Surfer lingo and surf slang:
Learn how to talk like a surfer
Lesson 2
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Introduction
Make sure you learn some common surfer lingo and surf slang, so that you understand what other surfers refer to when they communicate with you. Otherwise you risk putting yourself in dangerous situations if you can’t understand what other surfers are talking about and potentially do the opposite of what they ask you to do.
In this guide I have listed 10 common surf slang words that I think you should know. At the end of the guide you can also download a surf slang glossary with 80 words, if you want to learn ever more words used in the surfing community.
Why learning surfer lingo and surf slang is important to progress in your surfing
Understanding surfer lingo and surf slang is an important part of learning to surf. It helps you understand what surf teachers and other surfers are talking about. If you don’t learn basic surf terms, chances are you do the wrong things in the water when you get instructions from your surf teacher or when fellow surfers try to communicate with you- this can sometimes become dangerous.
Just to provide an example of why learning how to talk like a surfer is important; I talked to a beginner surfer recently who mentioned that during her recent surf trip a big set of waves were approaching when she was on her way out to the lineup. Her surf teacher was yelling that she needs to paddle out. Paddling out means paddling to the lineup, further out in the water. She on the other hand thought it meant paddling back to shore, so that’s what she started doing. She ended up getting caught in the impact zone, getting smashed by waves until the set was over. Getting caught in the impact zone can be very dangerous. So make you learn common surfer lingo and surf slang to make sure this does not happen to you!
Surfer lingo and surf slang: 10 common terms to know
1. Dawn patrol
Dawn patrol means going surfing early in the morning, usually right after the sun rises. At many spots, especially tropical destinations, the conditions are usually better in the morning. Many spots are also less crowded early in the morning.
2. Ding
A ding refers to a damage on a surfboard, typically caused by collisions with other surfboards, rocks, or other obstacles. Repairing dings is common practice to maintain the board’s performance.
3. Drop-in
A drop-in occurs when one surfer takes off on a wave that another surfer is already riding, without proper right of way or without yielding to the surfer who has priority. It’s considered a breach of etiquette and can lead to dangerous collisions.
4. Kook
In surfer lingo, a “kook” is a term for a surfer who lacks skill and awareness in the water, often making mistakes that disrupt the flow of the lineup. He or she has a lack of understanding of surf culture and etiquette. You don’t want to be a kook (or a surf looser as I once heard someone explain the term kook as)!
5. Lineup
In surf slang, the lineup is the area where surfers position themselves in the water to catch waves. It’s a strategic spot where surfers wait for their turn to catch a wave and maintain proper spacing to avoid collisions.
6. Offshore / Onshore wind
Offshore wind blows from the land toward the sea and helps to shape and hold up the waves, creating cleaner and more organized surf conditions. Onshore wind blows from the sea toward the land, causing choppy and messy waves.
7. Regular footed / goofy footed
A regular footer is a surfer who rides waves with their left foot forward, while a goofy footer rides with their right foot forward. These terms indicate a surfer’s stance on the board.
8. Rip current
A rip current is a strong narrow current that flows from the shore back out to sea. It can be dangerous for swimmers and surfers as it can carry them away from the shore. Surfers sometimes use rip currents to paddle out to the lineup.
9. Set
Imagine you’re at the beach, and you see a bunch of waves coming one after another. In surfer lingo, that group of waves is called a “set.” When a set comes, that’s when you’ll find some good waves to catch. In between sets, the ocean usually calms down (that’s called “lull”), giving surfers a break until the next set arrives.
10. Whitewash
Whitewash is the foamy, broken water that results from a wave breaking. It’s where complete beginners should learn to catch waves and practice maneuvers.
Surf slang glossary: Download for free (80 surf slang words)
Do you want to learn more surf slang words? In this downloadable glossary you’ll find a list of 80 surf slang words explained.
Lesson quiz: test your knowledge
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this post! Whether you have suggestions for improvement, want to share what you liked, or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Your feedback helps me create better content for all aspiring surfers!