Navy SEAL Slang The Most Elite U.S. Soldiers Really Use

Ann Casano
Updated September 23, 2021 7.7K votes 1.5K voters 102.0K views
Voting Rules
Current or former SEALs only: vote up the terms you've actually used or heard used.

The banana who had to ring out after getting a sugar cookie is officially non-qual. Those are just a few terms used by Navy SEALs, the elite military group known for the toughest military training in the world. Less than 10% of applicants meet Navy SEAL requirements, and then only about 25- to 35% make it through SEAL training. That’s a high failure rate for a group that is already considered the cream of the crop.  

Most of us do not have the physical or mental toughness to be a SEAL. Learning Navy SEAL jargon, however, will at least make us sound cool. SEAL is an acronym that stands for Sea, Air, and Land. And just like police slang, a lot of the vernacular used by SEALs consists of acronyms.

Learn what it means to be a pipe hitter or a bullfrog with this collection of Navy SEAL slang.

Photo: user uploaded image
  • 1
    650 VOTES

    Flash Bang

    Meaning: A stun grenade used by SEAL teams in the field.  

    Use It In A Sentence: "The SEAL used a flash bang to disorientate the enemy during the rescue mission."

    650 votes
  • 2
    442 VOTES

    BUD/S

    Meaning: Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training. BUD/S is a grueling 6-month training course with a high dropout rate. It is considered one of the most mentally and physically challenging training programs in the world. 

    Use It In A Sentence: "If a SEAL can finish BUD/S, then he's both mentally and physically prepared for combat." 

    442 votes
  • 3
    482 VOTES

    Ring Out

    Meaning: A BUD/S trainee who has had enough during an exercise will ring a bell three times, signaling they want to quit.  

    Use It In A Sentence: "Five tadpoles rang out yesterday. I wonder how many will be done by the end of the week."

    482 votes
  • 4
    403 VOTES

    Ruck

    Meaning: A ruck is a weighted backpack SEALs are required to carry around while training. 

    Use It In A Sentence: "If that banana can't complete his ruck training, then how are they going to carry all that gear around in the field?" 

    403 votes
  • 5
    580 VOTES

    The Head

    Meaning: The bathroom on a ship.

    Use It In A Sentence: "I drank too many neats. I gotta hit the head." 

    580 votes
  • 6
    391 VOTES

    Fast Rope

    Meaning: How a SEAL descends from a helicopter, using a special rope and sliding without the use of a harness or carabiner. 

    Use It In A Sentence: "I had to fast rope onto the ship from a helicopter!"

    391 votes