List of acronyms: K

This list contains acronyms, initialisms, and pseudo-blends  that begin with the letter K.

For the purposes of this list:

  • acronym = an abbreviation pronounced as if it were a word, e.g., SARS = severe acute respiratory syndrome, pronounced to rhyme with cars
  • initialism = an abbreviation pronounced wholly or partly using the names of its constituent letters, e.g., CD = compact disc, pronounced cee dee
  • pseudo-blend = an abbreviation whose extra or omitted letters mean that it cannot stand as a true acronym, initialism, or portmanteau (a word formed by combining two or more words).
(a) = acronym, e.g.: SARS – (a) severe acute respiratory syndrome
(i) = initialism, e.g.: CD – (i) compact disc
(p) = pseudo-blend, e.g.: UNIFEM – (p) United Nations Development Fund for Women
(s) = symbol (none of the above, representing and pronounced as something else; for example: MHz – megahertz)

Some terms are spoken as either acronym or initialism, e.g., VoIP, pronounced both as voyp and V-O-I-P.

(Main list of acronyms)

  • k – (s) kilo-
  • K – (s) kelvin – potassium (Latin kalium) – tanker (aircraft designation code)

K0–9

KA

KB

KC

KD

KE

KF

KG

KH

KI

KJ

KK

KL

KM

KN

KO

KP

KQ

KR

KS

KT

KU

KV

KW

KX

KY

KZ