Vaping Glossary

Vaping has its own vocabulary, and it can be a lot to take in at first. Here at Pirate Vapes we've pulled together the terms you'll come across most often, from the everyday basics to the more advanced hardware, all explained in plain English. For a fuller walkthrough of how it fits together, see our Vape Guide.

510 thread. The standard screw connection between a tank or atomiser and a mod, used across most vape hardware. If a tank is described as "510", it fits any 510 mod.

Airflow. How much air is drawn through the device as you inhale. More airflow gives an airier draw and bigger clouds; less airflow gives a tighter, cigarette-style draw.

All-day vape (ADV). A flavour you're happy to vape all day without tiring of it. Everyone's ADV is different.

Amp (amperage). The current a battery can safely deliver. It matters most with external batteries in higher-powered mods, where using cells with the correct amp rating is a safety point.

 

Atomiser. The part of the device that heats the e-liquid. Often shortened to "atty". The coil sits inside it.

 

Battery. The power source. Some devices have a built-in battery you charge over USB-C; others take removable external batteries, most commonly 18650 or 21700 cells.

 

Box mod. A box-shaped mod, usually with a larger battery and adjustable power, used with a tank for sub-ohm vaping.

 

Cartomizer. An older type of atomiser with the coil wrapped in filler material. Largely replaced by modern coils and pods.

 

Chain vaping. Taking several puffs in quick succession. It can dry out the wick and cause a burnt taste, so a short pause between draws helps.

Clearomizer. A clear tank that lets you see your e-liquid level, with a replaceable coil inside. The forerunner of most modern tanks.

Cloud chasing. Vaping high-VG e-liquid on a powerful sub-ohm setup to produce the biggest possible clouds.

Coil. The heating element that turns e-liquid into vapour. Coils wear out with use and need replacing when the flavour fades or tastes burnt.

Disposable vape. A single-use device that could not be recharged or refilled. Single-use disposables were banned across the UK in June 2025, so the devices sold now are rechargeable or refillable.

Draw. The act of pulling on the device to inhale. It also describes how tight or airy that pull feels.

Drip tip. The mouthpiece you draw from, sitting at the top of a tank or pod. Some are removable and swappable.

Dry hit. The harsh, burnt taste you get when the coil fires without enough e-liquid on the wick. Priming a new coil helps avoid it.

DTL (Direct to Lung). A draw style where vapour goes straight into the lungs, used with higher-powered devices for bigger clouds. Usually paired with lower nicotine strengths.

E-liquid. The liquid that's vaporised, made from PG, VG, flavourings, and usually nicotine. Also called vape juice or e-juice.

Flooding. When too much e-liquid reaches the coil, often causing gurgling or spitback. Clearing the pod or letting it settle usually sorts it.

Freebase nicotine. The traditional form of nicotine in e-liquid. Gives a stronger throat hit and is common in larger, lower-strength setups.

mAh (milliamp hours). A measure of battery capacity. A higher mAh means the battery lasts longer between charges.

Mech mod (mechanical mod). An unregulated mod with no circuitry or safety features, firing the battery directly. For experienced users only, and not somewhere a beginner should start.

Mesh coil. A coil that uses a sheet of mesh rather than wrapped wire, giving a larger heating surface for fuller flavour and a longer life. Common in modern pods and tanks.

MHRA. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the UK body that vaping products must be notified to before they can be sold.

Mod. Short for "modified" device. The main body of a vape that houses the battery and controls, used with a tank or pod. Box mods and pod mods are common types.

MTL (Mouth to Lung). A draw style where you draw vapour into your mouth first, then inhale, similar to a cigarette. Tighter draw, less e-liquid used, popular with pod kits.

Nic salt. A smoother form of nicotine that's comfortable at higher strengths and absorbed quickly. Common in small pod devices.

Nic shot. A small bottle of nicotine added to a shortfill to bring it to your preferred strength. For example, one 10ml 18mg nic shot added to a 50ml shortfill makes 3mg.

Nicotine. The active substance in most e-liquids, and an addictive substance. UK e-liquid is capped at 20mg/ml.

Nicotine-free (0mg). E-liquid with no nicotine. It sits outside some of the rules that apply to nicotine products, but is still sold to over-18s only.

