Ever overheard a group of vapers chatting and thought, “What on earth is a squonk mod?” or “What does sub-ohm even mean?” You’re not alone. Vape culture has its own language — and if you’re new to the scene (or just made the switch from disposables), it can feel like trying to decode a secret message.
The good news? It’s not nearly as complicated as it sounds. As someone who’s worked in the vape industry for years, I’ve heard it all — and today, I’m breaking down some of the most common vape slang so you can talk the talk and shop with confidence.
💨 Clouds
What it means:
Refers to the vapour you exhale when vaping.
Used in a sentence:
“This juice chucks clouds!”
Translation:
It produces a lot of vapour — usually thanks to a high-VG e-liquid and a powerful sub-ohm device.
Cloud chasing is a whole subculture of vapers who aim to produce the biggest, densest clouds possible.
🔧 Mods
What it means:
Short for modified device. Refers to any vape that’s not a simple pen or pod — usually bulkier, more powerful, and customisable.
Types include:
- Box Mods – high-power, with screens and variable wattage
- Mech Mods – unregulated (for advanced users only)
- Squonk Mods – mods with a squeezable bottle to feed e-liquid to the atomiser
Used in a sentence:
“I’m running a dual-battery mod with a rebuildable tank.”
🌀 Coils
What it means:
The metal heating element inside your vape that vaporises your e-liquid.
Used in a sentence:
“I need to swap my coil — it’s tasting burnt.”
Coils need to be changed regularly (every 1–2 weeks for most people), especially when flavour drops or you get that dreaded burnt taste.
🔥 Burnt Hits
What it means:
When your coil gets too hot or runs dry, producing a burnt, harsh taste.
Used in a sentence:
“Took a hit too soon and it was straight burnt!”
How to avoid it:
- Prime new coils properly
- Don’t chain vape
- Make sure your tank or pod has enough juice
🧪 PG / VG
What it means:
These are the two main base liquids in e-liquid.
- PG (Propylene Glycol) – stronger throat hit, carries flavour
- VG (Vegetable Glycerine) – smoother inhale, bigger clouds
Used in a sentence:
“I prefer 70/30 VG/PG — smoother and more vapour.”
👉 Read our guide to what’s in e-liquid
⛽ Nic Salts
What it means:
Short for nicotine salts — a form of nicotine that’s smoother and faster-acting than regular (freebase) nicotine.
Used in a sentence:
“I switched to nic salts — 10mg is enough for me now.”
Nic salts are ideal for new vapers and ex-smokers looking for that quick, satisfying hit without the harshness.
🚿 Dripping / Drippers / RDAs
What it means:
Dripping is the practice of manually dripping e-liquid onto a coil, often used with an RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser).
Used in a sentence:
“Dripping gives me the best flavour, but it’s not great on the go.”
This is mostly for advanced users who want maximum flavour — but it requires more effort than tanks or pods.
🔩 Ohms / Sub-Ohm
What it means:
An ohm is a measure of resistance in your coil. Sub-ohm means below 1.0Ω, and it allows for higher power, bigger clouds, and more flavour.
Used in a sentence:
“I’m running a 0.2 ohm mesh coil at 60 watts — flavour’s banging.”
Sub-ohm setups are great for cloud chasing, but not ideal for high-nicotine salts — stick to low strengths like 3mg or 6mg.
🍬 All-Day Vape (ADV)
What it means:
A flavour you enjoy enough to vape all day without getting sick of it.
Used in a sentence:
“Riot Bar Edtn Lil-Tropic is my new ADV — can’t put it down.”
Everyone’s ADV is different — it might be fruity, dessert-y, or something menthol to keep things fresh.
🛠️ DIY / Rebuildables
What it means:
Making your own coils, wicks, or mixing e-liquids from scratch.
Types of rebuildables include:
- RDA – Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser
- RTA – Rebuildable Tank Atomiser
- RDTA – Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomiser
Used in a sentence:
“I’ve started building my own coils — saves loads in the long run.”
DIY isn’t for everyone, but it’s a hobby for many and offers ultimate control over your vape experience.
⚡ Throat Hit
What it means:
The sensation at the back of your throat when you inhale vapour — similar to the feeling from smoking.
Used in a sentence:
“I prefer more throat hit — 12mg freebase does the trick.”
Nic salts = smoother
Freebase = more punch
Vape slang can be a bit of a maze at first, but once you learn the lingo, it opens up a whole world of options — and confidence. Whether you’re asking for a pod kit that works with 20mg nic salts, or just want to find a good all-day vape, knowing the terms makes all the difference.
Still confused about something? Don’t be shy — pop into the shop or drop me a message. We’ll happily translate vape speak into plain English, no judgement here.