mt

Mt is an abbreviation used in English to denote a mountain or Mount in geographic names. It serves as a prefix in toponyms such as Mt. Everest or Mt. Kilimanjaro, indicating that the feature is a mountain. The form Mt. with a period is common in American usage and appears on many maps, guides, and signs. In formal writing, some style guides prefer the full form Mount and may discourage the abbreviated version, while others permit Mt. in appropriate contexts.

Usage varies by context and medium. In formal prose, Mount is often preferred, especially in scholarly or official texts. In signage, travel writing, and casual references, Mt. is widely understood and frequently used for brevity. Some modern maps and databases also record the name without punctuation (Mt or Mount) depending on local conventions. Across languages, the Mount prefix has equivalents such as Mont (French), Monte (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese), and similar forms in other Romance and Germanic languages.

Etymology and scope. The abbreviation Mt derives from Mount, which itself comes from the Old English munt or from Latin montem, both referring to a raised landform. The term is applied to individual peaks and, less formally, to hills or high ridges in toponyms. It is important to distinguish Mount in geographic naming from unrelated uses of Mt as an acronym or code in other contexts.

Notes. In some contexts, Mt can be mistaken for Montana (US state, abbreviated MT) or other abbreviations in all caps. Context and styling guide recommendations determine the preferred form.