We get it. Getting started in CrossFit and the functional fitness community can be daunting.

You need to find the right gym. Get some good equipment. And find the motivation to get after it.

But once you've done all of those things and you find yourself at the gym, then you have to speak the language.

CrossFit comes with a lot of terms, workout styles, lifts, and more (like, what in the world is a POOD? Check out the last one for the answer.)*

Because of that, we've compiled a list of the most commonly used CrossFit terms to help you better stay on top of your game as you take on your next WOD (#1 on this list).

The list is broken down into: WOD styles, lifts, gymnastics, and miscellaneous.

NOTE: some terms do vary from gym to gym, but this list has the most commonly used vernacular.

*Check out the last term in Miscellaneous category*

WOD (Workout Of the Day)

The workout done at your box that day, which can include a multitude of exercises and movements.

AMRAP (As Many Reps A Possible)

This term refers to a workout that involves a set number of reps and a time to do those reps. Ideally, you will record this score by counting the total number of reps accomplished in the allotted time.

EMOM (Every Minute On the Minute)

You will do the prescribed movement(s) at the top of each minute, if you have time left in the minute use it as rest time until the next minute.

METCON (Metabolic Conditioning)

A type of workout that is shorter and of a higher intensity meant to train your cardiovascular capacity and rev up your metabolism.

Max Effort (ME)

Do the workout (reps/movements) at the highest intensity possible

TABATA

Workout where you will perform 4 movements. Each movement will be done for 0:20 then rest/transition for 0:10 back and forth for 32 total rounds or 8 sets of each movement.

GIRLS

Benchmark workouts designed to test your fitness and progress over time, named after females such as: Fran, Mary, Nancy, etc.

Examples: 15 “Girl” and “Hero” WOD’s that you can do at home with little or no modification

HEROES

Benchmark workouts dedicated to law enforcement officers, soldiers, firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Example: 15 “Girl” and “Hero” WOD’s that you can do at home with little or no modification

Body Weight (BW)

This is often used to describe a workout style or weight measurement in a workout

RX

Doing a workout at prescribed- No changing of assigned weights, reps or movements.

Scaled

Scaling the WOD to your skill set. This can involve changing weights, reps schemes or altering movements.

Back Squat (BS)

Refers to the lifting movement of the barbell placed on the back of the athlete, usually around the upper trap area.

Bench Press (BP)

This refers to the lifting movement where the athlete will lay flat, or with a slight arch in their back on a flat surface referred to as a bench, and will then proceed to have a barbell above them, un-rack the barbell, bring the barbell to their chest and press the bar up to full lockout

Clean and Jerk (C&J)

This refers to the olympic weight lifting movement where the bar is lifted from ground to overhead in two movements.

KettleBell Swing (KBS)

A hinging motion with the kettlebell where you bring the kettlebell from the hip position to eye level or overhead

Clean (CLN)

Olympic weight lifting movement where the barbell starts on the ground and it brought to a front rack position

Military Press (MP)

A strict pressing movement where the bar is pressed overhead from a front rack position without the assistance of legs.

Deadlift (DL)

A hinging movement that involves engaging the entire body to lift a weight from the floor to full lockout

Front Squat (FS)

A squat where the barbell is placed on the front side of your shoulders

Overhead Squat (OHS)

A squat where the barbell is held overhead in a wide grip, similar to your snatch grip, and then you squat with the barbell staying overhead.

Power Clean (PC)

A weightlifting exercise where the barbell is brought from ground to a front rack position without the lifter needing to squat to support the weight.

Push Press (PP)

Similar to the military press, this movement involves pressing a barbell from the front rack to overhead while using the strength and momentum of your legs. Your legs will bend and extend fully to help get the barbell from shoulders to overhead.  

Snatch (SN)

A weightlifting movement that involves lifting the barbell from ground to overhead in one motion.

Power Snatch (PSN)

A weightlifting movement that involves lifting the barbell from ground to overhead in one motion without squatting to get under the barbell.

Squat (SQ)

An exercise that involves the athlete lowering their hips to below their hip crease and then standing back up.

Turkish Getup (TGU)

A kettlebell movement that combines the lunge, bridge, and side plank positions.

THRUSTERS

This exercise combines a front squat and push press.

MUSCLE UP (MU)

High skilled gymnastics movement that involves

BAR MUSCLE UP (BMU)

A high skilled gymnastics movement that involves

Chest to Bar (C2B)

Strict or kipping movement where the athlete begins with a pull-up motion where the bar reaches anywhere from below the clavicle to the diaphragm

Hand release push-up (HRPU)

A push-up where when your chest hits the floor you raise your hands up off the floor then press them down and complete another pushup.

handstand push-up (HSPU)

Strict or kipping movement where the athlete goes into a handstand with back facing the wall and then lower the body down this arms bent until head touches the floor and then extend fully back into the first position.

knees to elbows (K2E)

Strict or kipping core movement where the athlete hangs from the bar fully extended then lifts legs up until knees reach elbows

PISTOLS

A single leg squat

Pull-up (PU)

Strict or kipping movement where the athlete pulls their bodyweight up from a hanging position until the chin is over the bar.

Double under (DU)

A jump rope movement where the athlete makes two rotations of the rope for every jump.

single under (SU)

Jumping rope

Toes to Bar (T2B)

Strict or kipping core movement where an Athlete will hang from the bar fully extended and then bring the legs all the way up into the bar until toes make contact with the bar.

KIPPING

The motions where an athlete uses their body weight to help them complete movements more efficiently.

Wall Ball (WB)

A movement where an athlete takes a weighted ball up at eye level, squats with the ball then throws the ball up to a specified target.

Burpee Box Jump Over (BBJO)

A movement where an athlete will complete a burpee, then proceed to jump up onto or over a box at a specified height and go back and forth completing a burpee and a box jump until reps are completed.

The Games

The highest level of competition for a CrossFit athlete. The test of fitness for elite CrossFit competitors.

Box

This refers to the gym space where you do your CrossFit workouts.

Usage example: “ Hey! Will you be visiting any local boxes while you’re out of town to get a workout in?”

GLOBO GYM

A Larger gym that is not olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, or CrossFit specific

Firebreather 

An extremely fit athlete

Paleo

A diet that consists of foods meant to mirror those eaten during the Paleolithic era.

Rhabdo (Rhabdomyolysis)

Exercising to the point where your muscles are so overworked that their cell contents are released into the blood stream

POOD (pūd)

A unit of weight measurement for kettlebells. One pood is equivalent to 35 pounds. 2POOD is a 70 pound kettlebell. When CrossFit first started, the RX weight for kettlebell swings was "2POOD".

We hope this list helps you feel more confident as you take on your fitness journey! If you’d like to read more on weightlifting and CrossFit related topics check out: 5 Common Myths about Wearing a Weightlifting Belt