Brazilian Acronyms and Abbreviations in Portuguese Explained

What do CPF, RG, CEP, CNH, and CNPJ stand for? If you’re learning Brazilian Portuguese or planning to live, work, or study in Brazil, you’ll run into these Brazilian Portuguese acronyms everywhere — on official documents, bank forms, government websites, apps, signs, news headlines, and everyday conversations.

This guide covers the most common Brazilian abbreviations organized by category — with their full names in Portuguese, meanings, and real-life context. You’ll also learn the difference between acronyms, abbreviations, and contractions in Portuguese, one of the most common points of confusion for learners of Brazilian Portuguese.

From Brazil document acronyms like CPF and CNPJ to financial terms like SELIC and PIX, government institutions like STF and IBGE, and much more — this is your complete reference for understanding Brazilian Portuguese acronyms used in daily life.

Video: Brazilian Portuguese Acronyms and Abbreviations

List of Brazilian Portuguese Acronyms and Abbreviations

Documents and Identification

CPF – Cadastro de Pessoa Física: Individual tax registration number assigned to each Brazilian citizen.

CNPJ – Cadastro Nacional de Pessoa Jurídica: Business identification number for companies in Brazil.

CIN – Carteira de Identidade Nacional: National identity document for Brazilian citizens.

RG – Registro Geral: General identification document for Brazilian citizens, now replaced by the CIN.

CRNM – Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório: Identification document for foreign residents in Brazil.

CNH – Carteira Nacional de Habilitação: Brazilian driver’s license.

CEP – Código de Endereçamento Postal: Postal code for addresses in Brazil.

UF – Unidade Federativa: Term referring to each of Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District; appears on documents and addresses (SP, RJ, MG…).

BR – Rodovia Federal (Federal Highway)

Taxes and Tax Obligations

IRPF – Imposto de Renda de Pessoa Física: Personal income tax in Brazil.

IRPJ – Imposto de Renda de Pessoa Jurídica: Corporate income tax on company profits.

IPTU – Imposto Predial e Territorial Urbano: Municipal property tax on urban real estate.

IPVA – Imposto sobre a Propriedade de Veículos Automotores: Annual vehicle ownership tax.

NF – Nota Fiscal: Official tax invoice documenting purchase and sale transactions.

DARF – Documento de Arrecadação de Receitas Federais: Form used to pay federal taxes in Brazil.

DAS – Documento de Arrecadação do Simples Nacional: Document for paying taxes under the Simples Nacional tax regime.

MEI – Microempreendedor Individual: Category for solo entrepreneurs with simplified taxation in Brazil.

Simples – Sistema Integrado de Pagamento de Impostos e Contribuições das Microempresas e Empresas de Pequeno Porte: Simplified tax regime for small and micro businesses in Brazil.

Work and Social Security

CLT – Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho: Brazil’s main labor law framework governing employment rights and obligations.

INSS – Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social: Government body responsible for managing and granting social security benefits in Brazil.

FGTS – Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Serviço: Mandatory savings fund for workers, used in cases of unfair dismissal and other qualifying situations.

PIS – Programa de Integração Social: Benefit paid to employees with a formal employment contract in Brazil.

SINE – Sistema Nacional de Emprego: National employment service offering job placement assistance and unemployment insurance.

Economy and Financial System

PIX – Instant payment system created by the Central Bank of Brazil.

BACEN – Banco Central do Brasil: Responsible for regulating and supervising the Brazilian financial system.

SELIC – Sistema Especial de Liquidação e de Custódia: Brazil’s benchmark interest rate.

IPCA – Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo: Brazil’s official inflation index.

PIB – Produto Interno Bruto: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — the sum of all goods and services produced in Brazil.

CDI – Certificado de Depósito Interbancário: Interbank interest rate used as a benchmark for financial investments in Brazil.

CDB – Certificado de Depósito Bancário: Fixed-income investment product offered by Brazilian banks.

TED – Transferência Eletrônica Disponível: Electronic bank transfer between accounts at different banks.

DOC – Documento de Ordem de Crédito: Electronic transfer between accounts at the same bank.

IBOVESPA – Índice da Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo: Index measuring the performance of stocks traded on the São Paulo stock exchange.

BNDES – Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social: Public financial institution that funds development projects in Brazil and abroad.

FMI – Fundo Monetário Internacional: International Monetary Fund (IMF) — provides financial assistance and economic guidance to countries.

FIPE – Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas: Economic research institution that develops price indexes and economic indicators in Brazil.

IDH – Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano: Human Development Index (HDI) — composite indicator measuring a country’s development in health, education, and income.

Education

ENEM – Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio: National high school exam used as the main university admission criterion in Brazil.

Revalida – Exame Nacional de Revalidação dos Diplomas Médicos: Exam for validating medical degrees obtained abroad, allowing the holder to practice medicine in Brazil.

TCC – Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso: Final academic paper required to earn an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Brazil.

EAD – Ensino a Distância: Distance or online learning — very common in university, technical, and language courses in Brazil.

Prouni – Programa Universidade para Todos: Government program offering scholarships for students to enter private higher education institutions in Brazil.

FIES – Fundo de Financiamento Estudantil: Government student loan program that facilitates access to higher education through credit.

INEP – Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira: Institution responsible for producing educational data and statistics in Brazil.

MEC – Ministério da Educação: Government body responsible for educational policies in Brazil.

