Q Shorthand
A Quick and Easy Guide to Texting Abbreviations in Spanish!
So, you’ve completed Level 2 of Pimsleur’s Latin American Spanish, loaded up your Netflix queue with Spanish language movies and have just started to acquire Spanish speaking friends. But now when you receive a comment on your photo saying “k linda t ves!tkm, cdt”, you quickly realize you’re in over your head! Do you need help with Spanish texting abbreviations? Are you worried about sounding uncool or robotic via text message? We’ve got you covered. Let’s learn how to text in Spanish.
Scope /anticodon, /codon, /translexcept Contact EMBL Listing (note that the abbreviations are legal values for amino acids, not the full names) Abbreviation Amino acid name - - Ala A Alanine Arg R Arginine Asn N Asparagine Asp D Aspartic acid (Aspartate) Cys C Cysteine Gln Q Glutamine Glu E Glutamic acid (Glutamate) Gly G Glycine His H. Amsterdam Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,850,859 reviews of Amsterdam Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Amsterdam resource. Gregg shorthand is a form of shorthand that was invented by John Robert Gregg in 1888. Like cursive longhand, it is completely based on elliptical figures and lines that bisect them. 1 Gregg shorthand is the most popular form of pen stenography in the United States; its Spanish adaptation is fairly popular in Latin America. Now let us have a look at some of the questions that are frequently asked by the Students (F. Q) related to Shorthand Speed Development. Almost all the queries are covered in these questions related to Shorthand Speed. QUESTION-1 How to increase Shorthand speed in less time?
How to Text in Spanish
Before we get started, let’s just clarify that SMS is essentially a thing of the past in Latin America. Monthly or yearly cell phone contracts are almost non-existent. Many people pay-as-you-go and use apps like Whatsapp and Facebook messenger to send free messages.
When asked, “How do I say ‘texting’ in Spanish?”, I usually tell people that while some Latinos say textear, even though it’s not an official word yet, it’s more common to say MándameunWhatsapp/mensaje. (“Send me a Whatsapp/message.“) A message is more universally accepted because it can be sent via an online service.
Just because old school SMS is gone does not mean the abbreviations have died. They’ve just moved to different platforms. Here is a list of all the abbreviations you will need to successfully text in Spanish.
Texting Hacks: Spanish Texting Abbreviations and Acronyms
Listed below are many of the most common Spanish texting abbreviations you’ll see:
Top 10 Spanish Texting Slang: Acronyms
- gpi = Gracias por invitar. (Thanks for the invite.)
- tkm or tqm = Te quiero mucho. (I love you.)
- There are two ways to say I love you in Spanish: te amo and te quiero. Te quiero mucho is the less formal way of expressing love. It literally means I want you a lot.
- K often replaces q because it has similar phonetic sound.
- ntp = No te preocupes. (Don’t worry. – informal)
- npn = No pasa nada. (No biggie. or No problem.)
- pti = Para tu información (FYI – for your information)
- mdi = Me da igual (It’s the same. or It doesn’t matter. Literally, “It gives me equal.”)
- fds = Fin de semana (Weekend)
- tlj = Te lo juro! (I swear to you! – informal)
- tqi/tki = Tengo que irme. (I have to go.)
- cdt = Cuídate. (Take care. “of yourself”)
Top Spanish Texting Slang: Abbreviations
- muy bn = Muy bien (Very well.)
- pq, pk,xq, xk = Porque? (Why?)
- As you may know, there are actually four different ways to spell porque in Spanish (porque, porqué, porquéandporque.) These subtle nuances are futile in the world of texting.
- Turns out there are also four ways to abbreviate porque: pq, pk, xq, and xk.
- As seen in tkm, the q is often substituted for the k.
- The letter x replaces the word por in a reference to multiplication. Take, for example, the expression “3 x 4.” In English, you say “3 times 4″ but in Spanish, it’s “3 por 4.”
- If you want to know more about the different porque’s, here’s a breakdown of the 4 Spanish porques!
- xfa = por fa (Short for por favor, or “please“. Again, the por is replaced with an x.)
- tb = también (also see tmb and tmbn – “also“ or “too“, similar to the English abbreviation 2 as in “me 2“)
- bs = besos (“kisses”, not bull sh**. Also see bst for besitos, or “little kisses”.)
- chic@s = chicos & chicas (boys & girls)
- Because the only thing differentiating chicos from chicas is one letter, people use the symbol @ to represent both o and a. Same goes for amigos + amigas = amig@s. Pretty clever, huh?
