100 Rock Climbing Terms for Beginners
If you are beginning to get into the absolutely wonderful world of rock climbing, there is a slight chance that you have encountered a few terms that left you scratching your bucket head.
Rock climbing has a language of its own. The first few times rock climbing outdoors, I would meet see some climbers at the crag and during our conversation they would slip in a word or two that I have never heard of like a hand jam. Being a beginner and mostly in part being completely enthralled with climbing, I did not take notice much of all of this climbing terminology and slang.
It was not until I started to become of a frequent visitor at my local climbing gym that these rock climbing terms were a natural part of communication. At first it may feel a bit overwhelming but every single person I met, whether they were a climber or not were more than happy to share their knowledge. If there is one thing that defines the climbing community, it is all about being supportive, helping and in the end, having fun.
Whether you are a beginner at rock climbing or a seasoned veteran, communication is one of the most important aspects of staying safe and climbing again. From flashing your project to belaying your partner, here is some verbal beta for your next climb.
NOTE: Some links on this page are affiliate links. That means I earn money to rock climb more if you buy through my link. This in no way affects my suggestions. I only recommend products I know, love, and trust.
Climbing Terms to Know
Aid Climbing
A type of climbing that uses equipment for assistance as a means to moving up the wall rather than using the features on the rock.
Anchor
A means by which climbers are secured to a cliff. This is the point where the rope is fixed to the rock.
Approach
The route, trail, or walk you take in order to get to the base of the climb
Arete
The outside edge or corner of a rock.
ATC
Air Traffic Controller, this is a belaying device made by Black Diamond.
This is my favorite ATC for Rock Climbing: Black Diamond Big Air Xp Package Dark Gray/Blue One Size
Bail
To jump off or give up on a climb
Barndoor
Swinging out and away from the rock due to being off balance.
Belay
One of the most used and important term in climbing. Belay is the action/ system that uses a belayer, a belay device, rope, and anchors to prevent the climber from falling.
Belayer
This is the person/ climbing partner who guides or feeds the rope that is connected to the climber.
Beta
A common climbing term which is the information about the route or how to complete the climb. Sharing is caring but only offer beta if another climber asks or if you ask.
Bi-doigt
A two-finger pocket or handhold
Big wall
A long climb traditionally done over multiple days. I mean it is a big wall.
Bight
A loop, as in a bight of rope
Bivouac
Basically it’s a temporary camp without a tent or a cover. It is most often used by climbers on long multi pitch routes.
Bolt
A bolt is a permanent anchor that is attached into a hole which is drilled directly into the rock as a form of protection.
Bomber
A big, big handhold. It is fail-safe.
Bouldering
Climbing boulders or shorter routes close to the ground without the use of a rope but with a bouldering crash pad to prevent injury.
brain bucket
Simply put this climbing terms refers to a helmet.
Bucket
A handhold that is large enough to fully latch onto, like the handle of a bucket.
Bump
A in-between hand hold used to shift to a higher hold with out changing your body position. Or it can be a fist bump as a celebration of a job well done.
Buttress
An outside edge of rock that’s much broader than an arete. Definitely mountain-size.
Cam
This is a piece of climbing protection composed of a number of cams on a stem with a trigger bar. Pulling on the “trigger” retracts the cams together so the climber can insert it into a crack or pocket. Releasing the trigger allows the cam to expand.
Campus
Climbing with only your hands. I mean who really needs feet anyways?
Carabiner
A metal ring with a spring-loaded snap gate used to connect various climbing gear.
Chalk bag
A hand-sized bag that is used to hold your chalk. There are many different types but is usually clipped to the back of your climbing harness.
Chickenhead
A rounded knob of rock
Chimney
A crack of sufficient size wide enough to fit your entire body into.
Choss
Not the best quality of rock. Basically it is terrible. Often associated with sand or vegetation
Clean
This can either mean freeing vegetation or loose rock from the route or to remove all of the protection/ gear that was placed.
Crack
This is pretty much self-explanatory, as it’s a crack in the rock.
Crag
This is the outdoor rock climbing area. “Meet you at the crag.”
Crimp
Pulling on a small hold with a small portion of your fingertips
Crux
The most difficult part of a climb.
Dead Point
Sticking a hold that is at your maximum reach. This is the blurred line between static and dynamic.
Downclimb
Climbing down from the route.
Drag
The resistance of of rope running through carabiners.
Dyno
A dynamic move in which you leap or lung from a hold to another. Spread your wings and fly.
Edging
A technique of placing the very edge of the shoe on a small or thin foothold
Figure of 8 knot
This is the primary knot used by rock climbers to secure their climbing rope to their harness. Shaped in a figure of an 8, this knot tightens when it is loaded with weight.
Fist jam
This technique of jamming your whole fist into what is most often a crack, is used for stability and in order to pull off of it.
Flagging
Extending your leg out to the side to keep your center of gravity over your foot position on the wall. This technique utilizes pure body positioning and reduces the amount of energy a climber uses on the wall.
Flash
Free climbing route cleanly from start to finish on your first try, but with prior knowledge or beta.
Flapper
Climbing so hard that you pop a flap of skin of your fingers.
Free Climb
A form of climbing in which a climber ascends up the rock using only their hands and feet, while using ropes only as a safeguard against injury, or falling.
