Active: a formal initiated member of a fraternity or sorority

Alumnae: a sorority member who has graduated from college

Alumnus: a fraternity member who has graduated from college

Badge (pin): the insignia that designates your Greek organization

Bid: a formal invitation to join a Greek organization

Brother: a term used when referring to other members of a fraternity

Call/Chant: A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of cultural based Greek organizations to acknowledge one another

College Panhellenic Council: the representative body governing sororities

Chapter: name for the local organization of a national fraternity/sorority

Crossed: Being initiated. Generally means crossing over from being a pledge to being a full member. Most groups record the time to the second for each member.

Fraternity: a Greek organization for men

Frater: A term used to refer to another member of the same fraternity.

Greek: a member of a fraternity or sorority

Grad/Alumni Chapter: The graduate chapter of NPHC or multicultural organizations. A grad chapter often oversees the operations of the undergraduate chapter.

Initiation: the traditional ritual, which brings the new member into full membership

Informational: Recruitment event for culturally-based groups.

Intake: Process by which culturally-based groups recruit and pledge new members.

Interfraternity Council (IFC): the representative body governing fraternities

Legacy: a prospective member who has a family member in the same fraternity or sorority

Line: The members of a cultural fraternity or sorority's new member class.

Line Name: The name given to a pledge class. Some groups order their lines by Alpha, Beta, etc. Others use an acronym or other term to define the line.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): the representative/governing body of national sororities

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): the representative body governing national historically black Greek organizations

Neophyte (aka "Neo"): A new member of an NPHC organization

New Member/Associate: a member who has not been initiated

New Member Pin: a pin that designates a new member of a Greek organization

New Member Recruitment: the continual process of recruiting members for a Greek organization

North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC): the representative body of national fraternities

Philanthropy: the chapter's specific charitable organization(s) to which they donate money and volunteer hours

Potential New Member (PNM): a term for men or women being recruited by a Greek organization

Recruitment Guide (Rho Gamma): a disaffiliated member of an organization who assists potential members through the recruitment process

Ritual: the traditional ceremonies of a chapter, which are usually secret

Step Show: a style of dance that uses rhythmic stomping to demonstrate unity, talent, and organizational pride. Step shows are a lively and popular part of the African American fraternity and sorority tradition.

Sister: a term used when referring to other members of a sorority. "Soror" in NPHC or multicultural organizations.

Sorority: a Greek organization for women

Strict Silence: not discussing recruitment with non-sorority members outside of the recruitment events

Stroll: A line dance done by members of cultural Greek organizations (usually at a party or step show)

Yard: The term used to refer to the particular campus or university where a chapter is located.