- kn = quien (who)
- cnt = Conesta! (“Answer!“ Either the phone or the question at hand)
- maso = más o menos (“more or less”, which may also be typed as using symbols + o -)
- msj = mensaje (message)
- mñn = mañana (tomorrow)
- atte = atentamente (“attentively“, or “thoughtfully“ – more formal)
- aki = aquí (“here”, replacing q with k.)
- estoy de vacas = Estoy de vacaciones. (I am on vacation)
- vdd = Verdad (True)
- gnl = genial (great/wonderful – mostly used in Spain)
- mxo = mucho (a lot)
- The letter x in Spanish slang is often used to replace the ch sound. Also, see xao = chao.)
- kacs = Qué haces? (What are you doing/what are you up to?)
- Since the h is silent, it often disappears while texting in Spanish.
- ntnc/tons = Entonces (So, then)
Texting Hacks: How Do I Say “lol” in Spanish?
Many Latinos simply use the English term lol because of its sheer popularity. If you want to laugh in Spanish, you could write jaja (the j is pronounced like an h in English).
The more ja’s, the funnier the commentary.
Be careful not to miss the first j and type aja, as in “aha…” or “I agree/see your point.”
Text in Spanish Like a Native!
Now you’re ready to go out into the digital Spanish-speaking / writing world with confidence!
Remember:
- q = k
- por = x
- o+a = @
- and no accent marks required!
If you didn’t remember everything, npn (no pasa nada)! Continue to use the guide above as a reference, but don’t forget to keep practicing your Spanish!
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Medical abbreviations are a shorthand way of writing and talking by medical professionals (people who work to help sick people) to hurry explanation of diseases (sickness), patients, or medicines (drugs).
This shorthand can include shortening (making less lengthy) of longer disease names, by cutting the word down to its base (the Latin or Greek part that makes it). Medical professionals also create (make) words that mean something. An example of this is 'stat', used to indicate (show) that something needs to be hurried (done faster). It is from the Latin 'base word' statim, meaning quick. A very commonly (often) used shorthand is shortening things on order forms for patients. An example is, 'pre-op' meaning pre-operation (patient who is being prepared for surgery). These can be very complicated and extensive (meaning there is a lot of them).
Despite the fact that this shorthand might make it difficult for new Interns (new doctors) or recently trained nurses to get used to this unofficial language, it has been shown to improve (make better) the speed of treatment in hospitals.
Medical authorities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have questioned the use of medical shorthand; believing that it can lead to mistakes being made due to less clear communication and have advised doctors to avoid its use.[1]
Medications[change change source]
How to take medications[change change source]
Medications can be given in different ways (routes). Abbreviations for the most common routes are:[2]
| Abbreviation: | Means the medication is taken: |
|---|---|
| PO | By mouth (swallowed) |
| IM | Intramuscularly (injected into a muscle) |
| INH | Inhaled (breathed in) |
| IV | Intravenously (injected into a vein) |
| PR | 'Per rectum' (placed into the rectum) |
| SC, SQ, Sub-q | 'Subcutaneous' (injected under the skin) |
When to take medications[change change source]
Doctors use many different abbreviations to say when to take a medication. It is helpful to remember that doctors use the letter 'q' to stand for 'every. For example, 'qAM' stands for 'every AM' (morning).[2]
Here are some of the most common:[2]
| Abbreviation: | This Means the Medicine Should Be Taken: |
|---|---|
| qAM | Every morning |
| qPM | Every evening |
| qHS | At bedtime |
| prn | As needed (the person should take the medication only when they need it) |
| qd | Once a day |
| bid | Twice a day |
| tid | Three times a day |
| qid | Four times a day |
| qod | Every other day |
| qwk | Every week |
| qmo | Every month |
Drugs & medications[change change source]
Some drugs and medications have common abbreviations. Here are some examples:[3]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| APAP | Acetaminophen | Common brand name: Tylenol |
| ASA | Aspirin | 'ASA' is short for Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin's original name) |
| ETOH | Alcohol | Stands for ethanol (drinking alcohol) |
| MVI | Multivitamin | A set of vitamins in one pill |
| NSAID | Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug | Pronounced 'en-sed'; examples are ibuprofen and aspirin |
| NTG | Nitroglycerin | Used for heart attacks and other problems; also called 'nitro' |
| OBC | Oral birth control | Birth control taken as a pill (also called OC: oral contraceptive) |
| OTC | An over-the-counter drug | Can be bought without a doctor'sprescription |
| PCP | Phencyclidine | An illegal drug that causes hallucinations |
