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Making sense of old handwriting

Common Abbreviations


Here is a list of common abbreviations that can be found in various Portuguese records across various centuries and some of their variations. Please note that this is not an complete nor exhaustive list. Abbreviations vary from organization to organization and from person to person, so it is impossible to catalogue all instances of abbreviation use in the Portuguese scripts. That being said, these are some of the most common you will find in reading old documents.



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Z


A – á
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
AgoAgosto
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Ag(ost)o
AgtoAgosto
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Ag(os)to
@ / @nosAno (de Cristo)
Portuguese/Abbreviation/@nos

alda

aldeia

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-alda.png

alfa

alfandega

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-alfa.png

alga

alguma

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-alga.png

almda

Almeida

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-almda.png

Algue

Algarve

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-aglue.png

almoxri

Almoxarife

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-almoxri.png

alua

alvará

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-alua.png
alu͡rzAlvarez
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Alv(a)r(e)z

alvro

Alvaro

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-alvro.png

Alz

Alvarez

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-alz.png

ame

amém

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-ame.png
AndaAndrea
Portuguese/Abbreviation/And(re)a
AntoAntônio
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Ant(ôni)o
AoAntônio
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-ao.png

aplcos

apostólicos

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-aplcos.png

aqle, aqlas

aquele, aquelas

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-aqle.png
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-aqlas.png

arcebpo

arcebispo

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-arcebpo.png

Arnro

Arneiro

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-arnro.png
AzoAzevedo
B – bê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

Bapta

Baptista

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-bapta.png

Bar

Baltasar

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-bar.png

Beatz

Beatriz

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-beatz.png
BispdoBispado
ßnardoBernardo

bpado

bispado

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-bpado.png

bpo

bispo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-bpo.png

Brtho

Bartolomeu

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-brtho.png
C – cê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
CaCatarina 
capamcapitão
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-capam.png

capes

capitães

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-capes.png

capo

capítulo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-capo.png

cappna

capitania

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-cappna.png
CarnroCarneiro
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-carnro.png
Cast​oCastanho
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/Cast-anh-o

cavalro

cavaleiro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-cavalro.png
CideCidade
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-cide.png
cocom
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-co.png

comda

comenda

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-comda.png

comtdas

contendas

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-contendas.png

compa

companhia

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-compa.png

companhros

companheiros

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-companhros.png

comprimto

cumprimento

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-comprimto.png

Cna

Catarina

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-cna.png

conhecimto

conhecimento

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-conhecimto.png

conso

conselho

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-conso.png

consro

conselheiro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-consro.png

Cor

carregador

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-cor.png

corrte

corrente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-corrte.png
CredtoCrédito

czdos

cruzados

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-czados.png
D – dê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
D.Domm  / Donaf
DaDita
DccoDito

dd

doutores

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dd.png

dê

Deus

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-de.png

degdo

degrêdo, degredado

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-degdo.png

despa

despesa

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-despas.png

despo

despacho

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-despo.png
DezbroDezembro
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dezbro.png

dezo

desembargo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dezo.png

dezres

desembargador{es}

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dezres.png

Dezro

dezembro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dezro.png

disto

distrito

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-disto.png

diz

Domingues{z}

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-diz.png

dizêdo

dizendo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dizedo.png
dodito
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dos.png

documto

documento

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-documto.png
DosDomingos
Portuguese/Abbreviation/D(oming)os

Drte

Duarte

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-drte.png
DsDeus
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ds.png

dto

dito

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-dto.png
E – ê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

ê

em

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-e.png

eccao, ecco

eclesiástico, eclesiástica

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ecca.png
EcclesicaEcclesiástica
EglaIgreja
EngoEngênho

escrao

escrivão

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-escrao.png

exao, exam

excomunhão, executação

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-exam.png

expssmte

expressamente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-expssmte.png

Exra

exetera

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-exra.png
F – éfe
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
Fa​filha
Portuguese/Abbreviation/F(ilh)a2

facilmte

facilmente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-facilmte.png

falescimto

falecimento

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-falescimto.png

falsamte

falsamente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-falsamte.png

Faza, fazda

fazenda

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-fazda.png
FccoFeito
Fer.aFerreira
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fer(reir)a

Ferndo

Fernando

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ferndo.png
Ferr.aFerreira
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ferra.png
feuroFevereiro
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fev(erei)ro

Fgdo

Figueiredo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-fgdo.png

fidos

fidalgos

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-fidos.png

fo

filho

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-fo.png

Frco / Frca

Francisco / Francisca

Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fr(co)
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fr(ancis)ca
Fran.co / Fran.caFrancisco / Francisca, Franco
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-frco.png

Frdo

Fernando

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-frdo.png

frega

Freguesia

Portuguese/Abbreviation/freg(uesi)a
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fregues
Fr.Frei, Freire
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-fr.png
FrzFernandes
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-frz.png

ftor

feitor

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ftor.png
G – gê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

g

que

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-g.png

Ga

Garcia

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ga.png
GarGarcia
Portuguese/Abbreviation/G(a)r(ci)a

gdo

governado

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-gdo.png

gdor

governador

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-gdor.png

Gel

Gabriel

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-gel.png

Ges, Gez

Gomes

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-gez.png
Glz / gl͡zGonçalvez
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-glz.png