FGV – Fundação Getúlio Vargas: Prestigious higher education and research institution, a benchmark in economics, business, and law in Brazil.

Health

SUS – Sistema Único de Saúde: Brazil’s public health system, providing free medical care to the entire population.

OMS – Organização Mundial da Saúde: World Health Organization (WHO) — coordinates global health efforts internationally.

ANVISA – Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária: Responsible for health surveillance and regulation of products and services in Brazil.

DST – Doença Sexualmente Transmissível: Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) — generic term for diseases transmitted through sexual contact.

CRM – Conselho Regional de Medicina: Regional body that regulates and oversees the practice of medicine in Brazil.

Regulatory Agencies and Technical Standards

ANATEL – Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações: Regulatory body for the telecommunications sector in Brazil.

ANAC – Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil: Regulates civil aviation in Brazil.

ANCINE – Agência Nacional do Cinema: Regulates and promotes the film industry in Brazil.

INMETRO – Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia: Responsible for certifying the quality of products and services in Brazil.

ABNT – Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas: Organization that establishes technical standards in Brazil.

PROCON – Programa de Proteção e Defesa do Consumidor: Consumer protection agency in Brazil.

Traffic and Vehicles

DETRAN – Departamento Estadual de Trânsito: State-level agency responsible for traffic matters, vehicle registration, and driver’s licenses.

DENATRAN (SENATRAN) – Departamento Nacional de Trânsito: National-level agency responsible for traffic regulation in Brazil.

RENAVAM – Registro Nacional de Veículos Automotores: National vehicle ownership registry in Brazil.

Traffic Vocabulary in Portuguese (motorcycle ride)

Justice, Politics, and Government

STF – Supremo Tribunal Federal: Brazil’s Supreme Court — the highest instance of the judicial branch.

STJ – Superior Tribunal de Justiça: Court responsible for standardizing the interpretation of federal legislation in Brazil.

TSE – Tribunal Superior Eleitoral: Body responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in Brazil.

OAB – Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil: Brazilian Bar Association — represents lawyers, upholds ethical standards, and regulates the legal profession.

MPF – Ministério Público Federal: Independent institution that defends society’s interests and ensures compliance with the law in Brazil.

CGU – Controladoria-Geral da União: Federal government’s internal oversight and transparency body.

TCU – Tribunal de Contas da União: Federal body that audits public accounts at the national level.

CPI – Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito: Parliamentary investigation committee — a formal inquiry conducted by the Legislative Branch.

DOU – Diário Oficial da União: Official gazette of the federal government.

ECA – Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente: Brazilian law establishing the rights and protections of children and adolescents.

MF – Ministério da Fazenda: Former name of the Ministry of Economy, responsible for fiscal, financial, and economic matters in Brazil.

PAC – Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento: Government infrastructure investment program in Brazil.

Public Safety

PF – Polícia Federal: Federal police agency responsible for national security, border control, and related matters.

PRF – Polícia Rodoviária Federal: Federal highway police, responsible for patrolling federal roads in Brazil.

PM – Polícia Militar: State-level military police force responsible for public policing.

BOPE – Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais: Specialized military police unit for high-complexity operations.

GATE – Grupo de Ações Táticas Especiais: Specialized team for negotiations and high-risk situations.

GOE – Grupo de Operações Especiais: Specialized tactical operations team.

BO – Boletim de Ocorrência: Police incident report — used to formally document incidents and occurrences.

PCC – Primeiro Comando da Capital: Criminal organization originating in São Paulo, frequently referenced in Brazilian news and series.

Institutions and Organizations

IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística: Agency responsible for producing and analyzing statistical and geographic data in Brazil.

IBOPE – Instituto Brasileiro de Opinião Pública e Estatística: Public opinion and statistics research company in Brazil.

IBAMA – Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis: Environmental agency responsible for protecting and overseeing Brazil’s natural environment.

FUNAI – Fundação Nacional do Índio: Responsible for formulating and implementing policies for the protection and promotion of indigenous peoples’ rights in Brazil.

EMBRAPA – Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária: Research institution focused on agricultural and technological development in Brazil.

EMBRATUR – Instituto Brasileiro de Turismo: Institution that promotes Brazilian tourism and showcases destinations and attractions across the country.

CEASA – Centrais de Abastecimento: Food distribution centers handling the logistics and trade of agricultural products in Brazil.

CNPq – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico: Body responsible for promoting and funding scientific and technological research in Brazil.

CREA – Conselho Regional de Engenharia e Agronomia: Entity that supervises and regulates the practice of engineering and agronomy professionals in Brazil.

SESI – Serviço Social da Indústria: Institution dedicated to improving quality of life and education for industrial workers in Brazil.

SENAC – Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial: Institution offering professional and technical education for the commerce sector in Brazil.

SEBRAE – Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas: Provides support, guidance, and training to small and micro business entrepreneurs in Brazil.

ONG – Organização Não Governamental: Non-governmental organization (NGO) — non-profit institutions working on social, environmental, or other causes.

Extra

Former Presidents:

• FHC – Fernando Henrique Cardoso
• JK – Juscelino Kubitschek

Abbreviations and Contractions in Brazilian Portuguese

On the informal side of things, I’ve put together a few posts about abbreviations and contractions in Brazilian Portuguese.

Full post – Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3