that the French like to shorten words

And in writing this post, I discovered that these types of words are called “apocopes.”

Examples include:

cet aprem = cet après-midi = this afternoon

l'ordi = l'ordinateur = computer

cinq heures du mat = cinq heures du matin = 5 in the morning

le petit déj = le petit déjeuner = breakfast

le déj = le déjeuner = lunch

Je suis dispo à… = Je suis disponible à… = I'm available at...

un prof = un professeur = a teacher

un appart’ = un appartement = an apartment

un ado = un adolescent = a teenager

un coloc = un colocataire = a roommate

comme d’hab = comme d’habitude = as usual

After I learned “l’ordi,” I’ve noticed that pretty much everyone says that instead of the full “l’ordinateur.”  Interesting!