Vape Terms You Should Know About

Just like many specialized hobbies or lifestyles, vaping comes with its own set of terminology. If you’re new to the world of vaping, this glossary will help you learn more about its many jargon.

510

A type of threading used to connect atomizers and mods. It’s the most common connection type in the vaping world.

Advanced Personal Vaporizer (APV)

Typically referred to as mods, these are more powerful vape devices that offer more customization.

Atomizer

The heating element that converts e-liquid into vapor. It includes the coil and wick.

Automatic

A type of e-cigarette that produces vapor without the need for a button. It’s activated by inhaling.

Box Mod

A type of APV that is box-shaped. They often have features like variable voltage or temperature control.

Cartridge 

A disposable container filled with e-liquid, which gets vaporized when the device is activated.

Cloud Chaser

A vaper who aims to produce large clouds of vapor, often for tricks or competitions.

Coil

Made of resistive wire, this is the part of the atomizer that heats up and vaporizes the e-liquid.

Dripping

A method of vaping where e-liquid is dripped directly onto the coil instead of being fed from a tank.

Dry Burn/Hit

When the wick is not sufficiently saturated with e-liquid, it results in a burnt taste.

E-Cigarette

A device that simulates the experience of smoking by producing a vapor that is inhaled.

E-Liquid (or E-Juice)

The liquid solution that gets vaporized in an e-cigarette. It typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), and flavorings.

mAh

Milliampere-hour, a measurement of battery capacity.

Mechanical Mod 

A type of mod without electronics or wiring. It’s a direct battery-to-coil system.

Mouth to Lung (MTL)

A vaping style where vapor is first drawn into the mouth before being inhaled into the lungs, similar to traditional smoking.

Ohm

A measure of electrical resistance. Lower ohm coils generally produce warmer and more voluminous vapor.

Pod System

Compact vaping devices that use refillable or replaceable pods filled with e-liquid.

Propylene Glycol (PG)

One of the primary ingredients in e-liquid. PG is thinner than VG and provides a “throat hit.”

Rebuildable Atomizer (RBA)

Atomizers that allow vapers to build their own coils.

Resistance

The level of resistance in a coil, measured in ohms.

Sub-Ohm

Vaping with a coil that has a resistance of less than 1 ohm results in larger and warmer vapor clouds.

Temperature Control (TC)

A feature on some mods that lets users set a specific temperature for their coil, preventing dry hits.

Throat Hit

The sensation felt in the throat when inhaling vapor. This is especially prevalent in high-PG e-liquids.

Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

A primary ingredient in e-liquid. VG is thicker than PG and produces more vapor.

Vape Pen

A type of e-cigarette that’s pen-shaped. It’s more advanced than cig-a-likes but less powerful than mods.

Wick

Material (commonly cotton) that absorbs e-liquid and feeds it to the coil.

Cig-a-like

An e-cigarette that’s designed to look and feel like a traditional cigarette.

By understanding these terms, both newcomers and enthusiasts can more easily navigate the world of vaping. Whether discussing gear, techniques, or preferences, having a grasp on the language of vaping ensures clear and precise communication.