An acronym is a short word built from the first letters of a longer name. NATO is the usual classroom example: North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said as one word, “NAY-toe.” NASA, AIDS, and UNICEF work the same way.

An acronym is a short word built from the first letters of a longer nameacronym（頭字語）是用一個較長名稱的字首字母組成的簡短單字。 NATO is the usual classroom exampleNATO 是課堂上最常見的例子： North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said as one word, "NAY-toe."North Atlantic Treaty Organization北大西洋公約組織，整個當作一個字來唸，『NAY-toe』。 NASA, AIDS, and UNICEF work the same wayNASA、AIDS、UNICEF 也都是同樣的做法。

Though actually, everyday English is messier than the tidy rule. Strict teachers sometimes say a true acronym must be spoken as a word, and that FBI or BBC are only initialisms — you say each letter. Most people still call all of them acronyms, and you will hear that looser use everywhere, including in news.

Though actually, everyday English is messier than the tidy rule不過實際上，日常英文比這條整齊的規則要亂得多。 Strict teachers sometimes say a true acronym must be spoken as a word嚴格一點的老師有時會說，真正的 acronym 必須整個當作一個字來唸， and that FBI or BBC are only initialisms而 FBI 或 BBC 只能算是 initialism首字母縮略詞—— you say each letter你要一個字母一個字母唸出來。 Most people still call all of them acronyms但大多數人還是把它們全都叫做 acronym， and you will hear that looser use everywhere, including in news而你到處都會聽到這種比較鬆散的用法，包括新聞裡。

Some acronyms become so ordinary that people forget they were ever short for anything: radar, scuba, laser. It is a noun of school, news, and office life; not slang, not especially formal.

Some acronyms become so ordinary that people forget they were ever short for anything有些 acronym 變得太普通，讓人忘了它們本來是縮寫： radar, scuba, laserradar、scuba、laser。 It is a noun of school, news, and office life它是學校、新聞、辦公室生活裡的一個名詞； not slang, not especially formal不是俚語，也不算特別正式。