List of Singapore abbreviations

This list of Singapore abbreviations sets out abbreviations that are commonly used in Singapore. [edit] Overview 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 Singapore English, though TIBS (/tbz/) ("Trans-Island Bus Service") and CISCO (/ssko/) ("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 /pi e pi/ and /pi a i/ respectively and never */pp/ and */pa/. 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 KK. The most important category of Singapore initialisms are those for government departments and public institutions. Among the earliest examples are PUB ("Public Utility 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. 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. Anderson Secondary School is one such unfortunate example, where the name upon being shortened becomes 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. [edit] Abbreviations [edit] 09

4D - 4-Digits, a Singapore lottery 5 C's - 5 C's of Singapore: Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium, Country club

[edit] A

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

ACS - Anglo-Chinese School ACS(I) - Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) ACSS - Anglo-Chinese Secondary School ACJC - Anglo-Chinese Junior College A & G - Allen & Gledhill, a law firm AG - Attorney-General AGC - Attorney-General's Chambers AHS - Anglican High School AJ - (pig-latin slang) Gay (typically male) AJC - Anderson Junior College AMK - Ang Mo Kio AMP - Association of Muslim Professionals 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 AWARE - Association of Women for Action and Research AYE - Ayer Rajah Expressway

[edit] B

BBDC - Bukit Batok Driving Centre BGR - (slang) boy-girl relationship BKE - Bukit Timah Expressway BMT - Basic Military Training BPT - Basic Police Training BRT - Basic Rescue Training BTT - Basic Theory Test

[edit] C

CAAS - Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore CBD - Central Business District CCA - Co-curricular activity CCC - Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Citizen's Consultative Committee CDAC - Chinese Development Assistance Council

CDC - Community Development Council CEPAS - Contactless e-Purse Application System CHIJ - Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus CHS - Catholic High School, Singapore CNB - Central Narcotics Bureau CID - Criminal Investigation Department CIP - Community Involvement Project CJ - Chief Justice CJC - Catholic Junior College COE - Certificate of Entitlement CPF - Central Provident Fund CPIB - Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau CTE - Central Expressway CWO - Corrective Work Order

[edit] D

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) DJ - District Judge DPP - Deputy Public Prosecutor (see also "APP" and "PP") DR - Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court or the Subordinate Courts of Singapore DSO - Defence Science Organisation DSTA - Defence Science and Technology Agency (pronounced /dst/)

[edit] E

ECP - East Coast Parkway EDB - Economic Development Board eGAP - eGovernment Action Plan ERP - Electronic Road Pricing

[edit] F

FAS - Financial Assistance Scheme FTT - Final Theory Test FT - Foreign Talent

[edit] G

GCE - General Certificate of Education GCT - Goh Chok Tong GEP - Gifted Education Programme GRC - Group representation constituency GST - Goods and Services Tax

[edit] H

HCI - Hwa Chong Institution HDB - Housing Development Board HPB - Health Promotion Board HSA - Health Sciences Authority

[edit] I

IC - Identity card, or In charge ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority IDA - Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore IP - Integrated Programme IR - Integrated Resort IRO - Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore ISA - Internal Security Act ISD - Internal Security Department ITE - Institute of Technical Education

[edit] J

J - Judge (plural: JJ) JA - Judge of Appeal (plural: JJA) JB - Johor Bahru, in Johor, Malaysia

JC - Judicial Commissioner or Junior College JBJ - Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam JJC - Jurong Junior College JTC - Jurong Town Corporation (now known as JTC Corporation)

[edit] K

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 KPE - Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway

[edit] L

LHL - Lee Hsien Loong LKY - Lee Kuan Yew LRT - Light Rapid Transit LTA - Land Transport Authority

[edit] M

MAS - Monetary Authority of Singapore MC - Medical Certificate MCD - Ministry of Community Development (now MCYS) MCE - Marina Coastal Expressway MCS - Methodist Church in Singapore MCYS - Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (Singapore) MDA - Media Development Authority 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 MJC - Meridian Junior College MICA - Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Singapore)

MITA - Ministry of Information and the Arts (now MICA) MINDEF - Ministry of Defence (Singapore) MOE - Ministry of Education (Singapore) MOH - Ministry of Health (Singapore) MOM - Ministry of Manpower (Singapore) MRT - Mass Rapid Transit MUIS - Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)

[edit] N

A road sign outside the campus of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), from

Singapore English (2007) by David Deterding.

