Gym Dictionary: Exercise Vocabulary & Workout Terms in English (2024)

Explore this comprehensive gym dictionary of exercise terms. Enhance your fitness knowledge and English skills with essential vocabulary for the gym.

If you’re learning English, or if you just enjoy fitness, understanding gym terms can be helpful for your workouts and language skills. This guide will explain common exercise terms, fitness class vocabulary, gym equipment, muscle groups, and more. Knowing these words will help you feel more confident at the gym and in conversations about fitness.

Below you’ll find common workout terms, gym vocabulary, and exercise vocabulary, divided into helpful sections to make it easier for you to learn.

Exercise Terms

AMRAP
As Many Rounds (or Reps) As Possible. This workout asks you to do as much as you can in a set time. It’s a great way to challenge yourself.

Burnout Set
A set you perform until you can’t do another repetition. You keep going until your muscles can no longer move the weight.

Circuit Training
A workout that involves doing a series of exercises in a row with little rest. It’s a fast and efficient way to train multiple body parts.

Cooldown
A short, easy workout after your main exercise session. It helps your body recover by lowering your heart rate slowly.

Form
The proper way to do an exercise to avoid injuries and get the best results.

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)
A type of training where you switch between intense exercise and short rest periods. It’s known for burning calories fast.

LISS (Low-Intensity Steady State)
A workout where you exercise at a steady, easy pace for a longer time, like walking or biking slowly.

Plyometrics
Exercises that use explosive movements, like jumping or sprinting, to build power and strength.

Repetition (Rep)
One complete movement of an exercise. For example, if you lift a weight and lower it, that’s one rep.

Set
A group of repetitions. For example, if you do 10 reps of squats and then stop, that’s one set.

Fitness Classes

Barre
A class inspired by ballet, mixing elements of dance, Pilates, and yoga to build strength and flexibility.

BodyPump
A high-energy class focused on weightlifting to build strength and endurance. You use barbells and weights.

CrossFit
A challenging class that combines weightlifting, cardio, and bodyweight exercises. It’s known for intense workouts in a group setting.

Pilates
A workout focused on building core strength, flexibility, and balance. It involves controlled movements, often done on a mat or special equipment.

Spinning
A cardio workout done on a stationary bike. It’s popular for building leg strength and improving heart health.

Yoga
A mind-body workout that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Yoga improves flexibility, strength, and relaxation.

Gym Equipment

Gym equipment is typically broken down into two sections, cardio and weights.

Cardio

Cardio refers to exercises that raise your heart rate and improve heart and lung function, such as running, cycling, or swimming.

Elliptical
A machine that mimics walking or running but with less impact on your joints. It’s great for cardio without stressing your knees.

Rowing Machine
A machine that simulates the action of rowing a boat. It’s a full-body workout that strengthens your legs, back, and arms.

Treadmill
A machine where you walk, jog, or run in place. It’s a great way to improve your cardio fitness indoors.

Stationary Bike
A bike that stays in place while you pedal. It’s perfect for a low-impact cardio workout that strengthens your legs.

Weights

In the context of the gym, weights are heavy objects used in strength training to build muscle and increase strength, such as dumbbells, barbells, and weight plates. They can be divided into two sections; free weights and weight machines.

Free Weights

Free weights are weights that aren’t attached to a machine, requiring more balance and control to use. They engage multiple muscle groups and allow for a wider range of movement.

Barbell
A long metal bar that can hold weight plates on both ends. It’s commonly used for exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses.

Dumbbell
A short, hand-held weight used for a variety of exercises. Dumbbells come in different weights and are ideal for strength training.

Kettlebell
A round weight with a handle, often used for dynamic exercises like swings, squats, and lifts. It’s great for building strength, endurance, and flexibility.

Plates
Flat, round weights that are added to barbells or used independently. They come in different sizes and weights, usually marked in kilograms or pounds.

Weight Machines

Weight machines are fixed gym equipment with built-in weights that guide your movement. They provide more stability than free weights, making them ideal for targeting specific muscles or for beginners.

Cable Machine
A versatile machine with adjustable pulleys that use a cable to move weights. It allows for a wide range of exercises and movements.

Lat Pulldown Machine
A machine where you pull a bar down toward your chest to work the back and arm muscles, particularly the lats.

Leg Press Machine
A machine where you push a weighted platform with your legs to strengthen the lower body, particularly the quads, hamstrings, and glutes.

Smith Machine
A weight machine with a fixed barbell that moves vertically. It’s often used for squats, bench presses, and other exercises that benefit from controlled movement.

Muscle Groups & Body Parts

These are the areas and parts of the body that people generally exercise at the gym:

Abdominals (Abs)
The muscles in your stomach area. They help stabilize your body and protect your spine.

Biceps
The muscles on the front of your upper arms. They help you lift and pull things.

Deltoids (Delts)
The shoulder muscles. They help move your arms in different directions.

Glutes
The muscles in your buttocks. Strong glutes help with posture and athletic performance.

