When you start vaping it sometimes feels like you have to learn a whole new language. Frequenting online forums, vape shops, and interacting with people in the vaping community can get a little overwhelming if you don’t know all the lingo. Luckily, learning the lingo isn’t difficult. Let’s take a look at some of the most common phrases used in the vaping community.
ADV
An ADV is an “all day vape” meaning a liquid or flavor that you can use all day. This is one that you never (or rarely) get tired of. Generally, an ADV is not too intense or too sweet. It provides a flavor that is comfortable and comforting every time you take a drag. Your ADV is likely different from the next persons – it is a very personal choice.
Analog
An analog cigarette is slang for a traditional cigarette.
Atomizer, Atty
The atomizer, or atty, is a heating element in your vape that produces the vapor. There are many different types of atomizers out there, from varying brands to sizes, and styles. Different types of atomizers offer different size clouds, flavors, and resistance values. When choosing an atomizer, you need to make sure that it will fit with your mod or kit, the tank, and the style of vape you want. This can get really confusing, so don’t hesitate to ask the staff at Draper Vapor to explain the differences and help you choose the best option for your setup.
B&M
Frequenting social media, blogs, and vaping forums, you’ll probably come across the term B&M. This stands for “brick and mortar” meaning a physical shop that you can go to. Draper Vapor is a B&M, allowing you to come in and physically look at our products, figure out what you want, and talk to a staff member about any questions you have.
Battery
Likely, you’re familiar with batteries. They’re used in everyday products at home, at work, or at school. Vape batteries are no different. They’re the power source for your atomizer. Depending on the setup you choose, your battery may be removable or may be part of the system as a whole. There are different types and sizes of batteries. Make sure you get one that fits your setup and offers the right amount of power.
Blend
When e-liquid is made, it’s created with polypropylene glycerol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), as well as flavoring and nicotine. When someone is talking about the blend, they’re usually talking about the ratio of PG to VG in the liquid.
Box Mod
A box mod is a box-shaped e-cigarette. Box mods are a popular style choice and are usually either square or rectangular. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. You can get them with or without replaceable batteries.
Cartridge
Cartidges are plastic pieces that are generally stuffed with a filler material to absorb the liquid you use. Cartridges are used in tanks and cigalike style e-cigarettes
Cigalike
If you’re looking for an e-cigarette that has the look and feel of a traditional cigarette, you want a cigalike. You will almost never find a cigalike in a vape shop – they are mostly found at gas stations and convenience stores.
Clearomizer
A clearomizer is used with a tank. This is a clear casing offering a built-in atomizer and wick. A clearomizer allows you to see the level and color of your liquid. Clearomizers are made with either clear plastic or glass.
Cloudchaser
A cloudchaser is someone who regularly creates large clouds of vapor. Using very specific mod setups, cloudchasers are able to create impressive clouds. Many cloudchasers actually participate in competitions to show off their skill.
Clouds
Clouds are simply the exhaled vapor that comes with vaping. Depending on a variety of factors including liquid, tank or RDA, mod style, battery, and more, clouds can range from small and whispy to large and dense.
CoilThe coil is the heating element used in an atomizer. Coils are made from gauged wire. The heat output and resistance are partially determined by the gauge of the wire and how many coils there are in the system.
DIY
The term DIY is used all over and is likely a familiar term. In vaping it refers to do-it-yourself liquid. DIY liquid is made by the vaper, not by a manufacturer.
Drag, Draw, Hit, Pull, Puff
When you suck on the mouthpiece of your e-cigarette, you’re taking a drag, draw, hit, pull, or puff. The specific term used varies by individual, forum, or community.
Drip Tip
The drip tip on an e-cigarette is the mouthpiece. These are usually replaceable on either the tank or the RDA. Most vape shops offer a variety of drip tips in different sizes, colors, materials, and styles.
Dripping
Dripping is a term used for manually putting liquid onto the wick and heating element of your vape. Dripping is used with RDA’s, not with tanks.
Dry Burn
When you get a new coil or atomizer, you may want to dry burn it. This simply means that you fire the mod without any juice in the tank or RDA. This is a cleaning method that is used to help extend the life of the coil or atomizer. When dry burning, make sure you only fire the coil for a short time or you may burn out the coil.
Dry Hit
Dry hits are when you take a puff from your e-cigarette and there is no juice in the tank or RDA. This gives a burned taste, harsh hit, and overall unpleasant experience.
e-Cigarette, e-Cig, Electronic Cigarette
The device used to vape. This is to differentiate between an electronic device that delivers e-juice or liquid from a traditional cigarette.
e-Liquid, e-Juice, Liquid, Juice
Throughout the vaping community you’ll find that there is different wording used for the liquid that you vape. The most common of these phrases are e-liquid, e-juice, liquid, and juice. The liquid is a mixture of PG, VG, flavoring, and nicotine (nicotine is left out for 0 mg liquids). This is where the flavor and vapor come from when you vape.
Flooding
Flooding happens when you put too much juice into the tank or RDA. This results in low vapor production, leaking juice out of the bottom of the atomizer, and gurgling sounds.
Kit
A kit is a product you can buy at Draper Vapor that includes all the equipment you need to vape. This does not include the liquid, but usually comes with a mod, battery, tank and/or RDA, and in some cases a charger for the battery.