Notified Products List. The MHRA register that every nicotine vaping product must appear on before it can legally be sold in the UK.

Ohm. A measure of the coil's electrical resistance. Lower-resistance (sub-ohm) coils produce more vapour; higher-resistance coils suit tighter, cooler vaping.

Pass-through charging. Being able to vape while the device is plugged in and charging. Not all devices support it.

PG (Propylene Glycol). One of the two main e-liquid bases. Carries flavour well and gives a sharper throat hit.

Pod. A small container that holds e-liquid and clicks into a pod device. Prefilled pods come ready-filled; refillable pods you fill yourself.

Pod kit. A compact device built around pods rather than a tank. The most popular format for everyday vaping.

Pod mod. A pod device with mod-style features such as adjustable power, sitting between a simple pod kit and a full sub-ohm setup.

Prefilled pod kit. A device that uses pods already filled with e-liquid. Simple to use: click in a pod, charge, and go.

Priming. Letting a new coil soak in e-liquid for a few minutes before use, so the wick is saturated and doesn't burn.

Puff count. The manufacturer's estimate of how many puffs a prefilled kit gives before it's spent, for example 6,000 or 30,000. A guide rather than a guarantee, since it depends on how you vape.

RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser). An advanced atomiser where you build your own coil and drip e-liquid straight onto it. One for hobbyists.

Refillable pod kit. A device you fill with your own e-liquid, which is cheaper over time and offers more flavour choice.

RTA (Rebuildable Tank Atomiser). An advanced tank where you build your own coil, fed from a reservoir like a normal tank. For experienced users.

Shortfill. A larger bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid, part-filled to leave room for a nic shot to be added.

Spitback. Small drops of hot e-liquid that can flick up towards the mouthpiece, usually from flooding or too much power. Harmless, but worth knowing.

Starter kit. A device aimed at people new to vaping, usually a simple pod kit that comes with everything needed to get going.

Steeping. Letting an e-liquid sit for a while so the flavour matures, a bit like letting a sauce rest. Mostly relevant to shortfills after a nic shot has been added.

Sub-ohm. Vaping with a coil below 1.0 ohm, which produces more vapour and warmer, fuller flavour. Uses higher-VG e-liquid.

Tank. The part that holds e-liquid and screws onto a mod, with a replaceable coil inside. Used for sub-ohm vaping rather than pods.

Temperature control (TC). A mod feature that limits the coil temperature for a consistent vape and to prevent dry hits. It needs a compatible coil.

Throat hit. The sensation at the back of the throat when you inhale. Higher nicotine and more PG give a stronger throat hit.

TPD / TRPR. The Tobacco Products Directive, written into UK law as the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, which sets the rules for vaping products, including the 20mg/ml, 10ml, and 2ml limits. See our TPD Compliance page for how we meet them.

USB-C. The charging connection on most modern rechargeable devices. Faster and more durable than the older micro-USB.

Vape juice. Another name for e-liquid.

Vaper's tongue. A temporary dulling of taste where you struggle to pick up flavour, usually after vaping the same liquid a lot. Switching flavours or taking a short break tends to reset it.

Vapour. The aerosol produced when e-liquid is heated, which is inhaled and exhaled. Not to be confused with smoke, which comes from burning.

Variable wattage (VW). A mod setting that lets you adjust the power sent to the coil, so you can dial the vape in to your taste.

VG (Vegetable Glycerine). The second main e-liquid base. Thicker than PG, it produces bigger clouds and a smoother draw.

Voltage. The electrical push from the battery to the coil. Most regulated mods manage this for you through the wattage setting.

Wattage. The amount of power the device sends to the coil. Higher wattage generally means more heat, more vapour, and faster e-liquid use.

Wicking. How e-liquid is drawn into the coil, usually through cotton. Good wicking keeps the coil fed and helps prevent dry hits.

For how these come together in practice, our Vape Guide walks through choosing and using a device. All products are for adults aged 18 and over.

 

Pirate Vape Contact Details

• Legal Company Name: TREAT VERSE LTD (T/A Pirate Vape)
• Company No.: 16935581
• Phone: +44 7733 647231
• Email: support@piratevapes.co.uk
• Address: 10 Parkfield Avenue, Manchester, England, M14 4HL