It’s no secret that for new crossfitters, reading the workout of the day (WOD) can look like complete jargon or a different language. With acronyms, abbreviations, and words that can mean different things based on context. The terminology can be one of the biggest barriers of entry when getting into Crossfit. So to make it easier, I’ve put together a Crossfit Terms, Lingo, & Vocabulary – Quick Guide to make the transition easier and have you speaking the lingo like a grizzled veteran.
Crossfit Terms, Lingo, & Vocabulary – Quick Guide
Box – Instead of “gyms” crossfit has “boxes”. Although this term has become used less and less over the years. Most people now call it their “Affiliate”, as in their “Crossfit Affiliate.”
WOD – Acronym for “Work Out of the Day”. Which is the work out you will be doing that day.
For Time – Doing a workout for total time.
For Reps – Doing a workout for max reps in an amount of time.
Rep – Is short for repetition.
EMOM – Stand for “Every Minute On the Minute”. This will typically be followed by an amount of time the work out will be done for.
E2MOM – Means “Every 2 Minutes On the Minute.” This can be E4MOM, E5MOM etc.
MetCon – Short for metabolic conditioning, in Crossfit it’s typically used to describe a short intense workout or WOD.
TABATA – Is an interval workout format consisting of 8 rounds of 2 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest. Totaling 4 minutes (3:50 if you want to get technical).
RX – Doing the workout movement and weights as described in the workout.
Scaled – Doing a less complex movement or less weight than the workout calls for.
PR – Personal Record or Personal Best.
Strict – Doing a movement in a controlled manager, not using momentum or your body to help in the movement. You will hear this referenced in strict pull ups, strict handstand stand pushups, etc.
Kipping – Using your body to generate momentum and help perform the movement easier and faster. Think Kipping Pullups and Kipping handstand pushups.
Chipper – Is a workout that consists of typically 5 or more movements done in succession. “Chipper” refers to chipping your way through each movement in the workout.
Hook Grip – A way of gripping the barbell when you bring your bringer over thar and over the thumb, which is folder under. This locks in your grip stronger than a standard grip.
Hero WOD – Specific workouts typically dedicated to service members who have fallen in the line of duty.
MURPH – The most famous Hero WOD, Murph is typically done every memorial day weekend at every Crossfit affiliate around the world. And has expanded beyond Crossfit, with people outside of the community doing it in honor of fallen veterans. Read all about the Murph workout here.
The Girls – Classic set of Crossfit workouts each with a woman’s name.
KB – Means “Kettle Bell”.
Russian KettleBell Swing – Performing a kettlebell swing where the kettlebell goes just past eye level.
American Kettlebell Swing – Performing a kettlebell swing where the kettlebell goes to a lockout position above the head.
HRPUs – Stands for “Hand Release Push Ups”.
Ground to Overhead – Short for taking the weight from the ground to overhead in a full extension. The method of getting the weight there is up to lifters, and can be a snatch or clean & jerk.
GTOH – Means “Ground To OverHead”.
Shoulders to Overhead – Taking the weight from your shoulder to overhead in a fully extended position. This is mainly in reference to the athlete not having to take the weight to the floor between reps. You can, but that takes more time.
S2O – Means “Shoulders to OverHead
C&J – Stand for “Clean and Jerk”.
Chest to Bar – Referring to pull ups where you get your chest to actually touch the bar at the top of the motion.
C2B – Means “Chest to Bar” pullups.
Butterfly Pullups – Using a rounding style kipping technique to perform pull ups quickly.
Single Unders – Jumping rope where the rope passes under your feet once each jump.
Double Unders – Jumping rope where the rope passes under your feet twice each jump.
DUs – Means “Double Unders”
Single Unders – Jumping rope where the rope passes under your feet three times each jump.
HandStand Push Ups – Leaning against the wall with your arms straight, you will lower your body until the top of your head touches the ground. Then push yourself back up.
HSPU – Means “HandStand Push Ups”
Toes to Bar – Hanging from the pullup bar, bring your feet up until your toes touch the bar.
T2B – Means “Toes to Bar”
TTB – Means “Toes to Bar”.
Knees to Elbows – Hanging from the pullup bar, bring your knees to your elbows.
K2E – Stands for “Knees to Elbows”.
Muscle Up – Going from a full hand to locked out position on top of the bar or rings.
MUs – Stands for “Muscle Ups”.
Ring Muscle Ups – Muscle Ups performed on rings.
Bar Muscle Ups – Muscle Ups performed on a pullup bar.
Overhead Squat – Squatting with the barbell above your head.
OHS – Stands for “OverHead Squat”.
GHD – Stands for the Glute Hamstring Developer machine. Most often used for “GHD” situps.
GHD Sit Ups – Sit Ups in the GHD machine where you lower your hands to touch the grounds then back to the top of the machine for a full sit up motion.
Wrapping Up Crossfit Terms & Lingo
I’m sure I missed a few of the top Crossfit Terms and Ligo. As you can tell, there are a ton. But please let me know what ones need to be added in the comments below. And I’ll make sure to update the list every few months!