The article considers the phenomenon of "abbreviation" from the point of view of the functional peculiarities of its use in the lexical group of professional denominations. It is pointed out that the notion of abbreviation does not have a clear-out definition and, as a result, a unified classification. In this article the term "abbreviation" is used as a synonym of the word shortening. A special attention is paid to the shortenings of the initial type, among which the most frequent are three-component initials. The initial shortenings and the shortening of the first component of composites, both German origin and borrowed from English, were used as empiric material. In conclusion, the important role of the use of abbreviations in professional activity in Germany is pointed out. The proper use and understanding of abbreviations, primarily the borrowed ones, makes the professional communication easier, especially in the context of globalization.