Go

Gonçalo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-go.png

gouor

governador

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-gouor.png

Gpar

gaspar

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-gpar.png

grade

grande

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-grade.png
GregoGregório
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Greg(óri)o

Gue, Ge

Guiné

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ge.png
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-gue.png
H – agá
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

homs

homens

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-homs.png
Hu / HũUm
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Hu
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Hũ2
Hua / HũaUma
I – i
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

id

idem [Latin]

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/id(em)-1
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/id(em)-2
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/id(em)-3

ide

idade

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ide.png
IgnoIngácio
IgraIgreja
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Igr(ej)a

Ino

Inácio

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jno.png
Inqcam
Inquisição
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-inqcam.png
InqdorInquisidor
IrIrmão

It

Item

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-it.png
IzbelIzabel
J – jóta

Abbreviation

Meaning

Document Sample

Jano JanroJaneiro
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-janro.png

Jfant

Infante

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jfant.png

Jho

João

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jho.png
JhuJesus
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jhu.png
JmoJoão
Portuguese/Abbreviation/J(oã)o

Jno

Inácio

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jno.png

Jnqor, Jnqres

inquisidor

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jnqor.png

Jo, jo

João

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jo.png

Joaqna

Joaquina

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-joaqna.png

Jt

item, idem

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-jt.png

juramto

juramento

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-juramto.png

justa

justiça

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-justa.png

K – cá/cápa

* Nota bene: this letter is only used in foreign words.

AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
L – éle
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

las

légoas

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-las.png

Lco

Lourenço

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-lco.png

ldo, ldo

licenciado

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ldo.png

lega, lego

legitimo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-lega.png
Lixa LxaLisboa
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-lxa.png

lo

livro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-lo.png

Lourco

Lourenço

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-lourco.png

Lra

Leira

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-lra.png
LugLugar
M – ême
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
Ma MaMaria
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(ari)a

madado

mandado

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-madado.png

Madra

Madeira

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-madra.png

magde

majestade

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-magde.png

Margda

Margarida

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-margda.png

marinhos

marinheiros

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-marinhos.png

Martno

Martinho

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-martno.png

mcadr

mercador

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mcadr.png

Mces, mce

mercês, mercê

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mces.png

Mco

março

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mco.png

Mda

Margarida

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mda.png
MdesMendes

mdo

mando, mandado

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mdo.png
Mel MelManoel
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(ano)el

Mesa

mesma

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mesa.png
MesqtaMesquita

Miz

Martinez

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-miz.png

mlr

mulher

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mlr.png

Mma

mesma

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mma.png

mo

mesmo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mo.png

Moçabiq

Moçambique

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-moçabiq.png
Mon MontroMonteiro
Mor MraMorador Mordora
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(orad)or
MoresMoradores
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(orad)ores
MuitasMuitas
MtoMuito
MerMulher
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(ulh)er

molr

mulher

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-molr.png

Montra

Monteira

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-montra.png

mor, mor

morador, moradores

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mor.png
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mores.png

mra

maneira

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mra.png

ms

mês

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ms.png

mta, mto, mtas

muito, muitos, muitas

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-mta.png
N – êne
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
​Nal Natal​Natural
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Nat(ur)al
NascimtoNascimento
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-nascimto.png

ne

nem

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ne.png
NegosNegócios

no

novo, número

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-no.png

nô

não

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-no2.png
NotroNotário
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-notro.png

nouro

novembro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-nouro.png

N.S.a

nossa senhora

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-nsa.png
O – ô
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
OctroOutubro
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-octro.png

offies

oficiais

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-offies.png
OffosOffícios
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-offo.png
OrdeOrdem 

outas

outras

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-outas.png
P – pê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

p.

padrinho

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-p.png

pa

para

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pa.png

palmra

palmeira

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-palmra.png

Palo

Palácio

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-palo.png

Pam, Pao

petição

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pam.png

pante

perante

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pante.png
PasPessoas
Pat.paterno

pdão

perdão

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pdao.png

pdas

perdas

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pdas.png

pder

perder, poder

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pder.png

pdr

prender

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pdr.png
PePadre 
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pe.png

Pez

Peres

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pez.png

pguntado

perguntado

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pguntado.png

piede

piedade

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-piedade.png

pinhro

Pinheiro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pinhro.png

Piz

Pires

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-piz.png

pjuizo

prejuizo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pjuizo.png

pjudicar

prejudicar

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pjudicar.png
Plo / PlaPelo / Pela
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pla.png

pmeyra

primeira

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pmeyra.png

pnt

presente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pnt.png
PoPaulo
Portuguese/Abbreviation/P(aul)o
PoPedro
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-po.png
PorqPorque
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Porq(ue)

