Alphabet soup Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈæɫfəˌbɛt/ /ˈsup

AL-fuh-bet SOOP

UK

ˈælfəbˌɛt/ /sˈuːp

AL-fuh-bet SOOP

Definition

Literally, a soup with pasta shaped like letters of the alphabet; figuratively, a situation with so many abbreviations or acronyms that it is confusing.

Usage & Nuances

"Alphabet soup" is informal. The figurative usage is especially common when referring to government agencies, technology, or jargon-heavy industries. Typical phrases: "It's an alphabet soup of acronyms." The literal soup is common in the US as a children's food.

• Spanish: sopa de letras - confusión de siglas
• Portuguese (BR): sopa de letrinhas - confusão de siglas
• Portuguese (PT): sopa de letras - confusão de siglas
• Chinese (Simplified): 字母汤 - 字母缩写混杂
• Chinese (Traditional): 字母湯 - 字母縮寫混雜
• Hindi: अक्षर सूप - संक्षिप्त रूपों की भीड़
• Arabic: حساء الحروف - ازدحام الاختصارات
• Bengali: অক্ষর স্যুপ - সংক্ষেপের গুলা
• Russian: суп из букв - путаница из аббревиатур
• Japanese: アルファベットスープ - 頭字語の混乱
• Vietnamese: súp chữ cái - mớ ký hiệu viết tắt
• Korean: 알파벳 수프 - 약어의 혼란
• Turkish: alfabe çorbası - kısaltma karmaşası
• Urdu: حروفی سوپ - مختصرات کا ہجوم
• Indonesian: sup alfabet - kekacauan singkatan

Example Sentences

My favorite lunch is alphabet soup.

basic

The report was full of alphabet soup and hard to understand.

basic

Kids love to spell words with alphabet soup.

basic

After reading the tech manual, my brain felt like it was drowning in alphabet soup.

natural

Government agencies are known for their endless alphabet soup of abbreviations.

natural

When she started working in finance, all the jargon was just alphabet soup.

natural