Terminology Explained

There is no shortage of slang terms for smoking and cigarettes – fags, dog ends, tabs, having a drag – so it is no surprise that electronic cigarettes have acquired their own slang and specialist terms, even in the relatively short time since they were invented.

Analog/analogue cigarettes

Traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Atomiser

This is the ignition chamber of the electronic cigarette, the heating element that heats the nicotine liquid and creates the vapour.

Cartridge

Also known as ‘tips’, these contain the liquid nicotine which is heated by the atomizer.

Dipping/ dripping

The practice of dipping your atomizer into liquid nicotine before smoking an electronic cigarette – or of dripping a little nicotine onto it.

Dry smoking

Accidentally inhaling when the atomizer has been flooded with liquid nicotine and so isn’t emitting vapour.

Starter kits

These contain everything you need to start smoking e-cigarettes, including the electronic cigarette itself, batteries, atomisers, chargers, and nicotine cartridges in varying strengths.

E-Juice

The liquid nicotine solution used in electronic cigarettes, also known as e-liquid.

Flooding

If too much liquid nicotine gets into the atomizer it can spill out.

LED

Short for ‘light-emitting diode’, these lights are used on many electronic devices and on e-cigarettes indicate the state of the battery.

Mod

Short for ‘modified’, mods are custom alterations to electronic cigarette components to increase vapour emission, battery life or ease of use.

Mouthpiece

The electronic cigarette equivalent of a cigarette butt.

Propylene glycol

A harmless, colourless liquid which is the primary constituent of the liquid in most brands of electronic cigarette cartridge.

Personal vaporizer

An alternative, less commonly used term for electronic cigarette.

Smoke-juice

Another, less formal term for e-juice or e-liquid.

Throat kick

Also known as the throat hit, this is the back-of-the-throat sensation experienced when smoking, and a subjective measure of the pleasure or strength of a particular brand.

Topping (off)

This means adding more e-juice to a cartridge.

Wick

A small piece of fabric which holds the liquid in a cartridge.

Vape

To smoke an electronic cigarette, from ‘vapour’).

Vaper

Someone who smokes electronic cigarettes.

Vaping

The practice of smoking electronic cigarettes.

Vegetable glyrcerin

An alternative to propylene glycol, also colourless and odourless but with a much sweeter flavor.