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Shortened  Forms

 

Nouns can be shortened in different ways:  abbreviation, ellipsis, acronym...  However, gender will always remain the same.

Abbreviations

automobile f. gives > auto f.

météorologie f. gives > météo f.

photographie f. gives > photo f.

télévision f. gives > télé f.

vidéo-cassette f. gives > vidéo f.

haute fidélité f. gives > hifi f. (translation of Eng. high fidelity)

passe-partout m. > passe m. (verb based compouns are masculine)


Shortening endings

These endings (slang) don't change the meaning nor the grammatical category of the original noun. 

cinéma m. gives > cinoche m.

télévision f. gives > téloche f.


exercice m. gives > exo m.

restaurant m. gives > resto m.


Acronyms

They can be read letter by letter (sigle) or as a word (acronyme).

parti socialiste m. gives > P.S. m.

Socié nationale des chemins de fer f. gives > SNCF f.

bande dessinée f. gives > bédé f.

Syndrome immunodéficitaire acquis m. gives > SIDA m.

 

Ellipsis

The adjective (or part of it) takes over and replaces the noun.

téléphone portable m. gives > portable m.

sauce béchamel f. gives > béchamel f.

classe préparatoire f. gives > prépa f.

machine dynamoélectrique f. gives > dynamo f.

Editions EDILIVRE


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