged with Anderson Junior College to form Anderson Serangoon Junior College)
- SS - Social Studies
- SSC - Singapore Sports Council or Singapore Swimming Club
- SSDC - Singapore Safety Driving Centre
- SSO - Singapore Symphony Orchestra
- SST - School of Science and Technology, Singapore or Singapore Standard Time
- ST - Singapore Technologies or The Straits Times or SingTel
- STAR - Special Tactics and Rescue
- STARIS - SMRT Active Route Map Information System
- STB - Singapore Tourism Board
- STV or SH - StarHub (formerly StarHub TV or Singapore Cable Vision)
- SUSS - Singapore University of Social Sciences
- SUTD - Singapore University of Technology and Design
- SVPS - South View Primary School
- SYAS - San Yu Adventist School
- SYF - Singapore Youth Festival
- SYFC - Singapore Youth Flying Club
- SYOGOC - Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee
- SYT - Sweet Young Thing
T
[edit]- TA - Temasek Academy
- TBP - Tiong Bahru Plaza
- TCHS - The Chinese High School (now merged with Hwa Chong Junior College to form Hwa Chong Institution)
- TCS - Television Corporation of Singapore
- TEL or TE - Thomson–East Coast MRT line
- TH - Temasek Hall, NUS
- TIBS - Trans-Island Bus Services
- TJC - Temasek Junior College
- TKGS - Tanjong Katong Girls' School
- TKSS - Tanjong Katong Secondary School
- TM - Tampines Mall
- TMJC - Tampines Meridian Junior College
- TMS - Temasek Secondary School
- TNS - Tao Nan School
- TNP - The New Paper
- TOP - Temporary Occupancy Permit
- TP - Temasek Polytechnic or Traffic Police
- TPY - Toa Payoh
- TPG - Tanjong Pagar
- TPJC - Tampines Junior College (now merged with Merdian Junior College to form Tampines Meridian Junior College)
- TPS - Tampines Primary School
- TPSS - Tampines Secondary School
- TTC - Trinity Theological College, Singapore
- TTS - Tanglin Trust School or Tower Transit Singapore
- TTSH - Tan Tock Seng Hospital
- TSS - Tanglin Secondary School
U
[edit]- UEN - Unique Entity Number
- UOB - United Overseas Bank
- URA - Urban Redevelopment Authority
- UP - Usual Price
- USS - Universal Studios Singapore
- UWC or UWCSEA - United World College of South East Asia
V
[edit]- VIA - Values in Action (replaces "CIP")
- VJC - Victoria Junior College
- VS - Victoria School
- VSS - Vegetarian Society (Singapore)
- VWO - Voluntary Welfare Organisation
W
[edit]- WDL - Woodlands, Singapore
- WDP - Woodlands Primary School
- WPS - Woodgrove Primary School
- WGS - Woodgrove Secondary School
- WongP - WongPartnership LLP, a law firm
- WP - Workers' Party of Singapore or Work Permit
- WS - White Sands
- WSS - Whitley Secondary School or Woodlands Secondary School
- WSSS - West Spring Secondary School
- WWP - Waterway Point
- WWSS - Westwood Secondary School
X
[edit]- XMM - Xiǎo Mèi Mèi (小妹妹,literally 'small girl')
- XHH - Xiǎo Hùn Hùn (小混混,literally 'young gangster')
- XMS - Xinmin Secondary School
Y
- YCKSS - Yio Chu Kang Secondary School
- YHSS - Yuhua Secondary School
- YJC - Yishun Junior College (now merged with Innova Junior College to form Yishun Innova Junior College)
- YIJC - Yishun Innova Junior College
- YLL(SM) - Yong Loo Lin (School of Medicine)
- YP - Young Punk
- YSS - Yishun Secondary School
- YTSS - Yishun Town Secondary School
- YIS - Yishun
- YNC - Yale-NUS College
Z
- ZHPS - Zhenghua Primary School or Zhonghua Primary School
- ZHSS - Zhonghua Secondary School
- ZSS - Zhenghua Secondary School
Abbreviations in the military
[edit]This is a list of abbreviations commonly used in the Singapore Armed Forces, including slang terms. They are often used in place of the expanded form of the words. Some abbreviations are similar to those used in other military. Other abbreviations may be identical to those used outside of military but with differing context.