NAFA - Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts NAS - National Archives of Singapore NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore) NCMP - Non-constituency Member of Parliament NCS - National Computer Systems NCSS - National Council of Social Service NDP - National Day Parade NEA - National Environment Agency NETS - Network for Electronic Transfers 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 NPCC - National Police Cadet Corps NRIC - National Registration Identity Card NS - National Service in Singapore NSF - Full-time National Service NSTB - National Science and Technology Board NTC - National Technical Certificate NTU - Nanyang Technological University NTUC - National Trade Union Congress NUH - National University Hospital NUS - National University of Singapore NWC - National Wages Council NYGH - Nanyang Girls' High School NYK - Nanyang Kindergarten NYP - Nanyang Polytechnic NYPS - Nanyang Primary School NYJC - Nanyang Junior College

[edit] O

OB - Out of Bounds (see OB marker) OBS - Outward Bound School OCBC - Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation OCS - Officer Cadet School (Singapore) ORD - Operationally Ready Date, refers to the date on which a National Serviceman completes his 2-year term of service. OUB - Overseas Union Bank O$P$ - owe money, pay money used in loan sharks' harassing graffiti.

[edit] P

PA - People's Association PAP - People's Action Party PCK - Phua Chu Kang, a popular TV sitcom PE - Physical education

PHS - Presbyterian High School PIE - Pan Island Expressway PJC - Pioneer Junior College PLU - People Like Us, a gay equality lobby group POSB - Post Office Savings Bank (now POSBank) PP - Public Prosecutor (see also "APP" and "DPP") PROGRESS - Providing Opportunities through Growth, Remaking Singapore for Success PSA - Port of Singapore Authority (now PSA International) PSC - Public Service Commission PSLE - Primary School Leaving Examination PUB - Public Utilities Board PWD - Public Works Department PR - Permanent resident PT - Practical Test PDL - Provisional Driving Licence

[edit] Q

QDL - Qualified Driving Licence

[edit] R

R & T - Rajah & Tann, a law firm RC - Residents' Committee RCS - Radio Corporation of Singapore RGPS - Raffles Girls' Primary School RGS - Raffles Girls' School RI - Raffles Institution RJ or RJC - Raffles Junior College ROM - Registry of Marriages RP - Republic Polytechnic RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy RVHS - River Valley High School, Singapore

[edit] S

SAF - Singapore Armed Forces SAFRA - SAFRA National Service Association SAIL - Strategies for Active and Independent Learning 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 SAWL - Singapore Association of Women Lawyers SBS - Singapore Bus Service SC - Senior Counsel SCDF - Singapore Civil Defence Force SCGS - Singapore Chinese Girls' School SCS - Science Centre, Singapore SCS - Singapore Computer Systems SDA - Singapore Democratic Alliance SDJ - Senior District Judge SDP - Singapore Democratic Party SDU - Social Development Unit SFI - Singapore Food Industries SG - Solicitor-General SGH - Singapore General Hospital SGSS - Saint Gabriel's Secondary School SGX - Singapore Exchange SIA - Singapore Airlines SICC - Singapore Island Country Club SILS - Singapore Institute of Labour Studies SIM - Singapore Institute of Management SINDA - Singapore Indian Development Association SJAB - St. John Ambulance Brigade SJI - St. Joseph's Institution

SJII - St. Joseph's Institution International SJIJ - St. Joseph's Institution Junior SLC - Student Leaders' Council SLF - Singapore Labour Foundation SLO - Singapore Lyric Opera SMa - Singapore Manufacturers' Federation SMC - Single Member Constituency SMRT - Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Corporation SMU - Singapore Management University SNO - Special needs officer SNOC - Singapore National Olympic Council SNPC - Singapore National Paralympic Council SOS - Samaritans of Singapore; (slang) struggling in silence SP - Singapore Polytechnic SPA - School-based Practical Assessment 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 SRJC - Serangoon Junior College SRP - Skills Redevelopment Programme SS - Social Studies SSC - Singapore Sports Council; Singapore Swimming Club SSDC - Singapore Safety Driving Centre SSO - Singapore Symphony Orchestra ST - Singapore Technologies STAR - Special Tactics and Rescue STARIS - SMRT Active Route Map Information System SVPS - South View Primary School SYAS - San Yu Adventist School SYOGOC - Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee SYT - Sweet Young Thing

[edit] T

TA - Temasek Academy TCHS - The Chinese High School TCS - Television Corporation of Singapore TIBS - Trans-Island Bus Services TJC - Temasek Junior College TKGS - Tanjong Katong Girls' School TNS - Tao Nan School TP - Temasek Polytechnic TP - Toa Payoh TP - Traffic Police TPJC - Tampines Junior College TPS - Tampines Primary School TTC - Trinity Theological College, Singapore

[edit] U

UOB - United Overseas Bank URA - Urban Redevelopment Authority UP - Usual Price

[edit] V

VJC - Victoria Junior College VS - Victoria School VWO - Voluntary Welfare Organisation

[edit] W

WDL - Woodlands, Singapore

[edit] X [No entries yet]

[edit] Y

YJC - Yishun Junior College

[edit] Z [No entries yet] [edit] Abbreviations in the military 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 militaries. [edit] People [edit] Ranks

