If you’re new to the gym, terms like AMRAPs, supersets, and selectorized machines might seem like a foreign language. But don’t worry! We’re here to help translate gym-speak for you. Below is a list of common gym terms and gym phrases you might hear during your next workout.
AMRAP: As many reps as possible; usually done in a set amount of time before fully resting
BMR: Basal metabolic rate: the amount of energy (calories) used by the body at rest; doesn’t take into consideration activity or workouts
Body Composition: The breakdown of lean mass (muscle, organs, bones, and water) compared to fat, usually read as percent body fat
Bulking: Eating and training in a way that promotes muscle growth
Cardio: Any sustained cyclical activity that elevates the heart rate for at least 10 minutes including walking, jogging, running, the elliptical, and stairs
Circuit: Completing three or more exercises in a row before repeating any of them
Compound Exercise: Exercises that use more than one joint and multiple muscle groups
Core: The torso excluding the arms, legs and head
DOMS: Delayed onset muscle soreness; caused by tiny tears in the muscle after a hard workout that can be alleviated with lighter movement through full ranges of motion
Free Weights: Weights held in the hands or placed on the body that do not have any fixed attachments such as kettlebells, dumbbells, and barbells
Functional Training: A style of training that helps a person’s day-to-day activities, like carrying groceries, picking up kids, or taking a jump shot
Group Fitness: Large group workouts with a single instructor teaching from the front of the room with movements usually choreographed to music
Guns/Pipes/Pythons: Strong-looking arms
HIIT: High-intensity interval training; short bursts of work followed by a longer rest period, usually based on heart rate response
Intervals: Time periods of work and rest typically using cardio machines (example: 30 seconds of running followed by 30 seconds of rest)
Invisible Lat Syndrome: Walking around with the arms slightly pulled off the body and a proud chest as if the lats (muscles under the arms) were extremely large
Isolation Exercise: Exercises that use one joint and a single muscle group
Powerlifting: The barbell sport that includes the three lifts, deadlift, bench press, and squat
“PR or ER”: A phrase yelled by gym bros attempting to a lift a weight that will be a personal record (PR); if the rep is failed, they jokingly say they will end up in the emergency room
Pump: The feeling after completing a hard set in which a lot of blood has accumulated in the worked muscle
Quads/Hams: Strong-looking upper legs
Rep: A full action of lowering and raising a weight; multiple reps equal a set
Selectorized Machines: Machines that use a pin to select the amount of weight that will be used
Set: Multiple reps of a movement that equal 1 unit of work (example: 10 reps of a bicep curl could equal one set)
Shredded/Ripped: Low body fat percentage so muscles are extremely visible; however, not usually a good indicator of overall health
Superset: Two exercises done back-to-back using opposing muscle groups followed by a period of rest
Swole: The feeling after completing a hard set in which a lot of blood has accumulated in the worked muscle
TRX: Total-body resistance training; usually refers to the suspension trainer with two straps and allows the user to manipulate their bodyweight to complete a wide variety of exercises
Warm Up: A series of movements and exercises that prepare the body to work out
Weightlifting: The Olympic sport that includes the two lifts, clean & jerk, and the snatch
Wheel: A 45-pound plate