People
[edit]Ranks
[edit]These ranks are arranged in descending order of seniority
Officers
[edit]Army and Air Force | Navy |
---|---|
|
|
- COL - Colonel
- SLTC - Senior Lieutenant Colonel
- LTC - Lieutenant Colonel
- MAJ - Major
- CPT - Captain
- LTA - Lieutenant
- 2LT - Second Lieutenant
- OCT - Officer Cadet
Warrant officers
[edit]- CWO - Chief Warrant Officer
- SWO - Senior Warrant Officer
- MWO - Master Warrant Officer
- 1WO - First Warrant Officer (formerly Warrant Officer Class 1, "WO1" or "WOI")
- 2WO - Second Warrant Officer (formerly Warrant Officer Class 2, "WO2" or "WOII")
- 3WO - Third Warrant Officer
Specialists
[edit]- MSG - Master Sergeant
- SSG - Staff Sergeant
- 1SG - First Sergeant
- 2SG - Second Sergeant
- 3SG - Third Sergeant
- SGT - Sergeant (defunct – replaced by "1SG", "2SG" and "3SG")
- SCT - Specialist Cadet
Enlistees
[edit]- CFC - Corporal First Class
- CPL - Corporal
- LCP - Lance Corporal
- PFC - Private First Class
- PTE - Private
- REC - Recruit
Other Ranks
[edit]Military Domain Experts
[edit]- ME9 - Military Expert 9
- ME8 - Military Expert 8
- ME7 - Military Expert 7
- ME6 - Military Expert 6
- ME5 - Military Expert 5
- ME4 - Military Expert 4
- ME4(A) - Military Expert 4 (Apprentice)
- ME4(T) - Military Expert 4 (Trainee)
- ME3 - Military Expert 3
- ME2 - Military Expert 2
- ME1 - Military Expert 1
- ME1(T) - Military Expert 1 (Trainee)
SAF Volunteer Corps
[edit]- SV 4 - SAF Volunteer 4
- SV 3 - SAF Volunteer 3
- SV 2 - SAF Volunteer 2
- SV 1 - SAF Volunteer 1
- SV (T) - SAF Volunteer (Trainee)
Appointments and offices
[edit]- 2IC - Second-in-charge (see "IC")
- ASM - Army Sergeant Major
- BC - Battery Commander
- BDO - Battery Duty Officer
- BOS - Battalion Orderly Sergeant or Brigade Orderly Sergeant
- BSM - Battery Sergeant Major or Brigade Sergeant Major
- BSO - Battalion Signal Officer
- BQMS - or "BQ" - Battery Quartermaster Sergeant
- CAO - Chief Armour Officer
- CAF - Chief of Air Force
- CCO - Camp Commandant's Office
- CDF - Chief of Defence Force
- CDI - Chief of Digital and Intelligence Service
- CDO - Company Duty Officer
- CDS - Company Duty Sergeant
- CMC - Chief of Medical Corps
- CNV - Chief of Navy
- CO - Commanding Officer
- COA - Chief of Army
- COS - Company Orderly Sergeant
- CQMS - or "CQ" - Company Quartermaster Sergeant
- CSM - Company Sergeant Major
- DDO - Divisional Duty Officer
- DO - Duty Officer
- DOO - Duty Orderly Officer
- DOS - Duty Orderly Sergeant
- DS - Duty Sergeant
- DSM - Division Sergeant Major
- Dy S1 - Deputy Manpower Officer
- Dy S2 - Deputy Intelligence Officer
- Dy S3 - Deputy Training and Operation Officer
- Dy S4 - Deputy Logistics Officer
- FDO - Field Duty Officer
- FS - Fitness Specialist
- FSM - Formation Sergeant Major
- IC - (person) in command or in charge (see also "2IC")
- IO - Intelligence Officer or Investigating Officer
- MO - Medical Officer
- MTO - Military Transport Officer
- NO - Nursing Officer
- NCO - Non-Commissioned Officer (defunct – replaced by "Specialist")
- OC - Officer Commanding (Company Commander in other militaries)
- PC - Platoon Commander
- PS - Platoon Sergeant
- PSO - Principal Staff Officer
- PTI - Physical Training Instructor
- QM - Quartermaster - usually a commissioned officer or a senior warrant officer
- RQMS - Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant - usually a warrant officer in the SAF
- RSM - Regimental Sergeant Major
- S1 - Manpower Officer