| SSRI | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor | A type of antidepressant; examples are Prozac and Paxil |
About the body[change change source]
Common abbreviations that have to do with the human body include:[4]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| BP | Blood pressure | A measure of how hard the heart is working |
| HR | Heart rate | How many times the heart beats in one minute |
| O2 | Oxygen | Pronounced 'oh-too' |
| O2 sats | Oxygen saturation | A measure of how much oxygen a person is getting |
| RBC | Red blood cells | The cells in the blood that carry oxygen |
| RR | Respiratory rate | How many times a person breathes in one minute |
| VS | Vital signs | A patient's blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature |
| WBC | White blood cells | The cells in the blood that fight infection |
| WNL | Within Normal Limits | Normal for the patient's age and gender (Example: 'VS WNL' means 'vital signs are normal for this patient') |
Medical specialties[change change source]
There are many different kinds of medical specialties. These are kinds of doctors that treat people with certain kinds of problems. Abbreviations for medical specialties include:[4]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ENT | Ears, Nose, and Throat | Treats problems with the ears, nose, and throat |
| ER | Emergency room | Treats medical emergencies |
| GI | Gastrointestinal | Treats problems with the gastrointestinal tract |
| GU | Genitourinary | Treats problems with the genitals or the urinary system |
| GYN | Gynecology | Treats and prevents problems with a woman's reproductive system |
| Hem/Onc | Hematology/Oncology | Treats blood disorders and cancer (pronounced 'HEEM-onk') |
| ICU | Intensive Care Unit | A special hospital unit for very sick people |
| Neuro | Neurology | Involves the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) (pronounced 'NURR-oh') |
| OB | Obstetrics | The medical specialty that treats women while they are pregnant and giving birth |
| OR | Operating room | Part of the hospital where surgery is done |
| Ortho | Orthopedics | Treats problems with the bones, like broken bones |
| Pedi | Pediatrics | Pediatric doctors (pediatricians) treat children (pronounced 'PEE-dee') |
Health problems[change change source]
Many health problems have common abbreviations. For example:[5][4]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | A Problem With: | Meaning/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-fib | Atrial fibrillation | Heart | A type of abnormal heartbeat where the heart beats quickly and irregularly |
| CA | Cancer | A group of diseases caused by abnormal cells growing out of control | |
| CAD | Coronary artery disease | Heart | The arteries that bring blood to the heart get blocked off and cannot bring enough blood to the heart |
| CHF | Congestive heart failure | Heart | The heart cannot pump enough blood to the body |
| COPD | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Lungs | A group of chronic diseases that make it hard to breathe |
| CVA | Cerebrovascular accident | Brain | Stroke |
| DM | Diabetes mellitus | Metabolism | See also diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) |
| DJD | Degenerative Joint Disease | Joints | Arthritis |
| DVT | Deep vein thrombosis | Blood clotting | A blood clot, usually in a big vein in the leg |
| HTN | Hypertension | Circulatory system | High blood pressure |
| IDDM | Insulin-Dependent Diabetes | Metabolism | Diabetes that needs to be treated with insulin (usually type 1 diabetes) |
| Mets | Metastasis | Cancer | The original cancer has spread to another place in the body |
| MI | Myocardial infarction | Heart | Heart attack (also called AMI, for 'acute myocardial infarction') |
| NIDDM | Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes | Metabolism | Diabetes that does not need to be treated with insulin (usually type 2 diabetes) |
| OD | Overdose | Taking too much medication or drugs, either accidentally or on purpose | |
| SOB | Shortness of Breath | Breathing | Having trouble breathing |
| TIA | Transient ischemic attack | Brain | A small stroke that does not leave any permanentbrain damage |
| V-fib | Ventricular fibrillation | Heart | The heart quivers and twitches, and cannot pump blood to the body |
| V-tach | Ventricular tachycardia | Heart | The heart beats too fast to pump blood to the body; pronounced 'V-tack' |
Infections[change change source]
Common abbreviations for infections include:[5][4]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | Meaning/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C. diff | Clostridium difficile infection | Bacteria attack the intestines; many antibioticswill not kill C. diff (pronounced 'SEE-diff') |
| HCV | Hepatitis C virus | A chronicinfection of the liver |
| HIV | Human immunodeficiency virus | The virus that causes AIDS |
| HPV | Human papillomavirus | A virus that can cause cancer |
| MRSA | Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus | A bacterial infection that many antibiotics will not kill (pronounced 'MURR-suh') |