Porqto

porquanto

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-prqto.png

port

porto, Portugal

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-port.png

pp

padrinhos

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pp.png
PpcoPúblico
PpdorProcurador

ppio

próprio

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ppio.png

ppto

porto

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ppto.png
PraPereira
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pra.png

precedo

precedido

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-precedo.png

prezsa

presença

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-prezsa.png

prezte

presente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-prezte.png

primo, primro

primeiro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-primra.png

principalmte

principalmente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-principalmte.png

procor

procurador

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-procor.png

prova

província

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-prova.png

provor

provedor

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-provor.png

proxos

próximos

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-proxos.png

prpal

principal

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-prpal.png

ptanto

portanto

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ptanto.png
PteParte
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-pte.png
ptugalPortugal
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ptugal.png

Publicamte

publicamente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-publicamte.png
Q – quê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
Q / q̃Que
Portuguese-Abbreviations/Q(ue)
Portuguese-Abbreviations/Q(ue)2

qdo

quando

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-qdo.png

ql

qual

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ql.png

qlqr

qualquer

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-qlqr.png
QmQuem

qntos

quantos

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-qntos.png

qr

quer

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-qr.png

qto

quanto

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-qto.png

quado

quando

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-quado.png

Qualide

qualidade

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-qualide.png

quato

quanto

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-quato.png
QuartaQuarenta 
R – érre
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
RRé, Réu
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-r.png

Rdo

reverendo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-rdo.png

recomda

recomenda

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-recomda.png
RegarRegular
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Reg(ul)ar
regimtoregimento
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-regimto.png

rego

registro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-rego.png

reprezao

representação

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-reprezao.png

repta

reposta

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-repta.png

Requerimto

Requerimento

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-requerimto.png
ResidteResidente
Portuguese/Resid(en)te
RibroRibeiro
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ribro.png

Rjto

Roteiro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-rjto.png

Rmo

Reverendissimo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-rmo.png

Rnos

Reinos

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-rnos.png
RoizRodrigues

Rs

Reis

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-rs.png
RybraRibeira
S – ésse
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
S StosSanto Santa 
SS.Santísimo
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/S(Santíssimio)
SacramtosSacramentos

Saludo

Salvador

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-saludo.png

Samto

Santiago

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-samto.png
SbroSetembro

Sebam, Sebao

Sebastião

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-sebam.png

segdo

segundo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-segdo.png

segro

seguro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-segro.png

Segte

seguinte

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-segte.png

Serucos

serviços

serucos.png

Setro

Setembro

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-setro.png
SiqraSiqueira
SnorSenhor

Sô

Sousa

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-so.png

sobredos

sobreditos

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-sobredos.png
SoltraSolteira 
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-soltra.png
SomteSomente
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-somte.png
Sor, sorSenhor
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-sor.png

Sria

secretária

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-sria.png

Sto

Santo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-sto.png

stromto

Instrumento

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-stromto.png

Suppte

supicante

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-suppte.png
T – tê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

t

item

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-t.png

Tamētro

Testamentário

tabe

tambem

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-tabe.png

tam

tabelão

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-tam.png
TasTestamunhas
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-tas2.png
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-tas.png

tato

tanto

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-tato.png

Tê

tem, ter

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-te.png
TeixraTeixeira
TempTempo

Testas

testamunhas

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-testas.png

Testmto

Testamento

TiItem, idem
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-ti.png

To

Tiago

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-to.png

Tpo

Tempo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-tpo.png

Tra

Terceira

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-tra.png

Trid.

Tridentino

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-trid..png
U – u
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

UT s

Ut Supra
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-uts.png
V – vê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
V​aViúva

Vallerosamte

Valerosamente

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vallerosamte.png
Vdadeverdade
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vdade.png

Vde

Verde

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vde.png

Vigro

Vigário

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vigro.png

Virte

virtude

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-virte.png

V mgde

Vossa Majestade

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vmgde.png

V.S.

Vosso Senhor

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-v.s..png

Vte

Vicente, vinte

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vte2.png
portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vte1.png

VV mces

Vossas Mercês

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-vvmces.png

W – duplo-vê

* Nota bene: this letter is only used in foreign words.

AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
X - xis
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

Xao

Cristão

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-xao.png
XbrDezembro
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/X(Dezem)bre
XerXavier
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-xer.png
X.N.Cristão Novo

Xo

Cristo

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-xo.png
Xpo, XptoCristo
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-xpto.png

Xpouao

Cristovão

portuguese-tools-abbreviations-cpouao.png
XptoualCristobal
Xptoual.bmp
​Xptiana​Cristiana
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/Xptiana
Z - zê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

Numbers – números
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

2o

segundo

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/2o

3o

terceiro

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-3o.png

4o

quarto

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-4o.png

5o

quinto

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-5o.png

6o

sexto

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-6o.png

7ro

setembro

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-7ro.png
8bro, 8ro

outubro

 
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-8ro.png

8o

Oitavo

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-8o.png
9bro, 9ro

novembro

Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations-9bro.png

9o

nono


data-content-type=""


Introduction
Paleography Introduction