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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
BispdoBispado
ßnardoBernardo
C – cê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
CaCatarina 
CcaCarta
CarntoCarneiro
Cast​oCastanho
Portuguese-Tools-Abbreviations/Cast-anh-o
CidaCidade
CoCom
CredtoCrédito
D – dê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
D.Domm  / Donaf
DaDita
DccoDito
DezbroDezembro
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Dez(emb)ro
DoDito
DosDomingos
Portuguese/Abbreviation/D(oming)os
DsDeus
E – ê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
EcclesicaEcclesiástica
EglaIgreja
EngoEngênho
F – éfe
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample

​Fo / Fa

​Filho / Filha

Portuguese/Abbreviation/F(ilh)o
Portuguese/Abbreviation/F(ilh)a2
FccoFeito
Fer.aFerreira
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fer(reir)a
Ferr.aFerreira
feuroFevereiro
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fev(erei)ro

Frco / Frca

Francisco / Francisca

Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fr(co)
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fr(ancis)ca
Fran.co / Fran.caFrancisco / Francisca

frega

Freguesia

Portuguese/Abbreviation/freg(uesi)a
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Fregues
Fr.Frei

Frz

Fernandes

Portuguese/Abbreviation/F(e)r(nande)s
Portuguese/Abbreviation/F(e)r(nande)z
G – gê
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
GarGarcia
Portuguese/Abbreviation/G(a)r(ci)a
Glz / gl͡zGonçalvez
Portuguese/Abbreviation/G(onça)l(ve)z
GregoGregório
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Greg(óri)o
H – agá
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
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
IgnoIngácio
IgraIgreja
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Igr(ej)a
Inqam
Inquisição
InqdorInquisidor
IrIrmão
IzbelIzabel
J – jóta

Abbreviation

Meaning

Document Sample

Jano JanroJaneiro
Portuguese/Abbreviation/Jan(ei)ro
JhuJesus
JmoJoão
Portuguese/Abbreviation/J(oã)o

K – cá/cápa

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

AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
L – éle
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
Lixa LxaLisboa
LugLugar
M – ême
AbbreviationMeaningDocument Sample
Ma MaMaria
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(ari)a
MdesMendes
Mel MelManoel
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(ano)el
MesqtaMesquita
Mon MontroMonteiro
Mor MraMorador Mordora
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(orad)or
MoresMoradores
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(orad)ores
MuitasMuitas
MtoMuito
MerMulher
Portuguese/Abbreviation/M(ulh)er
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

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

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

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


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Introduction
Paleography Introduction