CrossFit Terms & Abbreviations Explained
72 CrossFit terms, from AMRAP to WOD, grouped by workout formats, scoring, gymnastics, barbell, conditioning and competition.
Your first class whiteboard reads "AMRAP 12: 10 T2B, 15 KBS, 200 m run. Rx 24 kg." Everyone nods. You don't. This glossary fixes that. It covers 72 of the most common CrossFit terms and abbreviations, grouped so you can find them fast, with links to deeper RBST guides.
The Quick Answer
Most CrossFit terms describe either the workout format (AMRAP, EMOM, For Time), the score (Rx, scaled, PR) or the movement (T2B, C2B, HSPU, DU). Learn the formats first, then the movement shorthand, and the whiteboard becomes easy to read.
Glossary sections
Workout formats
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| WOD | Workout of the Day. The main session your gym programs for the day. |
| AMRAP | As Many Rounds (or Reps) As Possible in a set time. Your score is rounds plus extra reps. |
| EMOM | Every Minute On the Minute. Start a set of work at the top of each minute and rest for whatever time is left. |
| E2MOM / E3MOM | Every 2 or 3 minutes on the minute. Same idea as an EMOM, with longer intervals for heavier or longer sets. |
| For Time | Finish the prescribed work as fast as you can. Your score is the finishing time. |
| RFT | Rounds For Time. Complete a set number of rounds as fast as possible. |
| Chipper | A long list of movements done once through, "chipping away" at big rep counts. |
| Couplet / Triplet | A workout built from two or three movements repeated across rounds. |
| Tabata | Eight rounds of 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest, for 4 minutes total. |
| Ladder | Reps climb (or drop) each round, such as 1-2-3-4-5 or 21-15-9. |
| Death By | An EMOM where you add one rep every minute until you can't finish the reps inside the minute. |
| Time Cap | The maximum time allowed for a workout. If you don't finish, your score is the reps you completed. |
| Hero WOD | A workout named in honor of a fallen service member or first responder, usually long and hard. |
| Benchmark (The Girls) | Classic named workouts such as Fran, Grace, Helen and Cindy that athletes repeat to measure progress. |
| Metcon | Metabolic conditioning. A mixed workout designed to keep your heart rate high. |
| Partner WOD | A workout split between two or more athletes, often with shared reps or "you go, I go" rounds. |
| Buy-in / Cash-out | Work done at the very start (buy-in) or very end (cash-out) of a workout. |
Scoring and scaling
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rx | "As prescribed." You did the workout with the listed weights, standards and movements. |
| Rx+ | Harder than prescribed, such as heavier loads or tougher movement versions. |
| Scaled | A modified version of the workout, with lighter loads, fewer reps or easier movements, so you get the intended stimulus. |
| Stimulus | The feeling and intensity a workout is meant to create, such as fast and sprint-like or long and steady. |
| PR | Personal Record. Your best ever result for a lift or workout. |
| 1RM | One-rep max. The heaviest weight you can lift once with good form. Try our 1RM calculator. |
| Unbroken | Completing a set without putting the bar down or coming off the rig. |
| No rep | A rep that doesn't meet the movement standard and doesn't count. |
| Box | A CrossFit gym. |
Gymnastics and bodyweight
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kip | A swinging hip drive used to make pull-ups, toes-to-bar and muscle-ups more efficient. See kipping vs butterfly grip width. |
| Butterfly pull-up | A fast, circular pull-up style used for high-rep sets. |
| Strict | A movement done with no kip or momentum, such as strict pull-ups or strict handstand push-ups. |
| C2B | Chest-to-bar pull-up. Your chest must touch the bar at the top. |
| T2B | Toes-to-bar. Hang from the bar and bring both feet up to touch it. |
| K2E | Knees-to-elbows. Like toes-to-bar, but the knees touch the elbows. |
| HSPU | Handstand push-up, done strict or kipping against a wall. |
| HSW | Handstand walk. |
| MU / BMU / RMU | Muscle-up, bar muscle-up and ring muscle-up. You pull from a hang into support above the bar or rings. |
| Hollow / Arch | The two body positions of the kip swing. Hollow is ribs down and legs forward, arch is chest through and legs back. |
| Rope climb | Climbing a rope using your hands and a foot lock, such as the J-hook or S-wrap. |
| Pistol | A single-leg squat with the other leg held out in front. |
| Burpee | A drop to the floor, chest down, then a stand and jump with a clap overhead. |
| BBJO / BJO | Burpee box jump-over and box jump-over. |
| DU | Double under. The jump rope passes under your feet twice per jump. See our jump rope WODs. |
Weightlifting and barbell
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Snatch | Barbell lifted from the floor to overhead in one movement. |
| Clean and Jerk | The bar is cleaned to the shoulders, then driven overhead. |
| Power vs Squat | A "power" catch is above parallel. A "squat" catch is below parallel. |
| Hang | The lift starts with the bar above the knees instead of on the floor. |
| Thruster | A front squat that drives straight into an overhead press. |
| Front rack | The position of the bar resting on the front of the shoulders, with elbows up. |
| OHS | Overhead squat. |
| Push press / Push jerk | Overhead lifts that use a leg dip and drive. The jerk adds a re-dip under the bar. |
