Curriculum Vitae

How this word actually lands

In Britain, almost everyone simply says CV in normal conversation. “Curriculum vitae” is the full name, but using the full Latin expression every time is unnecessarily formal. You might hear, “Send me your CV,” “I've updated my CV,” or “Your CV looks good.” This is different from American English, where “résumé” is the normal word. For someone learning British English, “CV” is the safest everyday choice. There is also no need to pronounce the full phrase simply because you are discussing the document formally. In an interview or workplace conversation, “CV” sounds completely professional. The important lesson is that a shorter expression is not less formal here—it is actually the normal professional term.