List of Singapore abbreviations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of Singapore abbreviations commonly used in Singapore.

1 Overview
2 Common abbreviations
3 Abbreviations in the military
4 Others
5 Abbreviations in transport
6 See also
7 Reference
8 External links

[edit] Overview

Abbreviations, especially acronyms, are often used by people in Singapore during conversation or in writings in English, Singlish and other languages. There are many abbreviations which became better known and more widely used than the full form of the words they represent. One of the best examples is the Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, which is often referred to as simply KK.

The most important category of Singapore abbreviations is that consisting of acronyms of government departments and public institutions. Among the earliest examples are PUB (Public Utility Board) and HDB (Housing Development Board). Abbreviations were especially important in the past when most Singaporeans were not educated in English, but instead spoke different languages of their own ethnicities. The use of acronyms facilitated communication among the population and in the public services where the main administrative language is English. Government departments have therefore promoted the use of these abbreviations especially through their publications in which these abbreviations are stated even in non-English material. Although the younger generation of Singaporeans are mostly educated in English, acronyms and abbreviations remain a major characteristic of Singlish or Singaporean English.

There are effort to maintain some consistency among the acronyms. Three-letter acronyms are often used for government institutions (PUB, HDB, CPF, MOH, CWO) and for expressways (AYE, PIE). Two-letter acronyms are used for polytechnics (SP, RP). To maintain this consistency, some abbreviations are not direct initialism; 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, its name was chosen instead of a better formed title Nanyang University of Technology because the latter would result in an acronym NUT, which is unsuitable for an educational institution.

Recently, there emerged a number of unconventional abbreviations, such as A*Star for Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Some abbreviations have become official pronouns such as SAFTI (Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute). When SAFTI 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] Common abbreviations

The following are the abbreviations frequently used by Singaporeans who can usually understand most of them, with little or no context.

4D - 4-Digits, a Singapore lottery
5 C's - 5 C's of Singapore: Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium, Country club
A*Star - Agency for Science, Technology and Research
AA - Asian Aerospace
ACS - Anglo-Chinese School
ACJC - Anglo-Chinese Junior College
AMK - Ang Mo Kio
AMP - Association of Muslim Professionals
AYE - Ayer Rajah Expressway
BGR - (slang) Boy-girl relationship
BKE - Bukit Timah Expressway
BMT - Basic Military Training
CAAS - Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
CBD - Central Business District
CCA - Co-curricular activity
CCC - Citizen's Consultative Committee/Chinese Chamber of Commerce
CDAC - Chinese Development Assistance Council
CDC - Community Development Council
CHIJ - Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
CHIJMES - CHIJMES, Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School
CMI - Cannot Make It
CNB - Central Narcotics Bureau
COE - Certificate of Entitlement
CPF - Central Provident Fund
CPIB - Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
CTE - Central Expressway
CWO - Corrective Work Order
DART - Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team
DSTA - Defence Science and Technology Agency (pronounced Des-STA)
DBS - DBS Bank, Development Bank of Singapore
Dr. M - Mahathir bin Mohamad (from Manglish)
ECP - East Coast Parkway
EDB - Economic Development Board
ERP - Electronic Road Pricing
GCE - General Certificate of Education
GCT - Goh Chok Tong
GEP - Gifted Education Programme
GRC - Group representation constituency
GST - Goods and Services Tax
HCI - Hwa Chong Institution
HDB - Housing Development Board
HPB - Health Promotion Board
HSA - Health Sciences Authority
IC - Identity card, or In charge
IDA - Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
IP - Integrated Programme
ISA - Internal Security Act
ISD - Internal Security Department
ITE - Institute of Technical Education
JB - Johor Bahru
JBJ- Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
JTC - JTC Corporation, Jurong Town Corporation
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
LKY - Lee Kuan Yew
LRT - Light Rapid Transit
LTA - Land Transport Authority
MAS - Monetary Authority of Singapore
MC - Medical Certificate
MCD - Ministry of Community Development
MCS - Methodist Church in Singapore
MDA - Media Development Authority
MENDAKI - Yayasan MENDAKI (Council for the Development of *Singapore Muslim Community)
MINDEF - Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
MOE - Ministry of Education (Singapore)
MOM - Ministry of Manpower
MRT - Mass Rapid Transit
MUIS - Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
NCMP - Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
NCSS - National Council of Social Service
NDP - National Day Parade
NEA - National Environment Agency
NETS - Network for Electronic Transfers
NIE - National Institute of Education
NKF - National Kidney Foundation Singapore
NLB - National Library Board
NMP - Nominated Member of Parliament
NP - Ngee Ann Polytechnic
NPCC - National Police Cadet Corps (Singapore)
NRIC - National Registration Identity Card (identity card)
NS - National Service in Singapore
NSF - National Service in Singapore as a Fulltime occupation from drafting until ORD (see below)
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
NYP - Nanyang Polytechnic
OB - Out of Bounds
OBS - Outward Bound School
OCBC - Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
ORD - Operationally Ready Date, refers to the date on which a National Serviceman completes his 2-year term of service.
OUB - United Overseas Bank
PA - People's Association
PAP - People's Action Party
PCK - Phua Chu Kang, a popular TV sitcom
PE - Physical education
PIE - Pan Island Expressway
POSB - Post Office Savings Bank, Singapore
POSBank - POSBank, also Post Office Savings Bank
PSA - as in PSA International, Port of Singapore Authority
PSC - Public Service Commission (Singapore)
PSLE - Primary School Leaving Examination
PUB - Public Utilities Board
PWD - Public Works Department
RC - Residents' Committee
RCS - Radio Corporation of Singapore
RGS - Raffles Girls' School
RI - Raffles Institution
RJC - Raffles Junior College
ROM - Registry of Marriages
RP - Republic Polytechnic
RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force
RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy
SAF - Singapore Armed Forces
SAP - Special Assistance Plan
SBS - Singapore Bus Service
SCDF - Singapore Civil Defence Force
SDA - Singapore Democratic Alliance
SDU - Social Development Unit
SDP - Singapore Democratic Party
SGH - Singapore General Hospital
SIA - Singapore Airlines
SINDA - Singapore Indian Development Association
SILS - Singapore Institute of Labour Studies
SLF - Singapore Labour Foundation
SMC - Single Member Constituency
SMRT - Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Corporation
SOS - Struggling In Silence
SP - Singapore Polytechnic
SPH - Singapore Press Holdings Limited
SPG - Sarong Party Girl
SRP - Skills Redevelopment Programme
SSO - Singapore Symphony Orchestra
STAR - Special Tactics and Rescue (Singapore)
TCS - Television Corporation of Singapore
TIBS - Trans-Island Bus Services
TP - Temasek Polytechnic
URA - Urban Redevelopment Authority
VWO - Voluntary Welfare Organisation

