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Greek Speak
Glossary of Common Greek Terms
| Term | Definition |
| Active | A person who has been initiated into a lifelong membership of a fraternity or sorority and is in good standing with this organization. |
| Alumni | A graduate member of a fraternity or sorority. |
| Associate Member | An individual who has accepted the bid of a fraternity/sorority and has taken the first step toward full membership but has not been initiated. |
| Bid | An invitation to membership. |
| Big Brother | An active member of a Fraternity or Sorority who serves as a guide, advisor and special friend to a new member. |
| Brother | A term used within a men's fraternity when referring to other members or new members. |
| Chapter | A chartered undergraduate or alumni group recognized by a fraternity or sorority. |
| Chapter Advisor | An alumni who establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship with a chapter and serves as a teacher, counselor and friend. |
| Colony | A student organization in the final stage before to being installed as a chartered chapter of a Greek-letter organization. |
| Dry | The term used to describe events where alcohol is forbidden. All recruitment events are dry events. |
| Founder's Day | The date celebrating the original founding of a Greek-letter organization. |
| Fraternity | A group of individuals bound together by common goals and rituals. |
| Greek | A general term applied to members affiliated with Greek-letter organizations. |
| Initiation | The ceremony in which a pledge member receives full membership privileges. |
| Interfraternal Council (IFC) | The governing body for the fraternities affiliated with the National Interfraternal Conference. |
| Lavaliere | A piece of jewelry with the letters of one's chapter. |
| Lavaliering | the practice of a fraternity member giving his lavaliere to a woman, signifying their committed relationship. |
| Legacy | A rushee of a fraternity who is the son, brother, or other relative of a member of the fraternity. |
| Order of Omega | An honorary organization for Greeks dedicated to the principles of leadership, academic excellence and community service. |
Philanthropy |
An activity to raise money for a community or national organization/foundation. |
| Recruitment | The period of formal recruitment to meet chapter members. |
| Ritual | The secret ceremonies and symbols of a Fraternity or Sorority. These generally reveal the core values and beliefs of the organiztion. |
| Rushee | A person interested in becoming a member of a fraternity. |
Greek Alphabet
A B G D E Z H Q I K L M N X O P R S T U F C Y W
A |
B |
G |
D |
E |
Z |
H |
Q |
I |
K |
L |
M |
N |
X |
O |
P |
R |
S |
T |
U |
F |
C |
Y |
W |