- S2 - Intelligence Officer
- S3 - Training and Operation Officer
- S4 - Logistics Officer
- SDO - School Duty Officer (use is limited to training schools)
- SM - Sergeant Major
- SSM - School Sergeant Major
- WOSA - Warrant officers, specialists and airmen
- WOSE - Warrant officers, specialists and enlistees
- WOSPEC - Warrant officers and specialists
Units and organizations
[edit]- ADF - Army Deployment Force
- AFTC - Air Force Training Command
- AMB - Army Maintenance Base
- BB - Boys' Brigade
- BMTC - Basic Military Training Centre
- CAD - Combined Arms Division
- CDO - Singapore Commandos
- CMPB - Central Manpower Base
- CSSCOM - Combat Service Support Command
- CTI - Commando Training Institute
- DIS - Digital and Intelligence Service
- DISCOM - Division Support Command
- DSMB - Direct Support Maintenance Battalion (defunct, now renamed as "AMB" or Army Maintenance Base)
- DS Med Bn - Direct Support Medical Battalion
- DSSB - Direct Support Supply Battalion
- DSTA - Defence Science Technology Agency
- EOD - Explosive Ordnance Disposal
- FCC - Fitness Conditioning Centre
- FDS - Field Defence Squadron
- GDS - Singapore Guards
- GG - Girl Guide
- GB - Girls' Brigade
- JID - Joint Intelligence Directorate
- JOPD - Joint Operations and Planning Directorate
- MES - Maintenance and Engineering Support
- MP - Military Police
- MMI - Military Medicine Institute
- NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
- NCDCC - National Civil Defence Cadet Corps
- NDU - Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)
- NPCC - National Police Cadet Corps
- OCS - Officer Cadet School
- OETI - Ordnance Engineering Training Institute (Defunct: renamed to OES - OETI Engineering School)
- PCC - Psychological Care Centre
- RCY - Singapore Red Cross Youth
- PDF - People's Defence Force
- RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force
- RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy
- SA - Singapore Artillery
- SAF - Singapore Armed Forces
- SAFAC - Singapore Armed Forces Ammunition Command
- SAFPU - Singapore Armed Forces Provost Unit (defunct, reorganised into the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command)
- SAFMPC - Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command
- SAFRA - Singapore Armed Forces Reservists' Association (the term "reservist" has generally been replaced by "Operationally Ready NSmen")
- SAFSA - Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association
- SAR - Singapore Armoured Regiment
- SCC - SAF Counselling Centre
- SCE - Singapore Combat Engineers
- SFLS - Special Forces Leadership School
- SI - Signal Institute
- SIB - Singapore Infantry Brigade or Special Investigation Branch
- SIR - Singapore Infantry Regiment
- SISPEC - School of Infantry Specialist
- SMI - School of Military Intelligence
- SMM - School of Military Medicine (reorganised as SMTI in 2006)
- SMTI - SAF Medical Training Institute
- SOC - School of Commandos (defunct, reorganised into the Commando Training Institute)
- SOCC - Special Operations Command Centre
- SOF - Special Operations Force
- SOTAC - Special Operations Tactics Centre
- SOTC - Special Operations Training Centre
- SOTSC - Special Operations Support Centre
- SPT - School of Physical Training
- SRC - Singapore Red Cross
Places
[edit]- 265 - formerly a hill in Marsiling with an elevation of 265 feet which was used for training; it has been levelled for urban development.
