If you’ve ever nodded along while someone talked about their ‘MEQ list’ or a ‘5+ FNP’, this glossary is for you. Warhammer 40k gaming terms cover everything from rules mechanics to in-universe slang, and knowing them makes the hobby a lot less intimidating.
What this glossary actually covers
Warhammer 40,000 has two overlapping vocabularies: one for the tabletop game and one for the lore. The gaming side gives you codex, points, and army list. The lore side gives you Waaagh, Imperial Creed, and Pariah. Most fan glossaries mix both, and that’s fine, because they show up together in casual conversation.
This guide focuses on the terms you’ll hear at a gaming club or in a rules discussion. It’s not a full dictionary of every faction’s language, but it covers the shorthand that trips up newcomers.
Core gaming terms you’ll use every game
These are the building blocks. If you know these, you can follow most army-building talk and rulebook references without getting lost.
- Army: your whole collection of models, or the specific force you bring to a game.
- Army list: the written breakdown of units, wargear, and points you’re fielding.
- Codex: a faction-specific rulebook with rules, lore, and army-building guidelines.
- Faction: a group like Space Marines, Orks, or Necrons, each with its own codex.
- Model: a single miniature on the tabletop.
- Points: the cost assigned to every unit, used to balance games.
- Rulebook: the core rules for playing, separate from any codex.
Shorthand and slang from the tabletop
Veterans love abbreviations. Some come from older editions and stick around even when the official rule changes.
- AP: Armor Penetration, how much a weapon reduces a save.
- FNP / Feel No Pain: a roll to ignore damage, often said as ‘shrug’.
- MEQ: Marine Equivalent, a statline like Strength 4, Toughness 4, 3+ save.
- TEQ: Terminator Equivalent, tougher than MEQ with an invulnerable save.
- Alpha Strike: an all-out aggressive push, usually on turn one.
- All Comers: a balanced list meant to handle any opponent.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dakka | Ork term for shooting, gunfire, or noisy weapons |
| Waaagh | Ork battlecry, a massive invasion, or ‘we are’ as a prefix |
| Teef | Ork teeth used as currency |
| Grot | A Gretchin, or a servant/slave |
| Mont’ka | Tau ‘killing blow’, the aggressive half of their doctrine |
| Kauyon | Tau ‘patient hunter’, the subtle counterpart |
Lore terms that show up in games
You’ll hear these in narrative play, campaign books, and casual chat. They’re part of the setting’s flavour, and some have direct rules impact.
For example, a Psyker is a genetic mutant who channels the Warp, and a Pariah (or Blank) is the opposite: a rare individual invisible to the Warp. Both can matter on the tabletop.
- Heresy: going against the Imperial Creed, often involving Chaos worship.
- Loyalist: someone still true to the Emperor, especially Space Marines.
- Traitor: someone who rebelled against the Imperium.
- Abhuman: a human subspecies adapted to a hostile environment.
- Manufactorum: a large factory or manufacturing complex.
- Emperor’s Peace: euthanasia for someone mortally wounded.
Key facts
- Warhammer 40k gaming terms split into tabletop rules jargon and in-universe lore slang.
- A codex is a faction-specific rulebook, while the rulebook covers core mechanics.
- Points are used to balance armies, and every unit has a points cost.
- Shorthand like MEQ, FNP, and AP speeds up rules discussions among players.
- Ork terms like Dakka, Teef, and Waaagh are widely used even by non-Ork players.
FAQ
What does MEQ mean in Warhammer 40k?
MEQ stands for Marine Equivalent. It’s shorthand for a unit with a statline similar to a standard Space Marine: Strength 4, Toughness 4, and a 3+ save. You’ll also see TEQ for Terminator Equivalent.
What is a codex?
A codex is a faction-specific rulebook. It contains the rules, lore, and army-building guidelines for that faction, including unit stats, wargear, and special abilities.
What does Waaagh mean?
Waaagh is an Ork word with three main uses: a battlecry, a massive Ork invasion or migration, and as a prefix meaning ‘we are’ or ‘tribe of’. It’s central to Ork culture and warfare.