What’s in a ‘Nic’ Name? A Guide to Tobacco and Nicotine Slang Names
Dipping. Dripping. Taking a drag or taking a draw. Tailpipes and tanks. It can be hard to keep track of the endless, ever-evolving list of slang for tobacco, but it’s important — and this guide can help you stay informed. Below, we’ve categorized various nicotine slang names by product type. Feel free to bookmark this page for future reference!
Vaping and E-Cigarette Slang
With the semi-recent surge of vapes and e-cigarettes came a slew of new nicotine slang names as well. This list of slang words for vapes isn’t exhaustive by any means, but it’s a great place to start!
- ADV (noun): An acronym that stands for “all day vape,” or a flavor that one can vape all day without getting sick of it.
- APV/PV (noun): An acronym that stands for “advanced personal vaporizer.”
- Atty (noun): Short for atomizer, which is a key component of an e-cigarette that converts the e-liquid to vapor.
- Batt (noun): A slang term that’s short for battery.
- Blanks (noun): A slang term for empty disposable vapes.
- Blowing O’s (verb): A slang term for a specific vape trick.
- Body (noun): The part of the vape that the pod goes into.
- Cart (noun): A slang term that’s short for a flavored cartridge.
- Chiefing (verb): A slang term for consistently using someone else’s vape.
- Cloud (noun): Vapor produced by an e-cigarette or vape.
- Cloud Chasing (verb): An attempt to exhale the biggest vapor cloud possible.
- Coil (noun): A part of the atomizer that heats the e-liquid.
- Disposable (noun): Slang for disposable vapes.
- Draw (noun or verb): The vaping equivalent of the term “drag” that’s used with standard cigarettes.
- Dripping (verb): The process of manually applying e-cigarette liquid onto the coil before taking a puff, which enhances the flavor and intensifies the sensation.
- E-cig (noun): A shortened term for E-Cigarette.
- E-Hookah (noun): An electronic hookah pen that uses a vape atomizer and usually a small lithium battery to heat up e-liquid and produce vapor.
- E-Juice (noun): Liquid that is converted to aerosol by an e-cigarette or vaping device, which is typically flavored.
Synonyms: E-Liquid, Juice, Vape Juice, Sauce - Flooding (verb): A phenomenon that occurs when too much liquid reaches the atomizer.
- Hit (verb): A slang term for using a vape. Can be used as “can I hit that” or “I only hit it once.”
Synonyms: Puff, Ripping it - JUULing (verb): The act of using a JUUL device, a popular and highly concentrated nicotine vaporizer.
- Kick (noun): A term that describes the throat sensations experienced while vaping.
- Mod (noun): A term that’s short for “modification,” or a modified e-cigarette. A “box mod” refers to an extension of a mod or modification.
- Nic (noun): A slang term that’s short for “nicotine.”
- Nic Sick (noun): A term for nicotine associated illness. Symptoms include heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting or lightheadedness.
- Pod (noun): A non-reusable pre-filled container of vape juice that snaps or slides into a device.
- Puff Bar (noun): A disposable vaping product that comes in a variety of flavors.
- Puff (verb): A slang term for using a vape. Can be used as “can I have a puff.”
- Smart Vape (noun): A new type of vape that has games on its body for the user to play.
- Steeping (verb): The process of allowing e-liquid ingredients to settle through air exposure.
- Tailpipe (noun): A technique where one directly drips and inhales from an atomizer without a mouthpiece.
- Tank (noun): The top portion of a box mod or refillable pen that holds the e-liquid.
- Vape-pen (noun): Another term for vape, usually used by older generations.
- Vape Tricks (noun): Blowing large amounts of exhaled aerosol or shapes such as rings.
- Vusing (verb): Using a Vuse brand vape.
Cigarette Slang
Although plenty of new nicotine products have hit the market in recent years, standard cigarettes have stuck around. Here are a few cigarette slang terms that specifically refer to smoking.
- Ace (verb): To give another person some tobacco or a cigarette.
- Bone (noun): A slang name for a cigarette.
- Buzz (noun): The high experienced from nicotine use.
- Cig (noun): A slang term that’s short for “cigarette.”
- Coffin nail (noun): A term that refers to the potentially fatal side effects of smoking cigarettes.
- Drag (noun): A puff of smoke inhaled from a lit cigarette.
Synonym: Draw - Light (noun): A slang term for borrowing a lighter.
- Light Up (verb): To smoke a cigarette.
- Loosey (noun): A slang term for a single cigarette.
- Rollie (noun): Slang for a self-rolled cigarette.
Smokeless Tobacco Slang
Even if you’re up to snuff on slang names for smokeless tobacco, it won’t hurt to brush up on the terminology below! This is especially true given the fact that there are several new smokeless products on the scene … which means there are plenty of new nicotine slang names as well.
Slang Words for Chewing Tobacco
- Chew (noun): A slang term that’s short for “chewing tobacco.”
Synonym: Spit - Cope (noun): A slang term that’s short for Copenhagen, a popular brand of dip.
- Dip/Dipping (noun or verb): A common term for moist snuff placed between the gum and the upper lip.
- Lip/Lipper (noun): A term that refers to a pinch of smokeless tobacco placed in the lip.
- Pinch (noun): The amount of smokeless tobacco taken at a time.
- Snuff (noun): Finely ground tobacco that can be dry or moist and is either sniffed or placed in the mouth.
- Spitter (noun): A cup, bottle or other container for spitting out the juice from smokeless tobacco.
Synonyms: Spit cup, Chew cup
Slang Words for Nicotine Pouches
- Lip Pillow (noun): A slang term for a Zyn, ON! or any other type of nicotine pouch.
Synonym: Lip cushies - Pack/Packing (noun or verb): A common term for the act of using a nicotine pouch.
- Upper Decky/Decker (noun): A slang term for a Zyn pouch.
Synonym: Lower decky/decker - Zyn (noun): A popular brand of nicotine pouch that’s placed against the gum. Nicknames include: Zynbabwe and Zynachinos
- Zyner (noun): A person who uses Zyn or another type of nicotine pouch.
- Zyning (verb): The action of using a Zyn or another type of nicotine pouch.
Slang Words for Hookah
- Clouds (noun): A common term for hookah smoke.
- Flavor Ghosting (noun): Slang for a mild or non-existent hookah flavor.
- Hubble-Bubble/Hubbly-Bubbly (noun): A nickname for hookah.
- Hose (noun): One of the main parts of a hookah device.
- Pack (noun): A term for prepping hookah.
Join the Fight Against Nicotine Addiction
Even though some of these slang words for tobacco sound harmless or even silly, it’s important to recognize them so you can protect the ones you love from nicotine addiction, which can be absolutely crippling. Decoding the countless nicotine slang names may still throw you for a loop from time to time, but hopefully it feels less intimidating than before with this resource! For even more information on tobacco slang, check out this chart. To take a stand against tobacco in your community, visit our Get Involved page!