Free Solo
The riskiest form of climbing as it does not use protection from ropes. Alex Honnald may be one of the most well known rock climber and free soloist in the climbing community. You can watch his amazing film where he free soloed El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park here: Click to Watch Free Solo
Gaston
A reversed side pull, where the thumb faces down and you are pulling outwards like you are prying elevator doors open.
Grade
A rating that tells how easy moderate or difficult a particular climbing route is.
Grigri
An auto-belay device made by Petzl with assisted braking for indoors and outdoor rock climbing. This is honestly one of my favorite devices. This is the one that I have and it has been a life saver! PETZL – GRIGRI + Belay Device with Assisted Braking
Gripped
Extremely scared.
Greasy
Just like it sounds, it is used to describe a slick surface.
Hand jam
This technique of jamming your hand into what is most often a crack, is used for stability and in order to pull off of it.
Harness
A strong belt and leg-loop system that attaches a climber to a rope. Belayers also need to wear a harness to secure the belay device, with the rope running through it, to themselves.
Headwall
A much steeper section of a cliff, residing toward the top.
Heel hooking
Using your heel to hook onto the hold.
Highball
A high boulder. Try not to fall.
Jug
A large handhold that is usually very secure and deep making it easy for the climber to hold onto it with confidence. A gift from the heavens!
Knee drop
Turning your hips towards the wall and dropping down either of your knees inwardly.
Layback
A climbing maneuver in which you are pulling sideways on a hold with your hands while pushing with your feet.
Lead
The first person to ascend the route by lead climbing and placing their own gear.
Lock off
A single handhold with enough strength to allow the other hand to shift to a new handhold.
Mantle
A technique where you push down on a hold in order to bring feet your feet up.
Mono
A single finger hand hold or pocket. Not recommended for beginners!
Multi Pitch-
A long route that requires more than one length of rope to ascend the entire wall. Multiple “pitches”.
Nut
A wedge or small piece of metal that provides secure anchor to the rock. Used in cracks as a piece of protection on a trad route.
Off-width
A crack that is too wide to use as a finger, hand, or fist jam but too narrow to fit your body into (Chimney).
On-sight
Successfully climbing a route without prior knowledge or experience of the moves.
Overhang
When the rock is so steep that it goes beyond vertical and hangs over the ground.
Pinch
A hold that is pinched between the thumb and fingers.
Pitch
Part of a climb that can be climbed using the length of one climbing rope.
Placement
The position of a nut or anchor.
These are holes in the rock.
Protection
This is the climbing equipment that is placed or attached to the rock. Protection is what the climber uses to secure their rope to and prevents the climber from falling compelling distance incase they should fall.
Pulling plastic
Indoor rock climbing
Pumped
A tight and burning feeling in your forearms as a result of lactic acid build up due to intense or strenuous climbing. This will leave you feeling weak and in some cases prevent you from being able to untie your rope.
Quickdraw
A short sling with carabiners at both ends. Used to attach a rope to a piece of protection or to a bolt.
Rack
The collection of gear a climber takes up the climb. Hey nice rack!
Rappel
Descending down a rock by a rope.
Redpoint
When a climber ascend a sport or trad route from the bottom cleanly without falling
Runout
Often referring to a long stretch of climbing without protection, this is the distance between your protection.
Sandbag
When a route is deceptively more difficult than its grade.
Send
Completing the climb! “Send it!”
Shred
Simply put, this means you are dominating. Well done.
Sidepull
A hold that’s pulled from the side.
Slab
A relative vertical section of a wall with a slight positive angle.
Sloper
A shallow climbing hold with no incut in which a climber uses friction, tension and often desperation to hold on to.
Smear
When a climber uses the sticky rubber climbing shoes to stick their foot on the relatively featureless rock and ‘smear’ against it.
Soft
When a route is given a harder rating than its actual difficulty.
Sport climbing
Similar to traditional rock climbing but with the protection (bolts) already in place. The lead climber uses quick draws to clip into the bolts and then attaches their rope within the quick draw while being belayed.
Spotter
This person is your best friend. They are there to guide the climber safely on the bouldering mat if they happen to fall off of a bouldering problem. The spotter will make sure to move or double up on mats or pads to help the climber avoid hitting the ground or nearby rocks.
Stem, Stemming
This is a technique in which your hands and/or feet are pressed in opposition far out from each side
Stopper Knot
A knot in the end of your rope that prevents a belayer from lowering a climber off the end. Also used to stop a climber from rappelling off the end of a rope.
Thin
A relatively featureless hold or climb.
Toeing in
Edging the point of your shoe straight into the hold.
Toe Hook
Using your toe to hook onto a hold.
Top out
When a climber climbs up and over the top of the wall or boulder. This is most often the completion of the climb.
Toprope
This type of rope climbing most commonly found at the gym. It is a style in which one end of the rope is attached to the climber which then passes up, through an anchor system at the top of the climb and then back down to the belayer.
Trad climbing
Also known as traditional climbing, trad is a type of climbing in which the natural features of the rock is used to place all the gear required to protect against falls. The protection/ gear is then removed from the rock when a pitch is complete.
Traverse
Climbing horizontally
Tweak
Often referred as to an injury, i.e tweaked my finger. Words you never want to hear.
Undercling
A hold that faces downward and is pulled upwards.
Whipper
Taking a big fall while lead climbing. It can be very fun or it can be very scary.
Working
Practicing the moves on a difficult portion of a route or project.
Are there any climbing terms that I missed?
Comment below on anything that you think should be a part of this list or drop me a line here: Contact Me
