LEGO FAQ

What does what mean - an overview of all abbreviations and meanings

 

4-wide
This refers to the width of LEGO vehicles, which are four studs wide. It harks back to the classic LEGO cars from the 1980s and 1990s.

 

ABS
This is the plastic from which LEGO bricks are made.

 

AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO)
These are adult LEGO fans who passionately enjoy building with LEGO bricks.

 

BAM
In LEGO Brand Stores, you can assemble your own minifigure from various parts, including head, torso, legs, headgear, and hair.

 

BL
This is an unofficial LEGO marketplace where LEGO fans can buy and sell sets and bricks.

 

Brick
In essence, this term refers to a LEGO brick. The term is versatile and not trademarked. Even LEGO uses the term "Brick."

 

Buildable Figures
These are figures that are built from various LEGO bricks and elements specially designed for this series. Well-known series include Bionicle and the Star Wars figures.

 

BURP (Big Ugly Rock Piece)
These are large and often dark gray rock elements used, for example, in LEGO City volcano sets.

 

CC (Cafe Corner)
This refers to a series of large-format townhouses from LEGO that were designed for adult fans and were part of the Modular Buildings series.

 

Classic Space
These are the old Classic Space sets sold from the 1970s to the 1990s and are now considered iconic. They are known for their characteristic monorail systems.

 

CMF (Collectable Minifigures)
These are collectible minifigure series that have been released multiple times a year since 2010.

 

Control+
This is part of the new "Powered Up Systems" and is used in LEGO Technic sets.

 

Cuusoo
This was the predecessor of LEGO Ideas and resulted in five official LEGO sets.

 

D2C (Direct to Consumer)
These are sets sold exclusively through LEGO itself for a specific period, available online and in brand stores.

 

Dark Ages
These are the years between childhood and adulthood when interest in LEGO wanes.

 

Display Modell
These are creations meant for display on shelves and typically have few or no play features. Examples include LEGO Architecture sets or Star Wars UCS models.

 

EOL (End of Life):
This means that a LEGO product is no longer produced and has been discontinued.

 

EV3
This stands for "Evolution" and refers to the third version of the LEGO Mindstorms programming system.

 

GBC (Great Ball Contraption)
These are interconnected modules through which small balls travel, primarily built from Technic elements, and all modules have the same dimensions (10x10 studs).

 

GWP (Gift with Purchase)
These are gifts you receive when you spend a certain amount on LEGO products.

 

Jumper Plate
These are plates used to bridge gaps between studs, such as the 1x2 plate with a single centered stud. There are various versions of these.

 

LAN (LEGO Ambassador Network)
This is a network where LEGO User Groups (LUGs) and Recognized LEGO Fan Media (RLFM) receive information and can exchange ideas.

 

LDD (LEGO Digital Designer)
This is an official computer program for designing virtual LEGO models using currently available pieces. It used to be possible to upload your own models to LEGO Factory and buy them as real sets, but this service was discontinued in 2012. LEGO no longer offers support and updates for LDD as it was replaced by Stud.io in 2022.

 

LEGO
The name LEGO is derived from the Danish phrase "leg godt," which translates to "play well."

 

LFW (LEGO Fan World)
This refers to LEGO fan events and exhibitions.

 

LOTR (Lord of the Rings)
This is a LEGO set series based on the Lord of the Rings film series.

 

LUG (LEGO User Group)
These are LEGO fan groups that come together for sharing and participating in LEGO-related activities. If a LUG is part of the LEGO Ambassador Network, it's known as an RLUG (Recognized LEGO User Group).

 

LURP (Little Ugly Rock Piece)
These are smaller rock pieces with element number 6083.

 

MBS (Master Builder Series)
This is a LEGO series that depicts buildings, scenes, and landscapes from Star Wars. The first of these sets was the "Betrayal at Cloud City" from 2018, followed by the "Mos Eisley Cantina" (75290) in October 2020.

 

MIB (Mint in Box)
This means that all parts are in the box. Inner bags may have been opened, but the instructions should be included, although the box may show signs of wear.

 

MILS (Modular Integrated Landscaping System)
This is a construction method for compatible modules (32x32 studs) used in railway, landscaping, and road building for collaborations. It was first mentioned in the HispaBrick Magazine in 2012.