- ATEC - Army Training and Evaluation Center
- BCTC - Basic Combat Training Center
- PLC - Pasir Laba Camp
- PRC - Pasir Ris Camp
- SAFTI - Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (term now defunct)
- SAFTI MI - SAFTI Military Institute
Weapons, vehicles and equipment
[edit]- A-veh - a heavy vehicle, such as an armoured vehicle
- APC - Armoured Personnel Carrier
- AVLB - Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge
- B-veh - non-"A-veh" vehicles, such as rovers and trucks
- FAD - first aid dressing
- FBO - full battle order (compare "SBO")
- FFR - (with reference to a land rover) fitted for radio
- FH88 - Field Howitzer 88
- FH2000 - Field Howitzer 2000
- GPMG - General Purpose Machine Gun – refers in particular to the FN MAG used in the Singapore Armed Forces
- HMG - Heavy machine gun
- IBA - Integrated body armour
- IFV - Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- LAW - Light Anti-tank Weapon
- LBV - Load Bearing Vest
- LST - Landing Ship Tank
- MOP - Medic Operational Pouch (previously Medical Orderly Pouch)
- RAI - Returnable Ammunition Item, usually referring to expanded cartridges for live or blank round that are required to be returned after training exercises.
- RCK - rifle cleaning kit
- SAR - refers to SAR 21
- SAW - Section Assault Weapon (usually refers to the Ultimax 100)
- SBO - Standard (formerly Skeletal) Battle Order (compare "FBO")
- SSPH 1 or SSPH - Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus
- TL - Troop lift - When recruits use a tonner to get to the ferry terminal from BMTC school 4, which is further inland
Slang
[edit]- FO - fall out; fuck off
- LOBO - left out of battle order (refers to a soldier who has not been assigned a fixed vocation)
- LLST - lan lan suck thumb, meaning to embrace the fact and continue
- NATO - no action, talk only
- Pikachu - from the hokkien expression "bai kah bai chew", meaning crippled
- SBC - simply boh chup – indifferent, not caring (from the abbreviation of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation)
- WALI - walk around, look important
- ROC - relax one corner
- OTOT - own time own target
- RSAF - rarely seen after five. Also the acronym for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
- SOC - siam one corner, that is, to hide somewhere in order to avoid meeting one's superiors, doing work, etc. (from the abbreviation of "Standard Obstacle Course")
Others
[edit]- 11B - SAF 11B, the military identity card, referring to the eleven pieces of basic information written.
- 1206 - SAF 1206, a form signed to acknowledge deductions made to a soldier's payroll for damaging or losing equipment, etc. (pronounced "twelve-O-six")
- 1211 - SAF 1211, an issue and receipt voucher for proof of receiving and issuing of goods.
- 302 - SAF 302, a form signed to declare own homosexual orientation (pronounced "three-O-two")
- 15A - SAF 15A, a temporary document used alongside a photo ID card and police report, in place of a lost or stolen 11B
- ACCT - Advanced Close Combat Training
- AI - Armoured Infantry troopers
- AOC - Advanced Obstacle Course
- ATP - Advanced Trainfire Package
- Attend B - medical status that allows soldier to perform only light duties
- Attend C - medical status that exempts soldier from all duties
- AWOL - Absent Without Official Leave
- BAC - Battle Assault Course
- BCCT - Basic Close Combat Training
- BER - beyond economic repair
- BIBO - book-in/book-out (book)
- BIC - Battle Inoculation Course
- BMT - Basic Military Training
- BRO - Battalion Routine Order
- BTP - Basic Trainfire Package
- BUA - Built-up area (see also "FIBUA")
- C3 - command, control and communication (pronounced "C-three" or "C-cube")
- CBRE - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group
- CIS - Chartered Industries of Singapore
- CMTL - Centralised Motor Transport Line
- COC - Change of Command Parade
- CP - Command Post
- CRO - Company Routine Orders
- CS - Combat Shoot
- CST - Combat Survival Training
- DB - detention barracks
- DIV - division
- DOD - date of disruption
- EVAC - evacuation