Hamstrings
The muscles on the back of your thighs. They help you bend your knees and move your legs backward.

Lats (Latissimus Dorsi)
The large muscles on your back that help with pulling movements.

Pectorals (Pecs)
The muscles in your chest. They help with pushing movements like push-ups or bench presses.

Quadriceps (Quads)
The muscles on the front of your thighs. They help you extend your knees and stand up.

Triceps
The muscles on the back of your upper arms. They help you straighten your arms after a curl.

Types of Workouts

There are various types of workouts you can do at the gym:

Bodyweight Exercises
Exercises that use your body weight as resistance, like push-ups or squats.

Cardio
Exercises that raise your heart rate, like running, biking, or jumping rope. Cardio improves your heart and lung health.

Isometrics
Exercises where you hold a position without moving, like a plank. It builds strength by engaging your muscles without movement.

Resistance Training
Exercises that involve resistance, like lifting weights or using resistance bands. It helps build muscle strength.

Strength Training
Exercises that build muscle, usually by lifting weights. Common strength workouts include bench presses, deadlifts, and squats.

Superset
A workout where you do two exercises back-to-back with no rest in between.

Tabata
A form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) where you work hard for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds, repeating this for eight rounds.

Weightlifting
A type of exercise where you lift heavy weights to build muscle and strength.

Weightlifting Terms

Weightlifting has its own set of terms:

Bench Press
An exercise where you lie on a bench and push a barbell or dumbbells above your chest.

Deadlift
A weightlifting move where you lift a barbell from the ground to a standing position. It works your back, legs, and core.

PR (Personal Record)
The heaviest weight you’ve ever lifted or the best performance you’ve achieved in a workout.

Rack
A piece of equipment where you hold a barbell for exercises like squats or bench presses.

Squat
A strength exercise where you bend your knees and lower your body, then stand up again. Squats work your legs and core.

Why Do You Go to the Gym?

If you ever get asked this question, here are some reasons you can give:

Build Strength
Going to the gym helps you increase muscle strength through weight training and resistance exercises.

Boost Endurance
Regular gym workouts improve cardiovascular endurance, helping your heart and lungs work more efficiently.

Burn Calories
Exercise at the gym helps burn calories, which can aid in weight management or fat loss.

Improve Flexibility
Stretching and certain exercises at the gym help improve your body’s flexibility and range of motion.

Increase Confidence
Regular exercise boosts self-esteem and body confidence as you see physical improvements over time.

Manage Stress
Exercise helps reduce stress by releasing endorphins, often referred to as “feel-good” hormones.

Promote Heart Health
Cardio workouts at the gym strengthen your heart, reduce blood pressure, and improve circulation.

Support Mental Health
Exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving overall mental well-being.

Social Interaction
The gym provides a place to meet like-minded people, offering a sense of community and motivation.

Structured Environment
Gyms offer a dedicated space with equipment and classes to help you stay focused and consistent in your fitness routine.

Workout Lingo (Slang Words)

When you’re at the gym, or working out, you may here a few of these words:

Bro Split
A workout routine where you train one body part each day.
Example: “He’s doing a bro split, so today is chest day and tomorrow is all about legs.”

Cutting
A phase where you try to lose fat while keeping muscle.
Example: “After bulking for months, she’s now cutting to get ready for summer.”

Gains
Slang for building muscle or improving strength.
Example: “I’ve been hitting the gym hard, and I’m definitely seeing gains in my arms.”

PB (Personal Best)
The best performance you’ve ever achieved in a specific exercise or workout.
Example: “I hit a new PB on my deadlift today – 120 kg!”

PR (Personal Record)
The heaviest weight you’ve ever lifted or the fastest time you’ve completed an exercise.
Example: “I set a PR in my 5K run with a time of 22 minutes!”

Ripped
A term used to describe a body that has very low body fat and well-defined muscles. It often refers to someone who looks fit and muscular.
Example: “After months of hard work and dieting, he finally achieved a ripped physique just in time for summer.”

Shred/Shredded
A term used to describe a muscular physique with very low body fat.
Example: “After weeks of dieting and cardio, he finally looks shredded.”

Spotter
A person who helps you during weightlifting, especially with heavy lifts.
Example: “I need a spotter for this bench press; can you help me out?”

Stack
Refers to taking multiple supplements together or the plates of weights stacked on gym equipment.
Example: “He takes a protein and creatine stack to boost his muscle gains.”

Swole
Slang for looking muscular and strong.
Example: “He’s been lifting seriously for a year, and now he looks super swole.”

Toning
When you reduce body fat and build muscle, giving you a lean and defined look.
Example: “She’s focusing on toning her body by doing more resistance training and cardio.”

Get Those Language Gains

Did you learn some new exercise terms? Understanding gym vocabulary will help you navigate the fitness world confidently.

By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you enhance your English skills and communicate better. Just like physical training, learning new words trains your brain. So, keep pushing yourself, and enjoy the process of becoming stronger in both body and language. Go get those gains!