Many people have questions about what is the appropriate term for certain parts of their hookah, or just hookah terms in general. Here is a list of all hookah related terms and their definitions.

Many people have questions about what is the appropriate term for certain parts of their hookah, or just hookah terms in general. Here is a list of all hookah related terms and their definitions.

Ash Catcher – The round metal detachable plate that is located under the bowl of the hookah, which is used to catch the ash from the charcoal.

Base – The glass vase at the bottom of your hookah is the base. The base holds water which filtrates the smoke for a smoother smoking experience.

Bowl – The bowl sits on top of your hookah, and is typically made from clay or pyrex.

Charcoal – The charcoal is what lights your tobacco and keeps it lit throughout your session. Charcoal comes in two varieties, quick-lighting which lights using a simple lighter or match, and natural charcoal which requires a stove top to light.

Grommet – There are three types of grommets used on your hookah. Hose grommets are used to connect your hose to the base of your hookah, and ensure a tight seal so that you do not suck in air. Bowl grommets attach the bowl to the top of the hookah. Vase grommets attach and seal the glass base to the main shaft.

Hose – The hose is used to draw the smoke from the hookah to your mouth. Hoses come in many styles, shapes, and colors, so that you can match the design to your specific hookah.

Mouthpiece – Plastic tips are often used in hookah lounges for sanitary reasons, they allow multiple people to share the same hookah without needing more than one hose.

Nargile – The term used for a hookah in many countries around the world.

Shaft – The shaft is the heart of the hookah, it is typically made from stainless steel, and connects everything together.

Shisha – The flavored tobacco used when smoking hookah. unlike dry pipe tobacco, shisha is moist and typically contains honey or molasses, and fruit flavoring. Shisha comes in many brands and varieties.

Tongs – Tongs are used to safely handle charcoal, allowing you to move the coal around the bowl for even usage.

Wind Cover – these are used when smoking hookah outdoors, they are placed on top of the hookah, usually resting on the ash catcher, and they cover the entire bowl so that the wind does not effect your smoking experience, and help retain the heat.

Hookah 101 – Glossary of Hookah Terms