PokéGo AccShop - Pokémon Terms Glossary

The Ultimate Pokémon GO Glossary

Speak Like a Pro with Pokémon Terms

Walking into a local Pokémon GO meetup can feel like walking into a different country if you don’t know the Pokémon terms and lingo. Trainers use a lot of shorthand and technical terms to describe what’s happening in the game. If someone shouts, “There’s a 100% IV Hundo at the fountain!” or “Make sure you have STAB on your Charged Move!” do you know what they mean?

Don’t sweat it. We’ve put together this massive glossary to help you translate “Trainer-speak” into plain English. We cover both basic and advanced Pokémon GO terms, including slang, technical jargon, and event-specific phrases. This glossary is perfect for new and returning players, as well as anyone looking to understand the Pokémon GO community.

The Basics: Your Daily Gear and Pokémon Centre Essentials

PokéStop

(A blue pillar on your map tied to a real-world landmark that gives you items when you spin it). These are your lifelines. Without PokéStops, you run out of Poké Balls fast! Note: Some PokéStops may turn into Gyms or change their items during special events.

Gym

(A tall tower on the map where teams fight for control). Gyms are where you can earn free PokéCoins (the in-game money) by leaving your Pokémon there to defend them.

Avatar

(Your digital character that you can customise with clothes and poses). Your avatar can look exactly like you, thanks to advanced customisation.

Pokédex

(A digital encyclopaedia that records every Pokémon you’ve seen or caught). Completing your Pokédex is one of the biggest goals in the game!

Trainer Code

(A unique 12-digit number you share with others to become in-game friends). Sharing this is how you start getting those sweet XP bonuses we talked about in the “Getting Started” guide.

Catching & Collecting: How to Catch Wild Pokémon

Spawn

(When a Pokémon appears on the map for you to catch). If a Pokémon “despawns,” it means it has timed out and disappeared from that spot.

Shiny

(An incredibly rare version of a Pokémon with a different colour). For example, a normal Magikarp is orange, but a Shiny Magikarp is gold. They don’t have better stats, but they are huge “flexes” (ways to show off).

Hundo

(A Pokémon with perfect 15/15/15 stats). These are the strongest versions of any Pokémon and are very rare.

Nundo

(A Pokémon with 0/0/0 stats). Believe it or not, these are even rarer than Hundos! Collectors love them because they are so hard to find.

IVs

(Individual Values: hidden numbers for Attack, Defence, and HP). You can see these by tapping “Appraise” on your Pokémon.

(Combat Power: a number that gives you a general idea of how strong a Pokémon is in a fight). Remember, high CP doesn’t always mean better IVs!

Incense

(An item that smells like “Pokémon perfume” and attracts wild Pokémon to your specific location for a set amount of time).

Lure Module

(An item you plug into a PokéStop to attract Pokémon to that spot for everyone nearby). There are Golden Lures, Glacial Lures, and more that attract specific types!

Hatched Pokémon

Pokémon hatched from Eggs may have unique stats or bonuses. For example, a Pokémon hatched from an Egg starts with 120 Friendship in some games, which can affect evolution or move eligibility.

Battling & Powering Up

STAB

(Same Type Attack Bonus). If a Fire-type Pokémon uses a Fire-type move, it does extra damage. You always want to try to match your moves to your Pokémon’s type for maximum power!

Fast Move

(A type of Pokémon move that is quick and used by tapping the screen). Fast Moves generate energy for your Charged Move. In the main series, Pokémon moves are divided into categories such as physical and special, which affects how damage is calculated based on the move's category.

Charged Move

(A powerful Pokémon move used once your energy bar is full). These usually involve a mini-game on the screen to power them up. Moves are classified - physical or special - which determines whether the move uses the Attack or Special Attack stat. The Pokémon performing the move is called the user, and the Pokémon being targeted is the opponent.

PvP

(Player vs. Player). This refers to the GO Battle League, where you fight other real people in real-time. When a Pokémon's HP drops to zero, the Pokémon faints, and you must use certain items to revive it.

PvE

(Player vs Environment). This refers to fighting Team GO Rocket or Raid Bosses rather than other players.

Candy

(The resource you get from catching or transferring Pokémon). You need specific Candy to evolve your Pokémon (like Bulbasaur Candy for Bulbasaur). Collecting enough candy and experience points allows a Pokémon to undergo evolution - a process where a Pokémon changes form and improves its stats and moves.

Stardust

(The most valuable resource in the game). You get it for almost everything you do, and you need it to power up your Pokémon and make them stronger. Powering up increases a Pokémon's maximum HP. Don’t waste your Stardust early on!