| DL / SDHP | Deadlift and sumo deadlift high pull. |
| Hook grip | Thumb wrapped around the bar and held under the fingers, common in Olympic lifting. |
| Percentage work | Loads written as a percentage of your 1RM, such as 5 x 3 at 75%. |
| Tempo | A rep speed code, such as 3-1-1-0 for the lowering, bottom pause, lifting and top pause. |
Conditioning and equipment
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cal | Calories on a rower, bike or ski erg, used as the work target. Compare machines with our cardio conversion calculator. |
| Assault / Echo bike | Fan bikes that use your arms and legs. Air resistance rises the harder you push. |
| Ski erg | A standing machine where you pull handles down, like double-pole skiing. |
| KBS / AKBS | Kettlebell swing. "American" swings go overhead, "Russian" swings stop at eye level. |
| DB | Dumbbell. |
| GHD | Glute-ham developer, a bench used for sit-ups and back extensions. |
| Wall ball | A medicine ball squatted and thrown to a target on the wall. |
| Rig | The steel frame of pull-up bars and racks in a gym. |
| Grips | Hand protection for bar work that reduces friction on the palms. See the best CrossFit grips guide. |
| Knee sleeves | Neoprene sleeves worn on the knees for warmth and compression during squats. See how to size knee sleeves. |
| Wrist wraps | Wraps worn around the wrist for support in pressing and front-rack work. |
| Lifting belt | A belt worn around the waist to help you brace on heavy lifts. See the best lifting belts for CrossFit. |
Competition and community
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The Open | The online stage of the CrossFit Games season, open to anyone, with workouts released each week. |
| Games | The CrossFit Games, the sport's top competition. |
| Masters / Teens | Age-group divisions in competition. |
| Judge | The person who counts your reps and calls no reps during a competition. |
| HYROX | A fitness race of eight 1 km runs, each followed by a functional workout station. See CrossFit vs HYROX. |
| Rip | A tear in the callus or skin of the palm from bar work. See how to prevent ripped hands. |
| Coach / L1 | CrossFit coaches often hold a Level 1 (L1) or higher training certificate. |
How to Read a CrossFit Whiteboard
Find the format first: AMRAP, EMOM, For Time or a ladder. That tells you how the clock works and how you'll be scored.
Read the movements and the reps. Decode the shorthand with the tables above.
Check the loads. Rx weights are often listed as men's and women's loads, such as 43/30 kg.
Ask your coach for the intended stimulus, then scale so you can hit it.
Write your score the way the board asks for it: a time, rounds plus reps, or a load.
Decoding a Real Workout
"5 RFT: 10 C2B, 15 AKBS (24/16 kg), 20 cal row. 20 min cap." means: five rounds as fast as possible, each with 10 chest-to-bar pull-ups, 15 overhead kettlebell swings at 24 kg for men or 16 kg for women, and 20 calories on the rower. If you're still working at 20 minutes, your score is the reps you've completed.
Workouts like this are hard on the hands. If you're new to high-rep bar work, read how to size gymnastics grips and use our Fit Finder to pick a size.
Gear Terms You'll Hear in Class
Grips
The IRON CLAW is a fingerless silicone grip for everyday bar work. The IRON X uses natural rubber with a Kevlar backing. Shop grips
Speed rope
The STINGER and STINGER-X are speed ropes for double unders. Rope guide
Knee sleeves
Neoprene sleeves for squat-heavy days, sized by knee measurement. Size guide
Honey Badger Don't Care. Learn the language, then go chase the PR.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WOD stand for?
WOD means Workout of the Day, the main workout your gym programs for that day.
What is the difference between AMRAP and EMOM?
In an AMRAP you do as many rounds or reps as possible in a set time. In an EMOM you start a set amount of work at the top of every minute and rest for the time left.
What does Rx mean in CrossFit?
Rx means as prescribed: you did the workout with the listed weights, movements and standards.
Is scaling a workout bad?
No. Scaling means adjusting loads, reps or movements so you get the intended stimulus. Most athletes scale some workouts.
What does T2B mean?
T2B is toes-to-bar. You hang from a pull-up bar and bring both feet up to touch it.
What does C2B mean?
C2B is a chest-to-bar pull-up, where your chest must touch the bar at the top of each rep.
What is a chipper workout?
A chipper is a long list of movements with big rep counts, done once through, chipping away until you finish.
What is a Hero WOD?
A Hero WOD is a workout named to honor a fallen service member or first responder. They're usually long and demanding.
What are the Girls in CrossFit?
The Girls are classic benchmark workouts with women's names, such as Fran, Grace, Helen and Cindy, used to track progress over time.
What is a box in CrossFit?
A box is what CrossFit athletes call their gym.
What does DU mean?
DU stands for double under: the jump rope passes under your feet twice in one jump.
What is a time cap?
A time cap is the maximum time allowed for a workout. If you don't finish, you're scored on the reps you completed.
What is a metcon?
Metcon is short for metabolic conditioning, a mixed workout meant to keep your heart rate high.
What is the CrossFit Open?
The Open is the online stage of the CrossFit Games season. Anyone can sign up, and a new workout is released each week.
