30 Must-Know Terms Before SHTF
đ„ So You Wanna Be a Prepper?Â
When I first started prepping, I was so confused.
âBug out?â â Like⊠an actual bug??
âWhere does my dry shampoo go? Is there a pocket for that?â
Letâs just say it took me a hot minute to realize that prepping doesnât mean giving up showers or sass. But one thing became clear real quick: prepping has its own language.
From acronyms like EDC and OPSEC to phrases that sound straight outta a military briefing, it can feel like youâve stumbled into some secret survivalist club.
But hereâs the truth â these terms are just shorthand for smart tools, solid plans, and the mindset that keeps you ready when things go sideways.
So whether youâre just starting your first emergency kit or youâve already got three bug out bags and a Faraday cage in your garage (yes girl, go off!), this guide breaks down 30 must-know prepping and survival terms â so you can speak the lingo and own your preparedness with confidence.
đš The Prepper Lingo You Need to Know
1. EDC (Everyday Carry)
Your daily ride-or-die items â knife, multitool, flashlight, pepper spray, etc. Small, portable, and always with you.
2. Bug Out Bag (BOB)
A backpack packed with 72 hours of survival supplies. Itâs the bag you grab when you gotta go. Like now.
3. Bugging Out
Leaving home in an emergency to go somewhere safer. Think wildfire, flood, or full-blown zombie vibes.
4. Bugging In
Staying home, locking the doors, and riding it out like the self-reliant queen you are.
5. Go Bag
A smaller, super-accessible version of your BOB â often kept in the car or by the front door.
6. Get Home Bag (GHB)
This one lives at work, school, or in your trunk. Itâs there to help you get home if disaster strikes while youâre out.
7. INCH Bag ("Iâm Never Coming Home")
For worst-case scenarios. Itâs your long-term survival kit for full off-grid living.
8. SHTF (Sh*t Hits the Fan)
When things go really bad â blackout, supply chain failure, EMP, or civil unrest. Youâll know it when you see it.
9. TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World as We Know It)
A total collapse of normal systems â power, economy, government. No joke, just Plan B.
10. MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment)
Those fancy webbing systems on tactical backpacks? Thatâs MOLLE. It lets you clip on pouches, gear, and accessories.
11. Paracord
Military-grade rope that can do everything. Build shelter, tie gear, fix stuff, make a tourniquet â you name it.
12. Firestarter
No, not the Stephen King kind. This means ferro rods, waterproof matches, or anything thatâll spark a life-saving flame.
13. Water Purification
Boiling, filtering, or chemically treating water to make it safe to drink. No clean water = no survival.
14. Tactical
Durable, practical gear designed for survival, defense, and looking like you know what youâre doing.
15. Situational Awareness
Being alert. Paying attention. Trusting your gut. Basically, donât walk through life with your earbuds on full blast.
16. Prepper Pantry
Your stockpile of food, water, hygiene items, and essentials. Enough to ride out weeks (or months) at home.
17. Off-Grid
Living without public utilities. Think solar power, well water, and total independence.
18. Faraday Cage
Protects electronics from EMPs. No, itâs not sci-fi. Yes, your phone could get fried. This keeps it safe.
19. Redundancy
Backup for your backup. Always have extras. Always.
20. 72-Hour Kit
The core of short-term survival. Food, water, meds, and tools to keep you alive for 3 days.
âĄBonus Terms Youâll Hear the Deeper You Go
21. Cache
A hidden stash of supplies somewhere off-site. Just in case you canât get home.
22. Combat Load / Loadout
The specific setup of what youâre carrying â tools, defense, comms â for the situation at hand.
23. EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse)
A high-powered burst that fries electronics. Think lightning on steroids. Yes, itâs real.
24. Golden Horde
A flood of panicked people leaving the cities during a disaster. Not a good time to be stuck in traffic.
25. Gray Man
Looking low-key and blending in. No tactical gear, no âIâm a prepperâ flags. Invisible is safe.
26. Martial Law
When the government takes full control â curfews, checkpoints, restrictions. Preppers like to stay ahead of this.
27. BOLO (Be On the Lookout)
Keep your eyes peeled â whether itâs for a threat, a missing person, or your last granola bar.
28. Rule of Threes
A survival truth: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.
29. OPSEC (Operational Security)
Keep your plans, preps, and stockpiles on a need-to-know basis. Loose lips lose rice.
30. Morale Booster
The comfort item that keeps you sane â chocolate, mascara, a playlist, that one cozy hoodie. Donât forget it.
đĄ Final Word
Knowing the lingo isnât just about sounding like youâve watched too much Doomsday Preppers. Itâs about owning your preparedness journey. These terms help you think faster, prep smarter, and stay cool when others are losing it.
So go ahead â practice your OPSEC, stock that bug out bag, and remember: being prepared isnât paranoid. Itâs powerful.