Sometimes when you first start geocaching, it can be a little confusing to know what all the acronyms and geo-words are. Below is a list to help you get started with the new lingo.
Acronyms
- ALR = Additional Logging Requirement
- BYOP = Bring Your Own Pen
- CITO = Cache In, Trash Out (event type)
- CO = Cache Owner
- CSI = Cache Satisfaction Index. Generally with a number 0 (being bad) to 5 (Excellent)
- D5 = Geocache with very high difficulty rating
- DNF = Did Not Find
- DOP = Dilution of precision, describes the geometric strength of satellite configuration
- D/T = Difficulty/Terrain rating.FLTF = Full log to follow
- FTF = First to Find. (Often wrapped as {FTF} to aid in auto stats gathering)
- GC = Geocache, also the geocaching.com website/cache Also GeoCoin.
- GCA = Geocaching Australia, geocaching.com.au website/cache.
- GPS = Global Positioning System
- GPSr = GPS Receiver
- GPX = file type used GPSs and apps for cache data exchange
- GSAK = Geocaching Swiss Army Knife utility
- GZ = Ground Zero – where the cache was (or rather should be) located/found.
- LTF = Log to Follow
- NINO = Nothing In, Nothing Out
- P81 = Project 81 – challenge to find caches to complete the whole 81 D/T matrix/grid.
- P366 = Project 366 – challenge to complete the whole 366 day calendar with GC finds (doesn’t have to be the SAME year).
- PAF = Phone A Friend – often employed trying to avoid a DNF!
- PM = Private Message (eg email, off-forum message, etc)
- POI = Point of Interest
- QR = Quick Response code (a square matrix-barcode)
- SPOR = Suspicious Pile of Rocks
- SWAG = Stuff We All Get – or toy swaps, popular with families
- STF = Second to Find.
- T5 = geocache with very high terrain rating (eg. needing a boat, scuba or climbing gear)
- TB = Travel Bug trackable tag (also used for other similar trackables/tags)
- TFTC = Thanks for the Cache (recommend never to be used alone as a log entry!)
- TFTE = Thanks for the Event (recommend never to be used alone as a log entry!)
- TFTH = Thanks For The Hunt/Hide
- TNLNSL = Took Nothing, Left Nothing, Signed Log.
- TOTT = Tools Of The Trade
- TTF = Third to Find.
- UPS = Unusual Pile of Sticks/Stones
- WP = Waypoint – location of a stage of a multi-cache or similar along the route to GZ

Jargon
- Geoart = A series of puzzles with virtual waypoints designed in a shape and visble on a map
- Geocrap = undesirable swaps
- Geocoin = a coin or medallion-like trackable
- Geocheck(er) = a website that can be used to check the calculated coordinates of GZ.
- GeoMobile = Your method of Transport (eg car)
- Geotrail = A path made by previous cachers that can lead to a cache.
- GeoWidow = The spouse you don’t see much of anymore.
- Geoyak = kayak – often useful for water-based T5 geocaches
- GroundSpeak = The company that runs geocaching.com
- Muggle = a non geocacher, usually can be found at GZ making life difficult!
- Nano = tiny cache smaller than a Micro, but still classified as a Micro
- Pathtags = collectible, round, metal dog-tag with inlayed enamel colors traded, given away or left in geocaches.
- Trackable = generic term for objects that have a code number which allow them to be tracked through geocache visits (either grabbed, dropped or just visited).
- Travel Bug = usually a military-style dog-tag trackable, but with some variations on the theme.
- Unloved days = days since the last find on a cache
- Challenge = A cache which asks you to meet certain goals / requirements to claim the find. eg, Find 100 traditional caches.
