I'm no noob but even after playing several years I can't keep up with all the abbreviations and acronyms.  I'm no UI or addon creater either but if you are, you might consider an addon 'INTERPRETER' or wow DICITIONARY that will let the unknowing enter VC or MC or LFW or FTW and get some idea of what in the world is being said.

Very good idea, but a major headache to write, if it is even possible. The biggest problem would be making the addon translatable since I'm sure the abbreviations aren't universal.

Everybody goes through this, and yes, some people can't keep them all straight even four years later. Some abbreviations even changed: VC (Van Cleef) used to be DM (Dead Mines) until Dire Maul came out, so there is the whole updating whenever Blizzard introduces something new.

What I suggest is a sheet of paper or a text file on your computer. I will even get you started:

VC = Van Cleef/Dead Mines

WC = Wailing Caverns

DM =  Dire Maul

MC =  Molten Core

UBRS = Upper Blackrock Spire

BRD = Blackrock Depths

LBRS = Lower Blackrock Spire (same instance as UBRS but down the stairs)

ZG = Zul'Gurub

ZA = Zul'Aman

Kara = Karazhan

OS = Obsidian Sanctum

Mal = Malygos

Naxx = Naxxramas

UD/ULD = Uldaman

Gnomer = Gnomereggan

There are many more, of course. Maybe some kind people will continue the list. But honestly, it never hurts to ask in chat or Vent/TS "which one is that?" By the way, Vent = Ventrilo and TS = TeamSpeak, both are voice chat clients.

Thanks for the starter kit myrroddin, in fact, I got curious and checked with WoWWiki and guess what?  There's a pretty complete category already there:

http://www.wowwiki.com/World_of_Warcraft_terminology

So, maybe I haven't been playing LONG ENOUGH after four years.

Maybe so but i found out the terms differ from server to server.

Some servers don't use terms that other use.

Funny enough the addon does exsist its called Whatis I think but it hasnt been updated since 2.4 if I remember correctly. You just type in an abbreviation it works for instances and things like lol and pst  pretty funny actually I used it when I first started playing a long time ago.

Try out nUI today you'll never play wow again without it!