All ZKH Greek Terms

SET/STUDY SESSIONS/LAB

Scheduled meetings with the line and educator to review intake learning materials or practice for probate performance

SISTER / SOROR

An active member of a sorority.

SORORITY

A Greek letter organization for women. Many sororities are officially fraternities; however, most refer to themselves as sororities.

TAIL / TAIL DOG

Last person in line

WOOD

A wooden paddle used for discipline or motivation.

BRUHHOOD/SISTERHOOD

Intangible, yet the most cherished asset among all Greek members, bruhhood and sisterhood are the foundations of fraternity and sorority life. Both are difficult to explain, but they can be characterized by their most common bond and identifiable element, which is unconditional love.

STROLL

A line dance done to music by the membership of cultural Greek Organizations (usually at a party). Unified dances are usually done in a circle to advertise the organization.

PERFORMANCE

Complex performance involving synchronized, percussive movement, singing, speaking, chanting, and drama. Unified step routine to advertise the organization. A historically black tradition characterized by synchronized hand-foot movements, along with singing, dancing, chanting, and acting.

SKATER

Someone who did not work hard to earn his or her membership into Greek Organization

TRE

The third person in line or #3

Frater

a term used to refer to another member of their fraternity. Sometimes they will refer to someone as simply Frat.

Fraternity

A Greek organization for men / masculine women. Many of the older women's organizations are officially known as fraternities rather than sororities. Also refers to co-ed Greek organizations.

Greek

An informal name of a member in a fraternity or sorority.

Greek Letters

Typically, two to three Greek letters you earn the right to wear upon crossing.

Hand Sign

used to identify members of the same organization. Most have a deep meaning to that organization or ritualistic symbol.

Inactive

A member who is not current on financial dues or a member who has requested to be released from membership responsibility due to personal circumstances.

Induction

The ceremony in which an individual begins to become a new member of a Greek organization.

Informational

recruitment event for interests to learn about an organization.

Initiation

Ceremony that marks the beginning of new members becoming active, life-long members of their organization (as long as they stay in good standings according to the organizations bi-laws).

Interest

title of a potential new member who the group knows is interested.

Club

Same number as you while pledging or on line

Crossing

Ceremony during which new members of multicultural Greek organizations become active, life-long members of their organization.

Crossed

The same as being initiated; crossing over from being a pledge to being a full member. "Crossing the Burning Sands"

Deference

Giving respect to the members that came before you, such as giving up your seat to an older member.

Dean of Pledges

The membership educator. The person who is to make sure that you are safe and getting the proper information during your process/intake. An old term that the groups still use, short for Membership Educator.

Deuce

Someone who has the line number 2.

DOT

Someone pledging by him/herself. AKA as point, ace, or solo.

Dropped

The discontinuance of the pledge process or someone who has left or been removed from Membership Intake Process.

Dry Recruitment

The practice of not serving alcoholic beverages at recruitment functions.

Executive Office

The central organization of a particular fraternity or sorority, often referred to as National Headquarters, International Headquarters, or just Nationals.

Active

A fully initiated member of a sorority or fraternity who is current with all dues paid. A member who has been initiated into lifelong fraternity or sorority membership and participates in organization activities.

Ace

Someone who has the line number 1, the leader of the line.

Alumnae

A graduated member of a sorority (singular is alumna).

Alumni

A graduated member of a fraternity (singular is alum).

Badge

Also known as a pin, a piece of jewelry given to initiation members worn to identify their membership in the organization. Typically worn to official events, it is only worn while in business-like attire, and usually worn over the heart and above all other pins.

Bid

A formal invitation to join a Greek organization.

Big Brother/Big Sister

An active member of a fraternity or sorority who serves as a mentor to a new member, guiding him or her through the new member program and initiation.

Brother

An active member of a fraternity. An initiated member of a fraternity. It is used as a term of address when an initiated member refers to another initiated member.

Call

A vocal sound used by Greeks to identify oneself, typically followed by a response. A sound that each organization member says to represent their organization. Audible sounds used by members to acknowledge or gain the attention of other members. Calls may vary regionally within organizations, and some organizations may use more than one call.

Chapter

A recognized and sanctioned entity/unit/division of a larger fraternity designated by a special Greek name.

LEGACY

A person whose parent, grandparent, or sibling was an active member of a sorority or fraternity.

LETTERS

Referred to anything with the Greek letters of your organization.

LINE BROTHER/SISTER (LB/LS)

The person with whom one pledges on the same line or at the same time.

MIXER

An activity where the members of one organization visit the chapter of another organization for social networking, usually between a fraternity and a sorority.

NEOPHYTE

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word neophyte comes from the Greek word 'neophytos,' which means newly planted, or newly converted. In a cultural Greek organization, this also means a new member or member for less than 1 year.

On-Line

A nickname given to you by your educator to identify yourself within the organization. There is individual (each person) and collective names (Line/Class).

PAPER

One who signs a document conferring their membership into an organization, thereby foregoing the traditional method of physically pledging.

PARAPHERNALIA

Clothing or items that bear Greek letters.

LINE NAME

Nickname given by educator while pledging. You get one as an individual and as a collective.

LINE / CLASS / SHIP

Name given to the chapter of people pledging together.