Cu
Abbreviation with 7 meanings
| Stands for | Copper |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 7 |
| Categories | Science & Engineering, Texting & Internet Slang, Geography & Places, Business & Finance, Education & Academia, Arts & Entertainment |
| Also written | CU |
Cu has seven meanings. The most common are Copper (chemical element) and See you (texting and chat); it can also stand for Cuba, Credit union, Columbia University, University of Colorado Boulder and Close-up.
Meanings of Cu at a glance
| # | Cu stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copper | Science & Engineering › Chemical Element |
| 2 | See you | Texting & Internet Slang › Texting and Chat |
| 3 | Cuba | Geography & Places › Country Code |
| 4 | Credit union | Business & Finance › Banking |
| 5 | Columbia University | Education & Academia › University |
| 6 | University of Colorado Boulder | Education & Academia › University |
| 7 | Close-up | Arts & Entertainment › Film, Television and Theater |
1. Copper
Science & Engineering · Chemical Element Abbreviations
Copper (atomic number 29) conducts electricity better than any metal except silver, so about half of all copper goes into wiring, motors and electronics. Alloyed with tin it makes bronze, and with zinc, brass. Exposed copper weathers to a green patina, as seen on the Statue of Liberty.
Example: Use only Cu conductors rated for 75 degrees Celsius on these terminals.
Copper was one of the first metals people worked, with copper objects dating back roughly 10,000 years. The symbol comes from Latin cuprum, a shortening of aes Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus," the island that supplied much of the Roman world's copper. "Cupric" and "cuprous" in compound names refer to copper in its +2 and +1 oxidation states.
2. See you (CU)
Texting & Internet Slang · Texting and Chat Abbreviations
Farewell built from letter sounds, C for "see" and U for "you." Common in texts and chats, often as "cu later" or "cu soon."
Example: Cu at the game, I'll be by the north entrance.
One of the earliest homophone shortcuts of SMS texting. The variant CYA (see ya) is more common in speech-like writing. Written Cu, the same letters are the chemical symbol for copper, and CU is also a common abbreviation for a credit union, so context decides.
3. Cuba (CU)
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Cuba, the largest Caribbean island, has Havana as its capital and CUB as its alpha-3 code. US sanctions mean many online stores and payment services block addresses with this country code.
Example: The airline's booking engine would not accept CU as a billing country.
The .cu domain is administered by a Cuban state body. Cu is also the chemical symbol for copper, and CU means see you in texting.
4. Credit union (CU)
Business & Finance · Banking Abbreviations
Member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative that offers savings, checking, loans and other services to members who share a common bond, such as an employer, community or association. Surpluses are returned to members through lower loan rates, higher savings rates or dividends.
Example: Members of the teachers' CU get a lower rate on car loans than at the big banks.
In the US, about 4,500 federally insured credit unions serve more than 140 million members, with deposits insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The first US credit union opened in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1909. Credit unions are exempt from federal income tax.
5. Columbia University (CU)
Education & Academia · University Abbreviations
Ivy League university in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of George II. It administers the Pulitzer Prizes and is known for its Core Curriculum, law, journalism and business schools.
Example: She finished her PhD at CU and joined a lab at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
The university nearly always uses "Columbia" rather than CU, which more commonly abbreviates the University of Colorado. Alumni include Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and Barack Obama. Barnard College is an affiliated women's college across Broadway.
6. University of Colorado Boulder (CU)
Education & Academia · University Abbreviations
Public flagship university in Boulder, founded in 1876, and the main campus of the University of Colorado system. Its Buffaloes rejoined the Big 12 in 2024, and the university is a major center for aerospace and atmospheric research.
Example: She studies aerospace engineering at CU and interns with a satellite company.
The campus is usually called CU Boulder; other campuses are CU Denver, CU Colorado Springs and CU Anschutz Medical Campus. NOAA, NIST and the National Center for Atmospheric Research have major labs in Boulder. CU also abbreviates Columbia, Cornell and other universities.
7. Close-up (CU)
Arts & Entertainment · Film, Television and Theater Abbreviations
Shot framing a subject tightly, typically an actor's face from the chin to the top of the head, to capture emotion or detail. An extreme close-up (ECU) shows only part of the face or an object.
Example: Cut to CU on her hands as she slides the envelope across the table.
Directors use close-ups to emphasize key moments; Sergio Leone's extreme close-ups of eyes in westerns are famous. The phrase "ready for my close-up" became iconic through Sunset Boulevard (1950).
Related abbreviations
More chemical element abbreviations
- Cn – Copernicium
- Co – Cobalt
- Cr – Chromium
- Cs – Cesium
- Db – Dubnium
- Ds – Darmstadtium
- Dy – Dysprosium
- Er – Erbium
See all 118 chemical element abbreviations →