The standard mountain abbreviation is Mtn., and the plural, mountains, becomes Mtns. You will see it on maps, trail signs, road signs and in street addresses such as "Pine Mtn. Rd." where space is tight.
The other short form people reach for, Mt., actually stands for the word Mount, the title that comes before a peak's name. So a peak called Mount Hood is written Mt. Hood, while a peak whose name ends with the word Mountain, such as Stone Mountain, is written Stone Mtn. Knowing which word you are shortening is the whole trick.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
Mtn. for mountainPlural
Mtns. for mountainsMount
Mt., used before a peak's namePostal form
MTN, MTNS and MT in USPS addresses, no periodsPeriod
Yes in running text and on signs; none in postal styleNot to be confused with
MT for Montana and MT for Mountain Time
The abbreviation for mountain and its cousins
| Word | Abbreviation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mountain | Mtn. | Bear Mtn. State Park |
| mountains | Mtns. | The Smoky Mtns. on a road map |
| Mount | Mt. | Mt. Rainier, Mt. Whitney |
| Mounts | Mts. | Rare; seen in lists of several peaks |
| mountain range | Mtn. range or spelled out | Usually written in full |
Inside a place name the short form takes a capital, as in Lookout Mtn. When you mean the general idea, such as "we hiked up a mountain," spell the word out. Short forms belong with names, not with plain nouns in a sentence.
Mt. vs Mtn.: which mountain abbreviation fits
The rule is simple once you see it. Mount comes before a name, and mountain usually comes after one.
- Mount Hood becomes Mt. Hood.
- Blue Mountain becomes Blue Mtn.
- Rocky Mountains becomes Rocky Mtns.
- Mount Vernon, a town name, becomes Mt. Vernon even though it is not a peak.
In casual notes people often write Mt. for both, and most readers follow along. On anything formal, a school map project or a printed sign, match the word that is really in the name.
On a trail sign: "Summit Trail to Mt. Lincoln 2.4 mi. Ridge Trail to Bald Mtn. 3.1 mi." The first peak's name begins with Mount; the second ends with Mountain.
Mountain in street addresses
Many roads, towns and neighborhoods carry the word. The Postal Service lists standard all capital forms for addresses and asks for no periods.
| Word in the address | USPS form | Envelope example |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain | MTN | 45 SUGAR MTN RD |
| Mountains | MTNS | 12 BLUE MTNS DR |
| Mount | MT | 880 MT PLEASANT AVE |
On a letter you write by hand, "45 Sugar Mtn. Rd." is fine too. The all capital version simply matches what mail sorting machines read best. For more on writing shortened words in addresses, see how to abbreviate.
When to spell mountain out
- In essays and stories: "The mountain was covered in snow."
- At the start of a sentence: "Mountain roads close early in winter."
- When the word is not part of a name: "three mountains to the west."
- In news style, which tends to keep Mountain in full but allows Mt. for Mount.
Abbreviations make the most sense in tight spaces: map labels, charts, signs, forms, and lists of places.
Abbreviation for mountain vs MT for Montana and Mountain Time
The capital letters MT do several jobs, which is why the period and capitalization matter.
- MT is the postal code for Montana. See the Montana abbreviation page.
- MT also means Mountain Time, the time zone used in much of the Rockies. The Mountain Time abbreviation page covers MST and MDT.
- Mt., with a lowercase t and a period, is the title Mount.
- Mtn. is the word mountain.
A line like "Mt. Elbert, 9:00 a.m. MT" uses two of these at once: the peak's title and the time zone. Dozens of other shortened words are collected under common abbreviations.
Questions people ask
How do you shorten the word mountain?
Write Mtn., starting with capital M and closing with a period. For more than one mountain, write Mtns.
Does Mt. mean mountain or Mount?
Strictly, Mt. means Mount, the word that comes before a peak's name, as in Mt. Shasta. Many people use it loosely for mountain, but careful writers save Mtn. for that word.
How does the post office abbreviate mountain?
The postal form is MTN, in capitals with no period. Mountains is MTNS, and Mount is MT.
Should I abbreviate mountain in an essay?
No. In regular sentences, spell the word out. Keep Mtn. and Mt. for maps, signs, addresses, charts and other tight spaces.