Glossary[edit]

Players of MMOs use many different Abbreviations and Terms to refer to different activities, in-game items and places. Here is a list of terms you may come across while playing ESO:

General chat[edit]

AFK: Away From Keyboard — Player is going away from their computer for a period of time, usually more than 5 minutes. Compare BRB. See also BK.
BBL: Be Back Later
BK: Back — With no other context, refers to a player who has just returned from being AFK.
BRB: Be Right Back — Player is going away from their computer for a short period of time, usually less than 5 minutes. Compare AFK
OMW: On My Way.
PM, /w: Private Message, Whisper — Usually seen as "PM me" or "/w me", player is looking for a reply to their comment via /tell (/t) or /whisper (/w). See also PST.
G2G: Good To Go — A dungeon group whose players are ready to begin their run. Compare GTG.
GTG: Got To Go — Player is logging off for at least a few hours. Compare G2G.
PST: Please Send Tell — Player is looking for a reply to their comment via /tell (/t) or /whisper (/w). "pst" also sounds like someone whispering. See also PM.
/w: Whisper, see PM.
WC: Wrong Chat. Used when a player has used the incorrect text chat channel in replying or Linking items. It means the player's message should be ignored by that chat channel.

Gaming-related/MMO[edit]

Terms familiar to most gamers, with some MMO-specific terms.

Adds

Additional enemies in a dungeon which are scripted to arrive during a boss fight. See also Trash Mobs.

Note that after 15 minutes inactivity, a player is automatically logged out.

Aggro

Aggression — Determines which player an enemy will attack. Taunting an enemy will increase its aggro towards you.

Bots

Automated characters without a human player, usually used to farm mob drops or collect crafting materials. Against the game's terms of service.

Buff

A beneficial effect on an enemy or player character. Compare Debuff.
Used when certain content has been made more powerful or more effective. Compare Nerf.

Build, Spec: Refers to a character's race, attributes, chosen skills, gear and abilities.
CC: Crowd Control — Abilities that apply Disabling Effects to their target(s). CCs consist of Stuns, Knockbacks, and Pulls.
Char: Your character.
COD: Cash On Delivery — One player sending item(s) via mail, with a price, whereas the receiving player can only accept the items sent to them if they send the gold requested by sender.
d/c, d/c'd: Disconnect(ed)
DD: Damage Dealer — A character whose primary role in a group is to deal damage. Compare DPS.
Debuff: A detrimental effect on an enemy or player character. Compare Buff (1).
dmg: Damage
DoT: Damage over Time
DPS: Damage Per Second — Amount of damage dealt by a character or group divided by the time of the fight. Relevant to DDs.
Execute: A generic name for certain skills that inflict a large amount of damage on targets low on health.
EXP: See: XP
Farming: Repeatedly killing certain enemies. See also Grinding.
g, gp: Gold
Ganking: A player attacking another player by surprise in a PvP area, often when they are traveling between PvP objectives or completing PvE quests.
GF: Good Fight — Used to congratulate another player for their performance (win or loss) after a duel.
GM: A Gamemaster
Grats/z, GZ: Congratulations
Grinding: Repeating the same content over and over, usually to level up. See also Farming.
Guildies: Fellow members of a player guild.
H, Healer: A character whose primary role in a group is to heal the other group members.
HoT: Healing over Time
Kite: The act of attacking an enemy repeatedly (usually ranged but not always) while leading it (usually) in a pattern in order for others to safely kill it or focus on other things.
KoS: Kill on Sight
L2P: Learn to Play — Said to someone, often in derogation, who appears to not be able to play their build effectively.
LFG, LFS, LFP: Looking For Group/Squad/Party
LFM: Looking For More/Member
Lvl: Level
Main: A player's main character. Compare Alt.
MMO(RPG): Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game
Mobs: Mobile Object Block — Refers to all computer-controlled characters, but usually used to mean standard overland enemies. See also NPC.
Nerf: Used when certain content has been downgraded or made less effective. Compare Buff (2).
Newb(ie): A Newb or Newbie is a new player to a game that may not know all of the mechanics and often has a lot of questions. Compare Noob.
Noob: A Noob (or sometimes seen as N00b) is a derogatory term meaning someone that does not know all of the game mechanics, is usually new to the game, and yet proclaims to know everything. This term is sometimes mistakenly used by people that mean to say Newb (or Newbie).
NPC: Non-Player Character — All of the computer-controlled characters in the game, but usually used to mean non-hostile characters. See also Mob.
OOC: Out-of-character (roleplay context; see also IC.)
OP: Over-powered, referring to certain builds, enemies, or strategies that are tougher to overcome than most.
Proc: Procedural Random Occurrence — Activation of an effect based on random chance.
PTS: Public Test Server
PUG: Pick-Up Group — A random group of players, formed on the fly, often in which nobody knows anyone else.
Pull: Attack a single enemy and lure it away from a group of enemies, or towards a group of players.
PvE: Player versus Environment — Players fighting against computer-controlled enemies.
Respec: Visiting a Shrine to change the skills or attributes in your build.
Res, Rez: Resurrect, using a Soul Gem.
RP: RolePlay(ing)
Spec: See: Build
Tank: A character whose primary role in a group is to take the majority of enemy damage, and keep the enemy's attention off other group members.
Teabag, Teabagging: The art of standing and squatting over another NPC or character to teabag them can be considered a form of harassment which can be a violation of the Terms of Service (ToS). The official stance is with all forms of harassment, if a player asks you to stop a behavior, you need to stop. If you continue to teabag someone that asks you to stop, that is a violation of the ToS and may lead to your account being suspended or even permanently banned.
TES: The Elder Scrolls
Toon: A player's in-game character.
Trash: See: Vendor Trash, Trash Mobs
Trash Mobs: Enemies in a dungeon that may or may not be associated with a boss but don't give out big loot and are usually killed as a time waster. See also Adds.
Ulti, Ult: Ultimate ability.
Vamp: Vampire
Vend: Visit a vendor to sell some Vendor Trash.
WW: Werewolf
XP, EXP: Experience Points

