What are they saying?
Fraternity and Sorority Terms
ADVISOR - An alumna or alumnus who serves as a resource and educator for the chapter and its members.
ALUMNA - an initiated sorority member who is no longer in college. (plural: Alumnae).
ALUMNUS - an initiated fraternity member who is no longer in college. (plural: Alumni).
BID - a formal invitation to join a sorority or fraternity.
COB - Continuous Open Bidding. The recruitment process after Formal Recruitment for Panhellenic Sororities, which allows women interested in joining an NPC group to express interest and join.
CROSSING - similar to initiation, a ceremony where a neo becomes a member of a group. Often used by the NPHC and USFC groups.
BROTHER - a term used by members of a fraternity when referring to one another.
CHAPTER - The locally, chartered group of the larger, national organization, which is designated by a special Greek letter name.
DIVINE NINE - The nine members of the NPHC who formed Historically Black fraternities and sororities.
GREEK - what a sorority or fraternity member is called because the organization bears a Greek letter name.
HAZING - activity which caused undue stress placed on any member that can be mental or physical and is strictly forbidden by California Law and University policy.
INITIATE - a person who has recently learned the ritual of a fraternity or sorority and is a full member of his/her fraternity/sorority.
INITIATION - The formal ceremony at which the ritual is revealed to the new members and they becomes a full member of their fraternity/sorority.
LAVALIERE - a necklace with Greek letters on it. Sorority women can wear these necklaces with their sorority’s letters, and many become lavaliered upon receiving a lavaliere from their boyfriend with his fraternity’s letters.
LEGACY - a person whose parent or sibling is an alumnus/alumna or active member of a national fraternity or sorority.
LINE The persons pledging together through intake.
MEMBERSHIP INTAKE - The process some organizations use to accept new members. Often used by the NPHC and USFC groups.
MIXER or EXCHANGE- sorority and fraternity members meeting together socially to get acquainted.
NEOPHYTE (NEO) - New member of an organization, often used by the NPHC and USFC groups.
NEW MEMBER - (also associate member or candidate) someone who has accepted a bid to join a fraternity or sorority, but has not been formally initiated.
NEW MEMBER PIN - a distinctive insignia worn on the chest designating a new member of a particular fraternity or sorority for the period of time between bid acceptance and initiation.
NEW MEMBER PROGRAM - a period of education when each new member learns about his/her fraternity or sorority.
NPHC - National Pan-Hellenic Council; The umbrella organization for historically Black fraternities and sororities.
NPC - National Panhellenic Conference umbrella organization to member sororities.
PHILANTHROPY - a service project or fundraising event undertaken by fraternity or sorority chapters on the campus, community, or national level.
PIN - (also badge) a distinctive insignia worn on the chest designating a member of a particular fraternity or sorority.
POTENTIAL MEMBER - someone who is participating in informal or formal recruitment.
PROPHYTE - Older member of an organization, often used by NPHC organizations
RITUAL - the traditional ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority containing the secrets shared between members.
SISTER - a term used by members of a sorority when referring to one another.
SOROR - a term used by sorority members when referring to one another, typically used by NPHC member sororities
The Greek Alphabet
Alpha |
Beta |
Gamma |
Delta |
Epsilon |
Zeta |
Eta |
Theta |
Iota |
Kappa |
Lambda |
Mu |
Nu |
Xi |
Omicron |
Pi |
Rho |
Sigma |
Tau |
Upsilon |
Phi |
Chi |
Psi |
Omega |
