Understanding abbreviations and acronyms is important. Below are some common abbreviations and acronyms that we use in American English.

 

Government

the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
the CIA – Central Intelligence Agency
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Note that we say this as if it were a word (ˈnæsə). We don’t say each letter.
the DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration
the FDA – Food and Drug Administration
the NSA – National Security Agency
the DMV – Department of Motor Vehicles
the VA – Department of Veterans Affairs
the IRS – Internal Revenue Service
ATF – Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives
NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement
Note that we say this as if it were a word (ˈnæftə). We do not say each letter.
NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Note that we say this as if it were a word (ˈneɪtoʊ). We don’t say each letter.
the EU – the European Union
the UN – the United Nations

 

Organizations

the NRA – the National Rifle Association
AA – Alcoholics Anonymous
YMCA – Young Men’s Christian Association
PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Note that we say this as if it were a word (ˈpiːtə). We don’t say each letter.
AAA (Triple A) – American Automobile Association
NAACP (N-double-A-C-P) – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
ACLU – American Civil Liberties Union