Li
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Lithium |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Science & Engineering, Geography & Places, Texting & Internet Slang |
| Also written | LI |
Li has five meanings. The most common are Lithium (chemical element) and Liechtenstein (country code); it can also stand for Long Island, LinkedIn and Love interest.
Meanings of Li at a glance
| # | Li stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lithium | Science & Engineering › Chemical Element |
| 2 | Liechtenstein | Geography & Places › Country Code |
| 3 | Long Island | Geography & Places › City and Neighborhood |
| 4 | Texting & Internet Slang › Social Media | |
| 5 | Love interest | Texting & Internet Slang › Fandom and Fan Fiction |
1. Lithium
Science & Engineering · Chemical Element Abbreviations
The lightest metal and the least dense solid element, lithium (atomic number 3) is an alkali metal soft enough to cut with a knife. Its compounds power rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in phones and electric vehicles, and lithium carbonate has been prescribed as a mood stabilizer since the mid-20th century.
Example: Brine operations in Chile's Atacama Desert supply a large share of the world's Li.
Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson detected lithium in 1817 while analyzing the mineral petalite. It was named from Greek lithos (stone) because, unlike sodium and potassium, it was first found in a mineral rather than in plant ash. Lithium compounds color a flame crimson red. "Li-ion" on battery labels refers to the lithium-ion chemistry, not to the pure metal.
2. Liechtenstein (LI)
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Alpine principality between Switzerland and Austria, with Vaduz as its capital and LIE as its alpha-3 code. It is one of only two doubly landlocked countries, with Uzbekistan, and uses the Swiss franc.
Example: Trust companies in LI administer foundations for clients worldwide.
Liechtenstein is a leading maker of false teeth, a niche industry that is a well-known piece of trivia. It belongs to the European Economic Area but not the EU.
3. Long Island (LI)
Geography & Places · City and Neighborhood Abbreviations
Island extending about 118 miles east of Manhattan, containing the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens and the suburban counties of Nassau and Suffolk. LI is standard local shorthand, as in LIRR for the Long Island Rail Road.
Example: The LI Expressway was jammed with beachgoers heading to the Hamptons.
Locals often say they live on Long Island rather than in it. Li is the chemical symbol for lithium, and LI is the ISO code for Liechtenstein.
4. LinkedIn (LI)
Texting & Internet Slang · Social Media Abbreviations
Shorthand for LinkedIn, the professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, used in recruiting, sales and career chat ("connect on LI," "LI post").
Example: Just updated my LI profile with the new job title and headshot.
Used mostly in professional and recruiting contexts, where it is acceptable in emails. LinkedIn launched in 2003 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2016. Many readers outside business circles will not recognize "LI," so spelling out the name is safer.
5. Love interest (LI)
Texting & Internet Slang · Fandom and Fan Fiction Abbreviations
Character the protagonist pursues or is pursued by in a romance, dating sim, otome game or novel. Players often rank LIs or choose a favorite route.
Example: All five LIs in this otome game are great, but the librarian is my favorite.
Dating sims and otome games give each LI a separate story "route." Readers of romance novels discuss whether the LI is well written or a "red flag." On social media LI can mean LinkedIn, so the gaming or book context matters.
Related abbreviations
More chemical element abbreviations
- Ir – Iridium
- K – Potassium
- Kr – Krypton
- La – Lanthanum
- Lr – Lawrencium
- Lu – Lutetium
- Lv – Livermorium
- Mc – Moscovium
See all 118 chemical element abbreviations →