lbs = "libs" ?

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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > lbs = "libs" ?

lbs = "libs" ?

lbs = "libs" ?

Hi All,

I realize that the correct abbreviation for pounds is lb (libre pondo); however, like it not, lbs is also very common and my question has to do with this second abbreviation.

Yesterday I overheard a colleague (who is also one of my students) speaking on the phone and he said "libs" when referring to pounds. Personally, I �ve never heard this used in this way; but I don �t want to correct him until I �ve researched it a little.

1) Are any of you familair with this pronunciation (libs) when referring to pound?

2) Is it common use anywhere in the world?

3) Would you understand what someone meant when they said "I lost 5 libs last month."?

Thanks,

Douglas

20 Feb 2015

Apodo

I �ve never heard it used.

I �ve heard L.B �s, (letters pronounced) but only from someone young who uses kilograms and didn �t know the abbreviation for the old weights.

We often hear K.Gs for kilograms.

I think I would understand "libs� used in context.

20 Feb 2015

rockthevinyl

I �ve never heard it used, but would understand if a kid or a non-native speaker made that mistake.

20 Feb 2015

I wouldn �t say lbs or �libs � just pounds. It �s kinda like saying Kate (ampersand &) Danny and not just �Kate and Danny � they are symbols to hold the place of a word, but when articulated, the actual word takes its place.....

20 Feb 2015

anahutten

I wonder if your colleague is from a Spanish speaking country. In Spanish, pounds is "libras" so this may be why he used "libs" as an abbreviation..

20 Feb 2015

I haven �t heard it.

20 Feb 2015

redcamarocruiser

I have not heard it and would be confused if I heard it until I figured out the context. "Oh! he is talking about losing weight.Therefore he must mean pounds."

20 Feb 2015

Zora

I also have never heard "libs" for pounds.

21 Feb 2015

In my opinion, "lb" or "lbs" is pronounced "pounds".

We also wouldn �t say "em" for "metres", for example.

25 Feb 2015