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Here’s a comprehensive list of **Singaporean short-form English (Singlish abbreviations and slang)** along with their full meanings:
Here’s a **comprehensive list of construction-related short forms** commonly used in Singapore, along with their full meanings:
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### **A**
- **A&A** – Additions & Alterations (renovation works)
- **ACMV** – Air-Conditioning, Mechanical & Ventilation
- **A&A** – Alterations & Additions (building modifications)
- **AWS** – Automatic Weather Station (for site monitoring)
### **B**
- **BBS** – Bar Bending Schedule (rebar detailing)
- **BCA** – Building and Construction Authority (Singapore’s regulator)
- **BQ** – Bill of Quantities (project cost breakdown)
- **BS** – British Standard (e.g., BS 8110 for concrete design)
- **BTO** – Build-To-Order (HDB construction projects)
### **C**
- **CBD** – Central Business District (prime construction zone)
- **C&S** – Civil & Structural (engineering works)
- **COW** – Confined Space Worker (safety certification)
- **CP** – Construction Permit / Concrete Pump
- **CPR** – Concrete Penetration Resistance (testing)
### **D**
- **DfMA** – Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (prefab method)
- **DfS** – Design for Safety (BCA requirement)
- **DLP** – Defects Liability Period (post-construction warranty)
- **DfP** – Design for Productivity (BCA initiative)
### **E**
- **EOT** – Extension of Time (project delay approval)
- **EPC** – Engineering, Procurement & Construction (contract type)
- **ERP** – Electronic Road Pricing (affects logistics planning)
### **F**
- **FCL** – Full Container Load (material delivery)
- **FFL** – Finished Floor Level (architectural reference)
### **G**
- **GFA** – Gross Floor Area (total buildable space)
- **GPR** – Ground Penetrating Radar (site surveying)
### **H**
- **HDB** – Housing & Development Board (public housing projects)
- **HOTO** – Handover-Takeover (project completion phase)
### **I**
- **IBS** – Industrialised Building System (prefab construction)
- **ISO** – International Organization for Standardization (e.g., ISO 9001 for QMS)
### **J**
- **JHA** – Job Hazard Analysis (safety assessment)
### **L**
- **LTA** – Land Transport Authority (road/rail projects)
- **LOD** – Level of Detail (BIM standards)
### **M**
- **M&E** – Mechanical & Electrical (building services)
- **MOM** – Ministry of Manpower (safety regulations)
- **MR** – Method Statement (work procedure submission)
### **N**
- **NCR** – Non-Conformance Report (quality defect)
- **NSC** – Nominated Subcontractor
### **O**
- **OHS** – Occupational Health & Safety
- **OT** – Overtime
### **P**
- **P&A** – Piling & Anchoring
- **P.E.** – Professional Engineer
- **PPVC** – Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (BCA-approved method)
- **PQM** – Project Quality Manager
### **Q**
- **QA/QC** – Quality Assurance / Quality Control
- **QP** – Qualified Person (e.g., architect/engineer)
### **R**
- **RA** – Risk Assessment (safety requirement)
- **RE** – Resident Engineer
- **RTO** – Registered Tunneling Operator
### **S**
- **SCDF** – Singapore Civil Defence Force (fire safety compliance)
- **SOP** – Standard Operating Procedure
- **SS** – Singapore Standard (e.g., SS 560 for formwork)
### **T**
- **TBM** – Tunnel Boring Machine (MRT projects)
- **TOP** – Temporary Occupation Permit (pre-handover approval)
### **U**
- **URA** – Urban Redevelopment Authority (planning approvals)
- **UAV** – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (site surveying drones)
### **V**
- **VO** – Variation Order (design/scope changes)
### **W**
- **WCS** – Waste Collection System (construction waste management)
- **WIP** – Work in Progress
### **X**
- **XRL** – Cross Island MRT Line (major LTA project)
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### **Bonus: Singlish Construction Slang**
- **"Kayu"** – Malay for "wooden," means slow/unproductive worker
- **"Chao Keng"** – Hokkien for pretending to be sick to skip work
- **"Wayang"** – Malay for "show," refers to safety inspections for show
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### **Key Takeaways**
1. **BCA & MOM terms dominate** (e.g., DfMA, PPVC, RA).
2. **HDB/LTA projects** use abbreviations like BTO, TBM.
3. **Safety is critical** (SCDF, RA, JHA).
Need **site-specific abbreviations**? Let me know the project type!
