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Ever overheard someone say they’re off to TP with a Venom in hand and wondered if you accidentally enrolled in a code-breaking course? Relax - you’re not alone. Exeter’s got its own quirky student slang, and while it might sound like a foreign language at first, we promise you’ll be fluent before Welcome Week is over.
This guide is your backstage pass to understanding Exeter lingo and avoiding that awkward “smile and nod” moment.
The Exeter Essentials: Words You’ll Hear Daily
Here are the phrases that get dropped into conversation like confetti during Freshers’:
- TP – Short for Timepiece, Exeter’s most famous nightclub. If someone says, “TP Wednesday?”, they’re making social plans.
- The Vic – Not your auntie. It’s the Victoria Inn, a beloved pub near the Streatham campus, known for its quiz nights and chill vibes.
- Lemmys – who's he? Lemmys is short for the Lemon Grove, our very own student club on Streatham campus.
- Fixr – whether you're after Guild give-it-a-go sessions, club tickets or general events, Fixr is the go-to app. Download it now and checkout upcoming events in Exeter!
- Soc – short for society. Whether its Surf soc or Geography soc, you’ll be hearing this abbreviation everywhere.
- Overheard – the main student-run Facebook group. This is where people share funny stories, uni life chaos and even swap or sell club tickets. It can be really useful of you’re seeking advice, in search for lost property or just need a good laugh through the stress of deadlines.
- Social – another word for a society event, most commonly in the form of pres before you head to the club. You may be asked “Are you going to Wednesday’s social?”
- Pres (pre-drinks) – time spent socialising before you head out into town.
- Impy – short for the Imperial Wetherspoons pub. The biggest and most popular spoons in Exeter and a great location for socialising.
- Bleed Green – the Universities motto, particularly well-known amongst sport societies. Green is the colour of Exeter’s student community. You’ll hear it shouted at sports matches, worn on Exeter merch, and even dropped in casual conversation when people are hyping up their society, team, or department. If you’re doing something with Exeter pride, you’re “bleeding green”.
Campus Codewords
Some things sound strange until you live them:
- Forum – The heart of Streatham Campus. This is where you will find the library, student guild, lots of food outlets and the Ram!
- Cardiac Hill – The steep slope up to campus from Birks Grange student accommodation. You’ll know it by the way your calves cry.
- The Ram – The Universities on-campus pub. Cheap pints, curly fries, and half your coursemates? You’ll be a regular in no time.
- The Library – AKA where you’ll bump into everyone you know in exam season. Not necessarily studying.
- Devonshire House – the home of the student guild! Here you’ll find food outlets, study spaces and lots of fun activities to get involved in.
Drink Talk: What’s a Venom Anyway?
You’ll quickly learn that Exeter nightlife runs on sugar and spirits:
- Venom – don’t worry it's not poisonous. It’s the staple drink of an Exeter night out! A super-sweet concoction, but be warned, they’ve earned their reputation as both Exeter’s favourite and most feared drink.
- VK – A brightly coloured, pre-mixed alcopop. Comes in many flavours, all of them questionably neon.
Pullout tip: "If it glows in the dark and is under £3, it’s probably a VK."
Bonus tip: It might feel like everyone is drinking alcohol, but loads of students go out and have the best nights out, without the hangover to follow! We're busy planning some sober socials this term, come along and give us your ideas!
So... What Now?
Now that you’ve cracked the code, the best way to really learn Exeter slang is to dive in and use it! Don’t worry if you slip up - half the fun is getting it wrong the first few times.
Still confused or want to test your new vocab? Come chat with us during Welcome Week, (find us at the Great Hall Piazza) or drop into The Ram and ask someone what their go-to VK flavour is. They’ll love it. Promise.
Welcome to Exeter - you’re one of us now.