 

MIMB (Mint in Mint Box):
In this case, all parts are in the box, and the inner bags are still sealed. However, the outer packaging may have been removed or the box opened.

 

Microfigures
These are small figures used in LEGO games and, in recent years, in Super Heroes, Ideas, or Architecture sets. They attach to a stud.

 

Minidolls
These are small figures used in Friends, Elves, Disney Princess, and Super Hero Girls sets. They are known for their more realistic appearance but have fewer features compared to minifigures.

 

Minifig (Minifigure)
This is the abbreviation for a minifigure, referring to the iconic LEGO figures introduced in the late 1970s.

 

MISB (Mint in Sealed Box)
For collectors, this is the highest-quality condition. All parts are in the box, inner bags are sealed, and the packaging is unopened. These sets should appear virtually new. However, older LEGO sets may have slight wear on the outer box.

 

MOC (My Own Creation)
These are models built according to one's own ideas without using instructions or predefined plans.

 

MOD (My Own Definition)
This refers to the customization of official LEGO sets to suit one's preferences.

 

Monorail/MoRaSt (Monorail Standard)
This is a modular construction method using monorail tracks defined at LFW 2012 in Cologne. It enables the creation of shared layouts where trains circulate throughout.

 

MURP (Middle Ugly Rock Piece)
These are medium-sized rock pieces similar to BURPs.

 

NISB (New in Sealed Box)
This is a variation of MISB, where the packaging is new and unopened.

 

NPU (Nice Piece Usage)
This refers to the creative use of a LEGO element for a purpose other than its intended one. An example would be using a classic croissant as a decorative element in sets like the Parisian Restaurant or Dragon Boat Race.

 

Old gray
In 2003, LEGO changed some colors, including old light and dark gray, which were replaced by the new color shades "Light Bluish Gray" and "Dark Bluish Gray." This led to confusion and debates, as many fans still prefer the "old gray."

 

OVP (Original Packaging)
This refers to the original packaging of a LEGO set.

 

PAB (Pick a Brick)
This is the section in the LEGO online shop or LEGO Brand Stores where you can select and purchase individual bricks and pieces.

 

Plate
A plate is a flat LEGO brick. Three plates stacked on top of each other equal the height of a regular LEGO brick.

 

POOP (Parts Out of Other Parts)
This refers to large LEGO elements that could be more efficiently assembled from smaller existing parts. A BURP is a good example of POOP.

 

Power Functions
This was the previous LEGO motorization system used in trains and Technic sets. They were battery-powered and based on infrared technology.

 

Powered Up
This is the successor to LEGO Power Functions and is based on Bluetooth technology.

 

RLFM (Recognized LEGO Fan Media)
These are fan sites recognized by LEGO that provide information and news about LEGO independently, similar to our collaboration with Zusammengebaut.

 

S@H (Shop at Home)
This was the predecessor of the current LEGO online shop.

 

SNOT (Studs Not On Top)
This is a building technique in which LEGO studs do not point upward but are turned in various directions to create special effects and flat surfaces.

 

Stud
This is the LEGO term for an individual stud on a LEGO brick.

 

Studless
In this building style, no or very few LEGO studs are visible. Often, the SNOT building technique is used, where bricks are rotated to create flat surfaces. Tiles are also used to cover studs.

 

SW (Star Wars)
This is a LEGO set series based on the film series of the same name by George Lucas, existing since 1999.

 

System
"System" refers to the regular LEGO bricks, as opposed to Technic or DUPLO bricks.

 

TFOL (Teen Fan of LEGO)
These are teenagers who are LEGO fans and enjoy building with LEGO bricks.

 

Tile
This is the English term for a tile, which is a LEGO plate without studs.

 

TLG (The LEGO Group)
This is the abbreviation for The LEGO Group, the company that manufactures LEGO products.

 

TRU
This stands for ToysRUs, a former toy store that unfortunately no longer exists in some regions and has been taken over by Smyths Toys.

 

VIP
As a VIP customer in the LEGO online shop, you earn VIP points with purchases that you can later redeem for discounts or exclusive offers. VIP membership is free.