45 Useful Italian Acronyms And Abbreviation Explained

Summary

Dive into the world of Italian acronyms and abbreviations with this guide! You’ll learn the essentials to navigate everything from street signs to political discussions like a true local. 🇮🇹✨

  • Embrace the Acronym Culture: Italians love their acronyms, and you should too! They make communication faster and are everywhere, from FIAT to IVA. Get with the program or get lost in translation!
  • Speak Like a Native: Don’t spell it out, say it out! Most acronyms are pronounced as words, like PIL or D.O.C., so listen to locals and mimic them. You’ll sound molto italiano in no time!
  • Know Your Basics: Some acronyms are non-negotiable for daily life. Remember INPS for social security, ASL for health services, and SPID for digital identity. They’re your survival kit!
  • Decode the Police Codes: If you’re driving, know your VV.UU from your POLSTRADA. You don’t want to mess with the law, especially when you’re clueless about their abbreviations.
  • Tourist Smarts: Don’t wander cluelessly! A.A.T. is your go-to for local tourist info, and remember, I.V.A. is the tax you’re paying on those souvenirs. Knowledge is power—and savings!
  • Political Savvy: Keep up with the current affairs. Knowing your PD from your M5S can save you from nodding blankly in a political convo. Plus, you’ll impress the locals with your insights!

My thoughts

Italians are huge fans of acronyms, which makes reading Italian news and participating in discussions a little more difficult.

To help you survive the alphabet soup, here are the top Italian acronyms you need to learn.

italian abbreviation words

Italian Acronyms: Why Do We Use them?

Although Italian abbreviations and acronyms may make your head spin, consider this text with and without them. Isn’t it neater with the abbreviations?

Example without abbreviations

“Mario leased a car from the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino while on vacation in Italy. Radio Audizioni Italiane Uno and Telegiornale 4 were among the channels available in his hotel room.

For the daily Indice azionario della Borsa valori di Milano, Mario consulted the Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

He noticed a street rally for the Partito Democratico while looking out the window. Mario’s wife went to Unico Prezzo Italiano di Milano to replace her toothbrush after one of her luggage was lost by the airlines. She also wrote a postcard to her Sicilian friend Lucia, which required a Codice di Avviamento Postale.

Anna went to the local Azienda di Promozione Turistica for museum information later that day. Mario and Anna completed an Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto refund claim form at the end of their vacation to collect reimbursement of taxes paid on selected items.”

Example with abbreviations

“Mario leased a car from FIAT while on vacation in Italy. RAI 1 and TG4 were among the channels available in his hotel room.

For the daily MIB, Mario consulted the Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

He noticed a street rally for the PD while looking out the window. Mario’s wife went to UPIM to replace her toothbrush after one of her luggage was lost by the airlines. She also wrote a postcard to her Sicilian friend Lucia, which required a C.A.P.

Anna went to the local APT for museum information later that day. Mario and Anna completed an IVA refund claim form at the end of their vacation to collect reimbursement of taxes paid on selected items.”

What are Italian acronyms and how to pronounce them?

It may appear to be a zuppa di alfabeto, but as the examples show, you’d have to be a pazzo to write or say the whole phrase or word rather than changing the proper Italian abbreviation or acronym.

Known as acronimi (acronyms), abbreviazioni (abbreviations), or sigle (initials), Italian acronyms are made by blending the initial letters or syllables of businesses, organizations, and societies, as well as other terms, to form a new word.

Except for two-letter combinations, which are always spelled out, Italian acronyms are normally pronounced or read as if they were words rather than spelled out.

PIL (Prodotto Interno Lordo), D.O.C. (Denominzaione d’Origine Controllata), and STANDA (Società Tutti Articoli Nazionale Dell’Arredamento [Abbigliamento]) are all sounded like Italian words.

Other abbreviated forms are spoken letters for letters, such as PSDI (Partito Socialista Democratico Italiano) and PP.TT. (Poste e Telegrafi).

To determine the correct form, listen to native Italian speakers, particularly public speakers.

In any case, because the letters and syllables are still pronounced using the Italian alphabet, don’t forget how to pronounce Italian vowels and consonants.

Common Italian abbreviations and acronyms

Here is a list useful Italian acronyms list for you:

AA: (Trentino AA) -Alto Adige (South Tyrol)

AIFA: Agenzia italiana del farmaco

AN: Alleanza Nazionale

ANAS: Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strade

ASL: azienda sanitaria locale

BCE: banca centrale europea

CNR: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, the largest research council in Italy

CTS: comitato tecnico scientifico

DAD: Didattica a distanza (pronounced dad)

DC:  Democrazia Cristiana

DPCM: decreto del Presidente del Consiglio dei ministri

EMA: European Medicines Agency

INPS: Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale  (National Social Security)

IRCCS: Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (research hospital)

ISS: Istituto Superiore di Sanità

LeU: Liberi e Uguali. Left-wing group

M5S: Movimento 5 stelle

OMS: Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (WHO)

ONG: organizzazione non governativa, organizzazioni non governative (pronounced ong)

ONLUS: Organizzazione non lucrativa di utilità sociale

PIL: Prodotto Interno Lordo (GDP)

PD: Partito Democratico

PNRR: Piano nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza.

PS: pubblica sicurezza (dipartimento della pubblica sicurezza)

Rai: Radiotelevisione italiana

RSA: Residenze Sanitarie Assistenziali

Rt: L’indice di trasmissione del virus

SGR: Societa’ di Gestione del Risparmio (investment group)

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SPID: Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale

Srl: Società a responsabilità limitata (LLC)

TG1, TG2, TG3: TeleGiornale (state-owned TV channels)

UNSIC: Unione nazionale sindacale imprenditori e coltivatori

Useful Italian abbreviations

Here are a few Italian abbreviations and their definitions that you may encounter throughout your visit.

People:

  • Sig. (Signor) – Mr
  • Sig.ra (Signora) – Mrs
  • Sig.na (Signorina) – Miss
  • Dott. (Dottore) – Doctor

Police:

  • VV.UU (Vigili Urbani) – Traffic Police
  • POLSTRADA (Polizia Stradale) – Highway Police
  • POLFER (Polizia Ferroviaria) – Railway Police
  • A.C. (Arma dei Carabinieri) – Carabinieri (rarely used now and only seen on very old police buildings, most offices just display the word Carabinieri).

Tourism:

  • A.A.T. (Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno) – Local Tourist Board
  • A.G. (Alberghi per la Gioventù) – Youth Hostels
  • E.N.I.T. (Ente Nazionale Italiano per il Turismo) – Italian State Tourist Office
  • S.C.V. (Stato della Città del Vaticano) – Vatican City
  • Finally, here’s one you’ll see a lot of, especially on receipts and in stores:
  • I.V.A. (Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto) – Value-added Tax (V.A.T.)

italian acronyms meanings

Recap

Italy uses acronyms in various aspects of life, from taxation to knowing which roads to avoid if you don’t want to be fined.

It’s an added layer of language learning, with a tiny bit of cultural knowledge thrown in for extra confusion. Some terms are not exactly translatable into your original tongue and may not even exist in your home country.

Because there are so many acronyms in Italian, this list is far from complete. Please let us know what additional Italian acronyms you’ve found handy in the comments section below.

Check also: 50 useful Italian music terms and symbols to know and Italian writing styles and examples to write like a native

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