Medical Abbreviations Latin Word Meaning
aa; of each
a.c. ante cibum before meals
a.d. aurio dextra right ear
ad lib ad libum as desired
a.l. aurio laeva left ear
alt. h. alternis horis every other hour
A.M.; a. m. Ante meridian morning
amp ampule
amt amount
aq aqua water
a.u. aures utrae each year
b.i.d. bis in die twice daily
BSA Body Surface Area
c cum with
C & A Clinitest & Acetest
cap or caps capsula capsule
cc cubic centimeter
cibus cibus food
dil dilue, dilutus dilute
disc; D.C. discontinue
dr dram
D/RL Dextrose with Ringer’s lactate solution
D.W. distilled water
D5W Dexrose 5% in water
elix elixer
fl; fld fluid
Gm gram
gr granum grain, grains
gtt gutta(e) drop(s)
h. or hr hora hour
H Hypodermic
h.s. or hor. som hora somni at bedtime
IM Intra Muscular in the muscle
IV Intra Venous in the vein
IVP Intra Venous Push
IVPB Intra Venous Piggy Back
Kg; kg Kilogram
K.V.O. or TKO Keep Vein Open; to keep open
L Liter
l. laevo Left
lb pound
Medical Abbreviations Latin Word Meaning pg 2
M. Misce Mix
m. meter
min minim minimum
m2 meter squared
mEq milliequivalent
mcg microgram
mg milligram
ml milliliters
N & V nausea and vomiting
NaCl sodium chloride (salt)
noc; noct noctis night
non rep Non repatatur do not repeat
NPO Non Per Os nothing by mouth
N.S.; NS; N/S normal saline
½ NS Half strength normal saline
O Octaris pint
O.D. Oculus Dextra right eye
O.S. Oculus Sinistra left eye
os Os By mouth
O.U. Oculo utro both eyes
oz Ounce
p.c. post cibum after meals
per By means of
P.M. ; pm Post meridian afternoon
p.o. Per os By mouth
PRN; p.r.n. Pro re nata as needed
pt pint
q; q Quaque, quisque each, every
q.d. Quaque diem every day
q.i.d. Quater in die four time daily
q.h. Quaque hora every hour
q.o.d. every other day
q. 2. h. every two hours
q. 4. h. every four hours
q. 8. h. every eight hours
q. 12. h. every twelve hours
q.s. or Q.S. Quantum sufficit as much as sufficient
qt quart
R; rectal
R.L.; R/L Ringers Lactate
Rx Recipie tack
Rept repetatur let it be repeated
s without
Medical Abbreviations Latin Word Meaning pg 3
s.c.; subc; subq subcutaneous under the skin
sig Signa, signetur write
ss Semi One- half
sp Spirits
stat Statim Immediately
supp, suppos Suppositorium suppository
suppos rect Rectal suppository
syr Syrup
tab tabella, tabetta tablet
tbsp; T, tbs Tablespoon
t.i.d. Ter in die three times a day
tinct; tr tincture
tsp; t teaspoon
U; u Unit
u.d. Ut dict as directed
ung Ointment