[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

Ranks and Appointments

2IC - Second - in - Command
BC - Battery commander
BG - Brigadier General
BOS - Battalion Orderly Sergeant
BOS - Brigade Orderly Sergeant
BSM - Battery Sergeant Major
BSO - Battalion Signal Officer
CAO - Chief Armour Officer
CCO - Camp Commandant's Office
CDF - Chief of Defence Force
CDO - Company Duty Officer
CDS - Chief Defence Scientist
CMC - Chief of Medical Corps
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
FDO - Field Duty Officer
FS - Fitness Specialist
MO - Medical Officer
NO - Nursing Officer
NCO - Non - Commissioned Officer - term now defunct in the SAF; replaced with "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
SDO - School Duty Officer (use is limited to training schools)
WO - Warrant officer
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
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
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
SAFMPC - Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command
SAFRA - Singapore Armed Forces Reservists' Association (Note: The term "reservist" has generally been replaced by "Operationally Ready NSmen" but it is retained here for historical reasons
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
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 training hill in Marsiling which had an elevation of 265m, but leveled 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 - 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
FFR - A land rover that is Fitted for Radio
FH - 2000 - Field Howitzer 2000
GPMG - General Purpose Machine Gun - refers in particular to the FN MAG used in the SAF
LAW - Light Anti - tank Weapon
LBV - Load Bearing Vest
LST - Landing Ship Tank
MOP - Medic Operational Pouch (previously Medical Orderly Pouch)
SAR-21 - Refers to the SAR-21 assault rifle currently in service
SAW - Section Assault Weapon, usually refers to Ultimax 100
SBO - (previously Skeletal) Standard Battle Order (see also: FBO)
SSPH 1 - Singapore Self - Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus

[edit] Slang

LOBO - Left Out of Battle Order (referring to someone who is unoccupied)
NATO - No Action Talk Only
SBC - Simply Boh Chup, (adjective) indifferent, not caring. This is a borrowed acronym of Singapore Broadcasting Corporation.
WALI - Walk around, look important
ROC - Relak One Korner

[edit] Others

11B - Short for SAF 11B, which is the military identity card.
1206 - Short for SAF 1206 "twelve - O - six." Form to be signed to acknowledge deductions made to payroll for damaging or losing equipment, etc.
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 & communication, 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 - SAF Detention Barracks
DIV - Division
DOD - Date of disruption
FFF - Fit For Firing certification
FFI - Free From Injury (apocryphal: Fit for Instruction, or Fit for Infantry; the medical evaluation performed prior to training is referred to as an FFI)
FIBUA - Fighting in build up area
FO - (slang) Fall Out (euphemism) or Fuck Off
FO - Forward Observer who corrects artillery fire
FOFO - Fighting on fortified objectives
GLS - Ground Logistics Support
HCC - High Confidence Course
HMG - Heavy machine gun
IA - Immediate Action
IC - In Command /In Charge
ICCT - Intermediate Close Combat Training
ICT - In Camp Training (also simply known as in - camp)
IFC - Individual Field Craft
IFV - Infantry Fighting Vehicle
IMT - Individual Marksmanship Trainer
IPPT - Individual physical proficiency test
L/F - Live firing
LOA - Letter Of Authorization
ORD - Operationally Ready Date
SOC - Standard Obstacle Course
SOL - Stoppage of Leave

[edit] Abbreviations in transport

As in most other major cities, abbreviations are commonly used in transport related lexicon. The most prominent are the 3-letter abbreviation of the expressways; all, except one, end with the letter "E":

With the introduction of the Electronic Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS) in 1998, LED signboards are installed along the expressways to display warning and other informational messages to road users. This leads to greater use of abbreviations, some of which are less common and not easily understood. Examples of abbreviations used in EMAS are:^[1]