Vocabulary Related to Gym and Fitness

Hello, English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. If you are a fan of exercising, look at this post because we will look at the vocabulary related to gym and fitness.

Gym-related vocabulary

Word or phrase	Meaning	Example sentence
Treadmill	a piece of fitness equipment that allows you to walk, jog or run indoors.	Every morning, I kick off my workout with a brisk 20-minute session on the treadmill* to wake up my body.*
Cross-trainer	the machine with foot pedals for your legs and handles that help you work your upper body simultaneously with your legs.	After a long day at work, Sara relaxed with a 25-minute session on the cross-trainer* to unwind and boost her energy level.*
Dumbbells	a type of free weight used in strength training, consisting of a short bar with a weight attached to each end. Vocabulary Related to Gym and Fitness	After my run, I challenged myself with a set of dumbbell* shoulder presses to round off my workout.*
Barbell	a long, sturdy metal bar used in weight training, typically with weight plates attached at each end.	Barbell exercises are great for engaging multiple muscle groups at once, leading to a more effective workout.
Bench press	a compound weight-training exercise primarily aimed at strengthening your chest, shoulders and triceps.	My coach recommended increasing the weight gradually during my bench press* sessions so I could build muscle more effectively.*
Squat rack	a piece of gym equipment designed to support a barbell during weightlifting exercises, most notably squats.	I adjusted the safety bars on the squat rack* before beginning my heavy squats to ensure a secure workout.*
Deadlift	a weightlifting movement where you lift a barbell from the ground. Vocabulary Related to Gym and Fitness	The gym instructor reminded everyone that mastering the deadlift* technique is key to avoiding injuries during heavy lifts.*

Fitness and exercise phrases

Word or phrase	Meaning	Example sentence
Warm-up	gentle exercises to get your muscles ready before training.	Before starting my strength training session, I complete a 10-minute warm-up* that includes dynamic stretches and light jogging.*
Cool down	a period of low-intensity exercise or stretching performed at the end of your workout.	After an hour of intense running, I took a slow walk on the treadmill as a cool down.
HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)	a workout method that alternates short bursts of intense, high-energy exercise with periods of low-intensity recovery or rest. Vocabulary Related to Gym and Fitness	The personal trainer recommended adding HIIT* workouts into my schedule to boost endurance and improve overall fitness in a shorter time frame.*
Cardio	short for cardiovascular exercise, which refers to any activity that raises your heart rate and improves the function of your heart, lungs and circulatory system.	I include 30 minutes of cardio* in my daily routine to improve my heart health and boost my energy levels.*
Resistance training	involves working against some type of force to build muscle strength, endurance, and size.	I incorporate resistance training* into my workout routine three times a week to help build muscle and improve my overall strength.*
Reps (repetitions)	refers to the number of times you perform a specific exercise movement.	During today’s workout, I did three sets of 12 reps* for my squats to build lower body strength.*
Sets	series of repetitions (reps) of a particular exercise performed consecutively, followed by a rest period.	Adding an extra set* to my squat routine challenged me to push through my limits while ensuring adequate recovery.*

Gym slang and expressions

Word or phrase	Meaning	Example sentence
To smash a workout	an informal, energetic phrase in British gym slang used to describe having an exceptionally effective and vigorous workout.	I smashed my workout this morning by lifting heavier weights than usual and finishing with a challenging HIIT* session.*
Gym bunny	someone who loves going to the gym. Vocabulary Related to Gym and Fitness	Everyone in our circle knows Tom as the ultimate gym bunny* – he’s always the first one at the gym and the last one to leave.*
Getting hench	building a noticeably muscular physique.	After months of dedicated weight training and a proper diet, I’m really getting hench* and can see significant muscle definition.*
Leg day	a workout session dedicated to exercising the muscles of the lower body.	Every week, I make sure not to skip leg day, even though it often leaves my muscles screaming the next day. Vocabulary Related to Gym and Fitness
No pain, no gain	a classic phrase meaning that hard work leads to results.	She pushed through the final set of squats, believing that no pain, no gain* when it comes to building strength.*
Sweating buckets	exercising so hard you’re drenched in sweat.	After my HIIT workout, I was sweating buckets.
Spot me	asking someone to assist or watch you while lifting weights.	I’m about to attempt a new personal best on the bench press – can you spot me?

Vocabulary related to gym and fitness

Phrasal verbs related to sports and exercise

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1 Comment

From “In the Zone” to “Maxing Out”: 11 Gym Terms That Infiltrated Daily Life – Country Adventures · 18 Jun 2025 at 8:42 am

[…] “Spot me” began as a weightlifting term, referring to someone who assists another during heavy l…. Today, it’s often used when asking for help or support in non-gym settings. Need a colleague to review your work before submitting it? You might say, “Can you spot me on this report?” […]