ESO-specific[edit]

General[edit]

1T, OT

One Tamriel

Alt

An alternative character on a player's account. Compare Main.

AoE

Area of Effect — Abilities that deal damage to an area rather than a specific target.

AP

Alliance Points

BSW

Burning Spellweave, an item set.

Cori

Corintthac the Abomination

CP

Champion Points

Crow

Crowborne Horror

Crown

See: Lead

DB

Due to the ambiguity, it may be wise to avoid using this unless context is given.

Ding

Player has leveled up.

DK

Dragonknight

Edu

King-Chief Edu

Elite

An enemy which is more powerful than a standard mob, but less powerful than a boss. Has one pip on the health bar.

ESO, TESO

(The) Elder Scrolls Online

ESOTU

The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

FG

Grindlorn

Going to Craglorn specifically for grinding, or referencing that grinding is the most common activity in overland Craglorn and its delves.

h1, h2, h3, h4

Refers to Havocrel Executioner spawn points in the Deadlands, going from west to east with h1 being the westernmost spawn point.

Head Farming

Repeatedly running a Group Dungeon to obtain a Monster Helm with a certain trait.

HM

Hard Mode

HoTR

Horns of the Reach

HS

Harrowstorm
When in a dungeon or trial, Heavy Sack (to notify all group members of its existence and location).

IC

In-character (roleplay context; see also OOC.)
Imperial City

Insp, IP

Inspiration Points

Lead, Crown

Status as leader of a group, e.g. "pass lead".

Mad

Mad Urkazbur

MG

Mages Guild

Mino

Minotaur World Boss Limenauruus

Monster Head

Monster Helm

MQ

Main Quest

n

Normal — Difficulty mode of a Dungeon or Trial, usually used as a prefix, e.g. nSO. See also v.

Natch Potes

A popular nickname for Patch Notes; began when a UESP guild member made a typo on the official forum.

NB

Nyz

Nyzchaleft

OT

See: 1T

Overland

Content which is not contained within a dungeon or other interior location.

Pips

Embellishments added to an enemy health bar that are indicative of difficulty, up to a maximum of three. Also called Stars.

Poa

Poacher's Encampment

Port

Teleport, to a player or Wayshrine.

Pots

Potions. See also Tri-Pots.

PTE

Shorthand for leaving a Dungeon instance, derived from the key combination [P] (open Group window), [T] (Leave Instance), [E] (Confirm).
Public Test Environment, an alternative name for the PTS.

RND

Random Normal Dungeon, an activity available via the Group Finder tool.

ropo

Ring of the Pale Order

Sorc

Sorcerer

SP

Skill Points

SPC

Spell Power Cure, a popular item set.

Stars

See: Pips

Stickerbook, Stickers

Set Collection

Syn

Synergy

Temp

Templar

TESO

See: ESO

TG

Thieves Guild

Tick

The frequency at which a DoT or HoT ability applies damage or healing.
The AP reward for a successful keep capture or defense.

Tri-Pots: Potions which restores health, magicka and stamina simultaneously.
UD: Unfinished Dolmen
Vendor Trash: Items which are only valuable as something to sell to a merchant, e.g. loot items.
v: Veteran — Difficulty mode of a Dungeon or Trial, usually used as a prefix, e.g. vSO. Compare Vet. See also n.
Vet, VR: Veteran (Rank), i.e., Level 50+. Compare v.; Vet is also used (incorrectly) to describe Champion Rank 160+
WB: World Boss — An overland boss. In ESO, usually refers to a Group Boss location.
x: Commonly used in zone chat to indicate interest in joining a group; many group leaders use an instant invite addon that will automatically invite anyone who types an exact string, and "x" tends to be the most common string people use (e.g. one might say in zone chat "Type x for dolmen group", resulting in zone chat full of nothing but people saying the letter "x")
Zeni: See: ZOS
ZOS, Zeni: ZeniMax Online Studios

Zones[edit]

Crag

Craglorn. See also Grindlorn.

CWC

Clockwork City

Cyro

Cyrodiil

IC

Imperial City
In-character (roleplay context; see also OOC.)