See also: Singapore Armed Forces ranks

These ranks are arranged in descending order of seniority [edit] Officers Army and Air Force

Navy VADM - Vice Admiral RADM - Rear Admiral

LG - Lieutenant General MG - Major General BG - Brigadier General COL - Colonel

SLTC - Senior Lieutenant Colonel LTC - Lieutenant Colonel MAJ - Major CPT - Captain LTA - Lieutenant 2LT - Second Lieutenant OCT - Officer Cadet

[edit] Warrant officers

SWO - Senior Warrant Officer MWO - Master Warrant Officer 1WO - First Warrant Officer (formerly "WO1" or "WOI") 2WO - Second Warrant Officer (formerly "WO2" or "WOII") 3WO - Third Warrant Officer

[edit] Specialists

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

[edit] Enlistees

CFC - Corporal First Class CPL - Corporal LCP - Lance Corporal PFC - Private First Class PTE - Private REC - Recruit

[edit] Appointments and offices

2IC - Second-in-Command (see "IC") ASM - armskoteman BC - Battery commander BOS - Battalion Orderly Sergeant BOS - Brigade Orderly Sergeant BSM - Battery Sergeant Major

BSO - Battalion Signal Officer CAO - Chief Armour Officer CAF - Chief of Air Force CCO - Camp Commandant's Office CDF - Chief of Defence Force CDO - Company Duty Officer CDS - Chief Defence Scientist 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 (unlike many other countries, sergeant majors are appointments, not ranks) DDO - Divisional Duty Officer DO - Duty Officer DOS - Duty Orderly Sergeant DSM - duty storeman Dy S1 - Deputy Manpower Officer Dy S2 - Deputy Intelligence Officer Dy S3 - Deputy Training and Operation Officer Dy S4 - Deputy Logistic Officer FDO - Field Duty Officer FS - Fitness Specialist IC - (person) in command or in charge (see also "2IC") IO - Intelligence Officer MO - Medical Officer MSG - Master Sergeant MWO - Master Warrant 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 - Logistic Officer SDO - School Duty Officer (use is limited to training schools) WOSA - Warrant officers, specialists and airmen WOSE - Warrant officers, specialists and enlistees WOSPEC - Warrant officers and specialists

[edit] Units and organizations

BMTC - Basic Military Training Centre CAD - Combined Arms Division CDO - Singapore Commandos CSSCOM - Combat Service Support Command DISCOM - Division Support Command DSMB - Direct Support Maintenance Battalion DS Med Bn - Direct Support Medical Battalion DSSB - Direct Support Supply Battalion DSTA - Defence Science Technology Agency FCC - Fitness Conditioning Centre FDS - Field Defence Squadron GDS - Singapore Guards JID - Joint Intelligence Directorate JOPD - Joint Operations and Planning Directorate MP - Military Police MMI - Military Medicine Institute

NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore) NDU - Naval Diving Unit (Singapore) OCS - Officer Cadet School PDF - People's Defence Force RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy SA - Singapore Artillery SAF - Singapore Armed Forces 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") SCC - SAF Counselling Centre SCE - Singapore Combat Engineers SI - Signal Institute SIB - Singapore Infantry Brigade SIB - Special Investigation Branch SIR - Singapore Infantry Regiment SISPEC - School of Infantry Specialist SJAB - St. John Ambulance Brigade SMI - School of Military Intelligence SMM - School of Military Medicine (reorganised as SMTI in 2006) SMTI - SAF Medical Training Institute SOC - School of Commandos SOF - Special Operations Force SPT - School of Physical Training

[edit] Places

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

SAFTI - Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (term now defunct) SAFTI MI - SAFTI Military Institute

[edit] Weapons, vehicles and equipment

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 FH - 2000 - 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 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) RCK - rifle cleaning kit SAW - Section Assault Weapon (usually refers to the Ultimax 100) SBO - Standard (formerly Skeletal) Battle Order (compare "FBO") SSPH 1 - Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus

[edit] Slang

FO - fall out; fuck off LOBO - left out of battle order (refers to a soldier who has not been assigned a fixed vocation) NATO - no action, talk only GG - good game 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 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")

[edit] Others

11B - SAF 11B, the military identity card. 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") 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 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 - Centralized Motor Transport Line COC - Change of Command Parade CP - command post CRO - Company Routine Orders

CST - Combat Survival Training DB - detention barracks DIV - division DOD - date of disruption EVAC - evacuation 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 GLS - Ground Logistics Support HCC - High Confidence Course 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 L/F - live firing LOA - letter of authorization OOC - Out of Course OOT - Out of Training ORD - Operationally Ready Date (formerly "ROD") 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

[edit] Abbreviations in transport

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 PIE - Pan Island Expressway SLE - Seletar Expressway TPE - Tampines Expressway

With the introduction of the Electronic 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]

BEDOK NTH - Bedok North Road BEDOK STH - Bedok 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