Neighborhood shorthand guide
NYC neighborhood abbreviations: SoHo, NoHo, DUMBO, LES, and FiDi
New York neighborhood names often compress geography into a few letters or syllables. Some are acronyms, some are initialisms, and some became full proper names. They help with search and conversation, but they do not create perfectly fixed borders.
SoHo and NoHo use Houston Street as the reference
SoHo is commonly expanded as South of Houston Street, while NoHo means North of Houston Street. Both are spoken as words and now function as established Manhattan neighborhood names.
DUMBO describes a Brooklyn location
DUMBO means Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Despite the bridge reference and Manhattan in the expansion, the neighborhood itself is on the Brooklyn waterfront.
LES and FiDi shorten familiar Manhattan districts
LES is pronounced letter by letter for the Lower East Side. FiDi is usually spoken as fye-dye for the Financial District. Both labels are practical, but exact neighborhood edges vary by map and speaker.
Frequently asked questions
Are New York neighborhood abbreviations official boundaries?
Some are used in official city documents, but everyday neighborhood boundaries still vary and may overlap.
Is DUMBO in Manhattan because Manhattan appears in the name?
No. DUMBO is a Brooklyn neighborhood beneath and near the Manhattan Bridge approach.
Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional, historical, or internet-spread context used in this guide.
- Special SoHo-NoHo Mixed Use DistrictNew York City Zoning Resolution
Official city use of the SoHo and NoHo neighborhood names and the combined SoHo-NoHo planning district.
- Honoring History While Meeting Current Needs in Brooklyn’s DUMBO NeighborhoodNew York City Department of Design and Construction
Official city explanation of DUMBO as Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass and its Brooklyn waterfront location.
- East Side Coastal Resiliency Frequently Asked QuestionsCity of New York
Official city usage of LES as an abbreviation for Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
- Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Master PlanCity of New York
Official city use of FiDi in the name of the Financial District and Seaport resilience plan.