Group dungeons[edit]

Arx

Arx Corinium

BC

The Banished Cells or Blessed Crucible, depending on zone. See also BCells, Crucible.

BCells

The Banished Cells. See also BC.

BDV

BH(H)

CoA

CoH

Crucible

Blessed Crucible. See also BC.

DFK

Direfrost Keep

DSC

Darkshade Caverns

Dung

(pronounced like the first syllable of "dungeon")

Dungeon — A grouping of content including Delves, Public Dungeons, Group Dungeons and Trials. With no other context, usually refers to Group Dungeons.

EH

Elden Hollow

ERE

Earthen Root Enclave

FG

Fungal Grotto

See: Fighters Guild

ICP: Imperial City Prison
Spindle: Spindleclutch
SW, Selene: Selene's Web
Tempest, TI: Tempest Island
UG: Unhallowed Grave
Volen, VF: Volenfell
VoM, Vaults: Vaults of Madness
WGT: White-Gold Tower
WS: Wayrest Sewers

Trials[edit]

+0, +1, +2, +3

Refers to the number of bosses faced at once in certain mini trials, e.g. "nCR+0" means a Normal Mode Cloudrest run where each boss is fought separately.

AA

AS

CR

DSR

Hel Ra, HRC

HoF

KA

MoL

Raid

A Trial.
A large-scale attack on a certain AvA objective.

SE: Sanity's Edge
SO, Sanctum: Sanctum Ophidia
SS: Sunspire

Arenas[edit]

BRP: Blackrose Prison
DSA: Dragonstar Arena
MA: Maelstrom Arena
VH: Vateshran Hollows

Player vs player (PvP)[edit]

AD

Aldmeri Dominion

Ales

Fort Aleswell

AvA, RvR

Alliance versus Alliance — Alliance War content in Cyrodiil. "Realm versus Realm" is a term adopted from other games with similar large-scale PvP content.

Ball, Ball group

A closely-coordinated group of players in Cyrodiil with pre-set roles and builds, working in unison toward a goal. Contrast Zerg.

Bananas

See: Yellows

Bleaks, BLK

Bleaker's Outpost

Bloodport

Intentionally running into enemies in order to die and quickly respawn at a Transitus shrine.

Blues, Blueberries, Smurfs

PvP terms for Daggerfall Covenant enemies.

BRK

Carm

CBB, BB

CBM, BM

Chal

Cherries

See: Reds

DC

Daggerfall Covenant. Compare d/c.
See: Dclaw

Dclaw, DC, Drag(on)

Fort Dragonclaw

D(ee)-Tick

Reward for keep defense. See Tick (2).

Def

Defend a keep or resource in PvP.

Drag(on)

See: Dclaw

Drake

Drakelowe Keep

Emp

Emperor

Emperor Farming

The practice of grinding Alliance Points in a group and allowing Ring Keeps to fall in order to crown each member as Emperor.

EP

Fare

Farra

FC

FD

Front Door — Usually said with a keep (ex: "fd kings", or "chal fd") to alert people that enemies are attacking the front door of a keep (or possibly that it needs to be repaired).

Glade

Fort Glademist

Green Alliance, Greens

Dominion and Covenant working together in AvA. See also Orange Alliance, Purple Alliance.

HO

Harlun's Outpost

Kings

Kingscrest Keep

Orange Alliance, Oranges

Dominion and Pact working together in AvA. See also Green Alliance, Purple Alliance.

Purple Alliance, Purples

Covenant and Pact working together in AvA. See also Green Alliance, Orange Alliance.

PvP

Player versus Player — Players in combat with each other.

Reds, Cherries, Tomatoes

PvP terms for Ebonheart Pact enemies.

Roe

RvR: See: AvA
Sej: Sejanus Outpost
Smurfs: See: Blues
Tomatoes: See: Reds
Train: A large group of coordinated players in PvP. Compare Zerg.
TV Stones: Tel Var Stones
UA, US: Under Attack/Siege
Yellows, Bananas: PvP terms for Aldmeri Dominion enemies.
Zerg: A huge group of players rushing at a target, usually without any tactics. Compare Train, contrast Ball group.

Trading and economy[edit]

PC: Price Check
WTB: Want To Buy
WTS: Want To Sell
WTT: Want To Trade

Outdated terms[edit]

VP: Veteran Points — Outdated system, replaced with Champion Points.
Wasp Test: Outdated term, a method of fighting a group of 110 Giant Wasps in Craglorn solo to test the viability of a build.

External Links[edit]

Unofficial ESO Slang and Abbreviation Dictionary at the Official ESO Forums, upon which parts of this list are based

Online:Abbreviations and Terms

Contents

Glossary[edit]

General chat[edit]

Gaming-related/MMO[edit]

ESO-specific[edit]

General[edit]

Zones[edit]

Group dungeons[edit]

Trials[edit]

Arenas[edit]

Player vs player (PvP)[edit]

Trading and economy[edit]

Outdated terms[edit]

See Also[edit]

External Links[edit]

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