| PID | Pelvic inflammatory disease | An infection of a woman's reproductive system |
| STI | Sexually transmitted infection | Used to be called 'STD' (sexually transmitted disease) |
| TB | Tuberculosis | An infection of the lungs |
| URI | Upper respiratory infection | An infection of the upper respiratory tract; examples are the common cold and sinus infections |
| UTI | Urinary tract infection | An infection of the bladder or kidneys |
Mental health problems[change change source]
Common abbreviations for mental health problems include:[4]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | Meaning/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ADHD | Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder | Used to be called ADD (Attention-deficit disorder) |
| ASD | Autism spectrum disorder | A group of disorders, including autism and Asperger syndrome |
| GAD | Generalized anxiety disorder | Causes a person to feel very anxious and worried, most of the time |
| OCD | Obsessive-compulsive disorder | An anxiety disorder that causes unwanted thoughts and actions |
| ODD | Oppositional defiant disorder | A pattern of angry behavior, arguing, and causing trouble |
| PTSD | Post-traumatic stress disorder | Caused by psychological trauma |
| SI | Suicidal ideation | When a person thinks about killing themselves |
Tests & treatments[change change source]
Doctors often talk about common medical tests and treatments by using abbreviations. Examples of these abbreviations include:[4][2]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| CABG | Coronary artery bypass graft | Surgery to treat blocked arteries that bring blood to the heart; pronounced 'cabbage' |
| CBC | Complete Blood Count | A basic blood test that counts the number of blood cells in a person's blood |
| CPR | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation | Emergency treatment done when a person's heart or breathing stops |
| CT | Computed tomography scan | Uses X-rays to make a 3-D picture of the inside of the body; also called a 'CAT scan' |
| ECG; EKG | Electrocardiogram | Test of the heart's electrical activity |
| Echo | Echocardiogram | Test that uses sound waves to make a picture of the heart and whether it is working normally |
| EEG | Electroencephalogram | Test of the brain's electrical activity |
| LFTs | Liver function tests | Tests of how well the liver is working (usually blood tests) |
| MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging | Uses a very strong magnet to make a 3-D picture of the inside of the body |
| XRT | X-ray Therapy | Usually means radiation therapy for cancer |
Other abbreviations[change change source]
Other abbreviations used in medicine include:[4]
| Abbreviation: | Stands For: | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hx | History | Example: 'Patient has a family Hx of diabetes' means 'Patient has a family history of diabetes' |
| a | Before | Example: 'Take a 8:00' means 'Take (this medication) before 8:00' |
| AMA | Against Medical Advice | The patient has chosen to not comply with a treatment plan (example: 'patient left the hospital AMA') |
| BMI | Body Mass Index | A measure of how much a person weighs based on their height |
| c | With | Example: 'Take c food' means 'Take (this medication) with food' |
| DNR | Do Not Resuscitate | The patient has a Do Not Resuscitate order saying they do not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops |
| Dx | Diagnosis | The medical problem a person has |
| NKDA | No known drugallergies | If the person has a drug allergy, we don't know about it. The person has no drug allergies we know about. |
| NPO | Nothing by mouth | The patient should not swallow anything (no food, liquids, or medications) |
| p | After | Example: 'Patient had pain p eating' means 'Patient had pain after eating' |
| s̅ | Without | Example: 'Nausea s̅ vomiting' means' 'Patient was nauseous but did not vomit' |
Q Quiere Decir Shorthand
References[change change source]
Q-connect Shorthand Notebook 80lf
- ↑'Are TLAs more trouble than they're worth?'. StudentBMJ. 2006. Retrieved 07-03-2009.Check date values in:
accessdate=(help) - ↑ 2.02.12.22.3'Alphabetical Listing of Medical Abbreviations'. Spinal Cord Resource Center. United Spinal Association. 2015. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- ↑'Prescriptions and Medication Orders'. The Pharmaceutics and Compounding Laboratory. University of North Carolina – Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- ↑ 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.6'Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations'. MedlinePlus. United States National Library of Medicine. April 18, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- ↑ 5.05.1'Medical Abbreviations'. The Pharmaceutics and Compounding Laboratory. University of North Carolina – Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Retrieved February 22, 2016.