Vape Glossary: 25 Common Terms Every Vaper Should Know

Vape Glossary: 25 Common Terms Every Vaper Should Know

If you’ve ever scrolled a vape shop and thought, “What on earth does any of this mean?”, you’re not alone.
This glossary is here to decode the jargon so you can choose your vape with confidence and stop guessing what all those terms on the product pages actually mean.

1. Vape / Vaping

Vaping simply means inhaling an aerosol produced by a vape device instead of smoke from burning tobacco. The device heats e-liquid, turns it into vapor, and you inhale it through a mouthpiece.

2. E-Liquid (Vape Juice)

E-liquid, or vape juice, is the liquid inside your vape. It usually contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavorings, and nicotine (or sometimes 0mg with no nicotine).

3. Nicotine Strength

Nicotine strength is how much nicotine is in your e-liquid, usually shown as a percentage (2%) or mg/ml (20 mg). Picking the right level helps balance cravings, satisfaction, and comfort.

4. Throat Hit

Throat hit is the feeling you get at the back of your throat when you inhale. A stronger throat hit feels closer to smoking; a smoother hit feels gentler and more “cloudy.”

5. Mouth-to-Lung (MTL)

MTL vaping means you draw vapor into your mouth first, then inhale it into your lungs—similar to how most people smoke a traditional cigarette. MTL usually uses tighter airflow and lower vapor output.

6. Direct-to-Lung (DTL / DL)

DTL vaping is when you inhale vapor straight into your lungs, like taking a deep breath. This style usually pairs with bigger clouds, more airflow, and often lower nicotine strengths.

7. Disposable Vape

A disposable vape is a one-piece device that comes pre-filled and pre-charged. You use it until the e-liquid or battery runs out, then replace it with a new one—no refilling, no changing coils.

8. Pod System / Pod Device

A pod system uses small cartridges (pods) that click into a battery. Pods can be pre-filled or refillable, and they’re popular because they’re compact, simple, and easy to carry.

9. Coil

The coil is the heating element inside your vape that turns e-liquid into vapor. Over time, coils wear out, and if you can replace them, you’ll need to change them regularly for good flavor.

10. Ohms (Ω)

Ohms measure the resistance of your coil.

• • • Higher ohms: cooler vape, usually less vapor, great for MTL.
    • Lower ohms: warmer vape, more vapor, often used for DTL.

11. mAh (Battery Capacity)

mAh stands for milliamp-hours and shows how much charge your battery can hold. A higher mAh number usually means longer battery life between charges.

12. Puff Count

Puff count is an estimated number of puffs a disposable vape can provide (e.g., 3,000, 10,000, 20,000 puffs). It’s a rough guideline, not an exact promise, because everyone’s puff style is different.

13. Draw-Activated

A draw-activated device turns on automatically when you inhale. No buttons, no settings—just puff. Most modern disposables and many pods use this style for maximum convenience.

14. Airflow / Airflow Control

Airflow is how much air passes through your device when you inhale. Some vapes include airflow control, letting you adjust it from tight (MTL-style) to loose and airy (DTL-style).

15. PG (Propylene Glycol)

PG is one of the base ingredients in e-liquid. It’s thinner and carries flavor well, and it also helps create a stronger throat hit. High-PG liquids are often used for MTL and higher nicotine strengths.

16. VG (Vegetable Glycerin)

VG is thicker and smoother. It helps produce bigger, denser clouds and a softer throat hit. E-liquids with higher VG are popular with cloud lovers and DTL setups.

17. PG/VG Ratio

The PG/VG ratio shows the balance between PG and VG in your e-liquid (for example 50/50 or 70/30).

• • • More PG = stronger throat hit, clearer flavors.
    • More VG = smoother inhale, bigger clouds.

18. Freebase Nicotine

Freebase nicotine is the “classic” form of nicotine used in many e-liquids. It tends to feel stronger on the throat at higher strengths, so it’s often used at lower mg in higher-power devices.

19. Nicotine Salts (Nic Salts)

Nicotine salts (or nic salts) are a smoother form of nicotine that allow higher strengths with less harshness. They’re commonly used in disposables and MTL pod systems for strong but comfortable satisfaction.

20. Dry Hit

A dry hit happens when there isn’t enough e-liquid on the coil, so it overheats and tastes burnt, harsh, and unpleasant. If this happens, stop puffing and let the coil re-saturate—or replace the device if it’s done.

21. Priming / Primer Puffs

Priming means letting the coil soak in e-liquid before you really start vaping, so you don’t burn it. With some devices, people take a couple of short, gentle “primer puffs” to help get the liquid flowing.

22. Stealth Vaping

Stealth vaping is about keeping things low-key—discreet devices, smaller clouds, and no showy exhale. Many slim disposables and compact pod systems are designed with stealth in mind.

23. Cloud Chasing

Cloud chasing is the opposite of stealth: vapers who enjoy huge, dense clouds and often use powerful devices, low-resistance coils, and lower nicotine e-liquids.

24. Leak-Resistant / Leak-Proof Design

A leak-resistant or leak-proof design focuses on sealing the tank or pod so e-liquid doesn’t escape into your pocket or bag. Many newer disposables and pods highlight this as a key feature.

25. Restricted Direct Lung (RDL / RDLH)

RDL sits between MTL and full DTL. The draw is a bit tighter than classic DTL but more open than MTL. It’s for people who want a direct lung inhale, but with a bit more resistance and control.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to memorize all of this overnight. Keep this glossary handy, and the next time you’re browsing BarVapePro for your next disposable or pod device, these terms will help you understand exactly what you’re buying and why it fits your style.