(Technical Machine). An item that lets you “forget” a move and learn a new one. Useful if your Hundo has a bad move set.

Special Items

Are unique in-game objects that can be used to evolve certain Pokémon or boost their stats, such as Power Items or Mega Stones in the main series.

Speed Stat

Speed stat determines which Pokémon moves first in battle in the main series, affecting turn order. In Pokémon GO, this is simplified and does not directly affect move order.

Raids & Team GO Rocket

Raid

(A cooperative battle where up to 20 players team up to beat a giant “Boss” Pokémon at a Gym). If you win, you get a chance to catch that powerful Boss!

Remote Raid Pass

(An item that lets you join a Raid from your house, even if the Gym is miles away).

Ex-Raid

(An exclusive, invite-only Raid for the rarest Pokémon in the game).

Team GO Rocket

(The bad guys of the game who take over PokéStops). You have to battle them to save “Shadow Pokémon.”

Shadow Pokémon

(Pokémon with purple flames that have been made angry by Team GO Rocket). They deal 20% more damage but are more expensive to power up.

Purified Pokémon

(A Shadow Pokémon that you have “healed”). They get a big stat boost and cost less to power up, but they lose that 20% damage bonus.

Events & Community: Connecting Through Pokémon Games

Community Day

(A monthly 3-hour window where one specific Pokémon is everywhere, has a higher Shiny rate, and gets a special move when evolved). Many trainers get involved in these events to catch rare Pokémon and participate in team-based activities.

Spotlight Hour

(A weekly 1-hour event on Tuesday nights where one Pokémon spawns like crazy).

Nesting / Nest

(A specific park or area where one type of Pokémon appears way more often than usual). Nests “migrate” (change) every two weeks!

Regional Pokémon

(Pokémon that only appear in certain parts of the real world). For example, Kangaskhan only spawns in Australia.

RNG

(Random Number Generator). This is the “luck” factor of the game. If you haven’t seen a Shiny in a week, you’ll hear trainers say, “The RNG is hating me today!” Various events are held in other Pokémon games, and some events are called by special names within the community.

Advanced Strategies and Terminology

Once you’ve mastered the basics, diving into advanced strategies can really level up your Pokémon GO experience. One of the most important concepts is the Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB). This means that if your Pokémon uses a move that matches its own type - like a Fire-type Pokémon using a Fire-type move - it will deal extra damage in battle. Understanding STAB can make a huge difference when you’re trying to win tough battles or take down powerful Raid Bosses.

Knowing your Pokémon’s stats is also key. Each Pokémon has an Attack stat, Defence stat, Special Attack stat, Special Defence stat, and HP (Hit Points). These base stats determine how much damage your Pokémon can deal, how well it can withstand attacks, and how long it can stay in the fight. For example, a Steel-type Pokémon might have high Defence, making it tough to take down, while an Ice-type Pokémon could have a powerful Special Attack stat for dealing big damage with special moves.

Managing your team’s HP is crucial, especially after intense battles. The Pokémon Centre is your go-to location for healing and restoring your Pokémon’s HP hit points, so they’re ready for the next challenge. In the field, you can use items like Potions and Revives to heal or revive Pokémon that have fainted.

When it comes to catching wild Pokémon, using the right tools can make all the difference. Ultra Balls and Great Balls offer a higher catch rate than standard Poké Balls, making it easier to catch rare or high-level Pokémon. Some Pokémon can learn special moves, including Egg Moves, which are unique attacks passed down when a Pokémon hatches from an egg.

By mastering these advanced strategies and understanding the terminology - like STAB, base stats, and special moves - you’ll be better equipped to build a strong team, catch wild Pokémon more efficiently, and compete at a higher level in the world of Pokémon GO. Whether you’re aiming to fill your Pokédex, win battles, or just have fun exploring, these tips will help you become a true Pokémon GO pro.

Wrapping Up: Why Knowledge is Power

Now that you know the language, you’re ready to jump into the community without feeling lost. Being a great trainer isn’t just about having the fastest phone or the most Poké Balls - it’s about understanding how all these systems work together.

When you understand IVs, you know which Pokémon are worth your Stardust. When you understand STAB, you win more PvP matches. And when you know what a Hundo is, you’ll know exactly why everyone in the park just started running toward the same fountain!

Keep this glossary bookmarked. As the game updates and more terms are added, we’ll be here to break them down for you.

Ready to put your new vocabulary to the test? Head over to our "Getting Started" page to see how to use these terms to level up your new, official account!