Lung Hit
When you inhale the vapor directly from your setup to your lungs, you’re taking a lung hit. Generally, a lung hit requires a large airflow and is difficult to master for many vapers.
Mechanical Mod, Mech Mod
A mechanical mod, or mech mod, has no safety features or regulatory electronic chips. It’s not suggested that beginners use a mech mod. Cloudchasers tend to use mech mods, because they’re able to get large clouds.
Mini
Mini refers to any electronic cigarette or piece of equipment (such as a tank) that is smaller than the normal size. The term mini can refer to a variety of sizes.
Mod
The term mod is used in a variety of ways around the vaping community. In some spaces it is used to describe modifications to a device or a design variation of an e-cigarette. However, mod is also commonly used to describe a setup that allows for variable voltage, wattage, etc. You may also see mod used as another way to describe any e-cigarette.
Mouth-to-Lung, MTL, Mouth Hit
When you draw the vapor into your mouth before inhaling this is called mouth-to-lung, MTL, or a mouth hit.
Nic
Nic is the shortened version of nicotine.
Nicotine Level
Nicotine level is how much nicotine there is in the liquid or cartridge. This is usually measures in mg/ml. In the US, nicotine levels generally range from 0-24. Depending on the liquid line, you’ll see this in 2-3 mg variances – eg: 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, etc.
Ohm
Ohm is the standard unit of electrical resistance. The lower the number, the lower the resistance on the coil. Low resistance equals faster heating.
Passthrough
Some e-cigarettes allow you to vape while they are charging, which is called passthrough. Generally, the battery style used in mods that allow passthrough can also be charged through USB.
Pen Style
A popular option for those who are new to vaping is the pen style e-cigarette. This is a small e-cig that looks similar to a pen. Most pen style vape setups don’t allow for a lot of variety in wattage or voltage.
PG
PG is propylene glycol, which is one of the solutions used as a base for e-liquid.
PV
The term PV stands for personal vaporizer. This is simply another term for an e-cigarette.
Prime, Priming
It’s a good idea to prime your wick, which is done by adding a few drops of liquid to the cotton or wick, allowing it to soak in. This allows the flavor to get into the wick before you use it and reduces the possibility of a dry hit.
RDA
RDA stands for rebuildable dripping atomizer. This style of atomizer allows you to build your own coils, add your cotton, and drip juice straight onto the wick. RDA’s give a stronger flavor and better cloud than most tanks.
RDTA
RDTA is rebuildable dripping tank atomizer. With an RDTA you have the convenience of choosing whether to drip or use the tank.
RTA
A RTA is a rebuildable tank atomizer. This allows you to rebuild the coils in your tank, rather than buying pre-built atomizers. With an RTA, you’re still using a tank that hold the juice, but you can customize your coils.
Regulated Mod
A regulated mod is an e-cigarette that contains a regulation chip and safety features. A regulated mod is a good option for a beginning vaper.
Resistance
The resistance level refers to how the electricity travels through the heating element of your e-cigarette. High resistance allows you to get the coils hot slowly, while low resistance causes the heating element to get hot faster.
Steeping
Steeping is a process used that oxides your liquid. This process allows the oxygen in the air to interact with the nicotine, base, and flavoring in the liquid to help the liquid become more flavorful. Steeping is not required, but an extra step some vapers take to improve their experience with the liquid. The amount of time a juice should steep varies significantly, but usually those who steep their liquid lets it sit in a cool, dark area for a few hours to several weeks.
Tank
A tank is a reservoir for your e-liquid. Tanks usually hold a cartomizer or atomizer and allow you to fill the reservoir with liquid through feeding holes either in the top or bottom of the tank. Tanks come in a variety of styles and sizes.
Threading
The style and radius of the attachment connector on the tank, RDA, etc. is the threading. There are several different types of threading, though 510 is the most common.
Throat Hit
The feeling at the back of your throat and in your lungs when you inhale vapor is a throat hit. Liquids are frequently rated by the throat hit vapers get. The amount of throat hit needed for a satisfying experience varies from person to person.
Vape, Vaping
Vape is used in a variety of ways. It can be used as the act of actually using an e-cigarette. The word is also used for the clouds that are produced. When someone refers to “a vape” it is the ecigarette used. Vaping is generally used only as the act of using the e-cig.
Vapemail
Vapemail is the slang term for getting your liquid or equipment in the mail. This is a popular term on forums and social media. However, with national and state regulations going into place around the country, vapemail is becoming more difficult to get.
Vaper
A vaper is someone who vapes or uses an e-cigarette.
Vaper’s Tongue
Vaper’s tongue is a temporary side effect of vaping that results in a diminished taste of the flavor you vape. In some cases, the flavor completely disappears for a short time. Vaper’s tongue can be reversed by drinking water, reducing the amount of vaping, or even changing flavors for a time.
VG
VG is vegetable glycerin and is used as part of the base in e-liquid.
VV
VV is variable voltage and is an indicator on an e-cigarette that tells you that you can change the voltage. This gives you more variability in your electronic cigarette and more control over the flavor and vapor you produce.
VW
VW stands for variable wattage. This also helps give you more control over the vapor and flavor in your e-cigarette.
There are so many different phrases and terminology used in the vaping community. If you come across others that you don’t know or feel need to be added to this list, please let us know in the comments!