#### **A**
- **A&A** – Additions & Alterations (construction term)
- **ABSD** – Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (property tax)
- **A&C** – Air-Conditioning
- **A&E** – Accident & Emergency (hospital department)
- **AH** – After Hours
- **AIA** – American Insurance Association (also a local insurer)
- **AIC** – Agency for Integrated Care (healthcare)
- **AOR** – Area of Responsibility
#### **B**
- **BB** – Baby / Bishan-Bartley (MRT line)
- **BBDC** – Bukit Batok Driving Centre
- **BBFA** – Bui Bui Forever Alone (slang for overweight and single)
- **BTO** – Build-To-Order (HDB flats)
- **BOH** – Back of House (restaurant/F&B term)
#### **C**
- **CB** – **"Cockster Block"** (vulgar slang for annoying person)
- **CC** – Community Club
- **CDC** – Community Development Council
- **CDL** – City Developments Limited (property developer)
- **COE** – Certificate of Entitlement (car ownership permit)
- **CPF** – Central Provident Fund (retirement savings)
#### **D**
- **D&D** – Dinner & Dance (company event)
- **DBS** – Development Bank of Singapore
- **DLLM** – **"Di* Lan Liao M*"** (Hokkien vulgarity)
- **DNR** – Do Not Resuscitate (medical term)
#### **E**
- **EC** – Executive Condominium (public-private housing)
- **ERP** – Electronic Road Pricing (toll system)
- **EW** – East-West (MRT line)
#### **F**
- **F&B** – Food & Beverage
- **FOC** – Free of Charge
- **FWL** – Foreign Worker Levy
#### **G**
- **G** – Government
- **Gahmen** – Slang for "Government"
- **GPGT** – **"Got Picture Got Truth"** (online slang for proof)
- **GST** – Goods & Services Tax
#### **H**
- **HDB** – Housing & Development Board (public housing)
- **HOD** – Head of Department
#### **I**
- **IC** – Identity Card
- **IPPT** – Individual Physical Proficiency Test (NSmen fitness test)
#### **J**
- **JB** – Johor Bahru (Malaysia)
- **JLB** – **"Jia Lak Boy"** (Hokkien for "in trouble")
#### **K**
- **KNN** – **"K* N* Na"** (Hokkien vulgarity)
- **KPI** – Key Performance Indicator
#### **L**
- **LHL** – Lee Hsien Loong (Singapore PM)
- **LKY** – Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore’s founding PM)
- **LTA** – Land Transport Authority
#### **M**
- **MCF** – Marina Country Club (fishing village)
- **MOM** – Ministry of Manpower
- **MRT** – Mass Rapid Transit (metro system)
#### **N**
- **NEA** – National Environment Agency
- **NS** – National Service
- **NTUC** – National Trades Union Congress
#### **O**
- **O$P$** – **"Owe Money Pay Money"** (debt reminder slang)
- **OC** – Order Cancelled / Officer Commanding
- **OIC** – Officer in Charge
#### **P**
- **PAP** – People’s Action Party (ruling political party)
- **PIE** – Pan-Island Expressway
- **PMA** – Positive Mental Attitude (NS slang)
#### **Q**
- **QC** – Quality Control / Queenstown (neighbourhood)
#### **R**
- **ROD** – Run-Out Date (NS completion)
- **ROI** – Return on Investment
#### **S**
- **SAF** – Singapore Armed Forces
- **SBS/SMRT** – Public transport operators
- **SG50/SG100** – Singapore’s 50th/100th anniversary
- **SOP** – Standard Operating Procedure
- **SPF** – Singapore Police Force
#### **T**
- **T&C** – Terms & Conditions
- **TCM** – Traditional Chinese Medicine
- **TOTO** – Singapore Pools lottery
#### **U**
- **UOB** – United Overseas Bank
- **URA** – Urban Redevelopment Authority
#### **V**
- **VTL** – Vaccinated Travel Lane (COVID-19 travel scheme)
#### **W**
- **WFO** – Work From Office
- **WMA** – Water Catchment Area
#### **Y**
- **YOLO** – **"You Only Live Once"** (slang)
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### **Bonus: Singlish Slang (Non-Abbreviation)**
- **"Lah"** – Emphasis (e.g., "Okay lah!")
- **"Wah Lau"** – "Oh my!" (Hokkien expression)
- **"Shiok"** – Awesome/enjoyable
- **"Kiasu"** – Fear of losing (competitive attitude)
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### **Conclusion**
This list covers **official abbreviations, Singlish slang, and workplace jargon** used in Singapore. Some terms are **government-related (HDB, COE, CPF)**, while others are **casual slang (BBFA, GPGT, KNN)**.
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