- FATEP - Field Artillery Training Evaluation Phase
- FFE - fire for effect
- FFF - Fit For Firing certification
- FFI - Fitness For Instructions
- FIBUA - fighting in built-up area (see also "BUA")
- FO - Forward Observer, soldier who corrects artillery fire
- FOFO - fighting on Fortified objectives
- FPF - final protective fire
- G50 - G50, a form submitted for security clearance in military or government sectors
- GLS - Ground Logistics Support
- HCC - High Confidence Course
- HOTO - Hand over take over
- IA - Immediate Action, a pre-trained drill for responding to a certain situation
- ICCT - Intermediate Close Combat Training
- ICT - In Camp Training (also simply known as in-camp)
- IFC - Individual Field Craft
- IMT - Individual Marksmanship Trainer
- IPPT - Individual Physical Proficiency Test
- IPT - Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) Preparatory Training Programme
- L/F - live firing
- LD - medical status that allows soldiers to perform only light duties
- LOA - letter of authority/authorisation
- OOC - Out of Course
- OOT - Out of Training
- ORD - Operationally Ready Date (formerly "ROD")
- QI - Quarterly Inspection certification
- RMJ - medical status that excuses soldiers from running, marching and jumping
- RO - Routine Orders
- ROD - Run Out Date (now "ORD")
- PES - Physical Employment Status
- SOC - Standard Obstacle Course
- SOL - stoppage of leave
- TH - Technical Handling
- UFF - unfit for firing
- VOC - Vocation Obstacle Course
- WH - White Horse marking in medical docket indicative of special treatment required
Abbreviations in transport
[edit]As in most other major cities, abbreviations are commonly used in transport-related matters. The most prominent are the three-letter abbreviations of the expressways in Singapore; all, except one, end with the letter "E":
- AYE - Ayer Rajah Expressway
- BKE - Bukit Timah Expressway
- CTE - Central Expressway
- ECP - East Coast Parkway
- KJE - Kranji Expressway
- KPE - Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway
- MCE - Marina Coastal Expressway
- NSE - North-South Expressway
- PIE - Pan Island Expressway
- SLE - Seletar Expressway
- TPE - Tampines Expressway
With the introduction of the Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS) in 1998, LED signboards were installed along the expressways to display warning and other informational messages to road users. This led to the increased use of abbreviations, some of which are less common and not easily understood. The following are examples of abbreviations used in the EMAS:[8]
- NTH RD - North Road
- STH RD - South Road
- (CCK) DR - (Choa Chu Kang) Drive
- TOWN HALL - Jurong Town Hall Road
- (TP) AVE 10 - (Tampines) Avenue 10
- LT - left
- RT - right
- AFT - after
- BEF - before
- LN - lane
- SH - shoulder
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Low, Ee Ling; Adam Brown (2005). English in Singapore: An Introduction. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education (Asia). p. 69. ISBN 0-07-123975-8.
- ^ Brown, Adam (2000). Singapore English in a Nutshell: An Alphabetical Description of its Features. Singapore: Federal Publications. pp. 57–58. ISBN 981-01-2435-X.
- ^ Brown, Singapore English in a Nutshell, above, p. 187.
- ^ Deterding, David (2007). Singapore English. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7486-2545-1.
- ^ Brown, Singapore English in a Nutshell, above, p. 112.
- ^ Low & Brown, English in Singapore, above, p. 70.
- ^ Deterding, Singapore English, above, p. 77.
- ^ "EMAS – Your guide to a safer ride". The Highway. Automobile Association of Singapore. February 2001. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-11. .
References
[edit]- Brown, Adam (2000). Singapore English in a Nutshell: An Alphabetical Description of its Features. Singapore: Federal Publications. ISBN 981-01-2435-X.
- Deterding, David (2007). Singapore English. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-2545-1.
- Low, Ee Ling; Adam Brown (2005). English in Singapore: An Introduction. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education (Asia). ISBN 0-07-123975-8.