ca

IPA/kˈɑː/
KK[kˈʌ]IPA/kˈʌ/

ca — abbreviation

1. the standard short written form for the US state of California, used in mailing

1.abbreviationB1
Definition

the standard short written form for the US state of California, used in mailing addresses, maps, weather reports, and other space-saving labels.

Example

Please send the contract to Sacramento, CA 95814 by courier.

[city], CA [zip] in a mailing address

Wildfire warnings were issued across northern CA after the storm.

CA as state shorthand in news and weather

Common collocations
  • Sacramento, CA
  • San Jose, CA
  • northern CA
  • in CA
Synonyms
  • California

    the full state name, used in speech and normal prose

  • Calif.

    an older written abbreviation; less standard than the postal form CA

Grammar Patterns

[city], CA [zip]

northern CA

in CA

Usage Note

Usually written in capitals without periods in modern US postal style. It normally appears after a California city name or in short regional labels, not in ordinary running prose where the full name 'California' is more natural.

Common Mistakes

Please mail it to Fresno, ca.
Please mail it to Fresno, CA.
the state abbreviation is written in capitals.
Los Angeles, California, CA
Los Angeles, CA
do not write the full state name and the postal abbreviation together in the same address line.

ca — symbol

Synonym discussion

Sense: abbreviation/1

California is the full state name and is the safest choice in normal sentences, speech, and first mentions. CA is the official two-letter postal abbreviation, so it belongs in addresses, maps, forms, and other tight spaces. Calif. is an older printed abbreviation that still appears in some archives and older publications, but it is less standard now than CA. Learners should also notice the case difference between CA and Ca: CA points to the state, while Ca is the chemical symbol for calcium.

CaliforniaCA ↗Calif.

Etymology

This headword brings together two modern shortened forms rather than one single historical root. CA is the standardized postal abbreviation for California, while Ca is the international chemical symbol for calcium.