Plain-English dictionary
What does that even mean?
Every streaming term explained simply — from “raid” to “bitrate” to “sub-only mode.” No jargon, no gatekeeping.
!lurkCommunity
A chat command viewers type to say 'I'm here, but quietly watching in the background.' A polite way to support without chatting.
Full definition →5HeadChat
An emote with an enormous forehead, used when someone makes a genuinely smart play or galaxy-brain observation. The opposite of Pepega.
Full definition →Ad breakMoney
Mid-stream ads the streamer runs (or Twitch runs automatically). Streamers earn a share; many run them during breaks to spare viewers mid-game.
Full definition →Affiliate / PartnerMoney
Twitch's monetization tiers. Affiliate is the first milestone (lets you earn subs/bits); Partner is the advanced tier with more perks.
Full definition →AlertTechnical
An on-screen pop-up (often with sound) that fires when someone follows, subscribes, or donates.
Full definition →Any% / 100%Community
Speedrun categories: Any% means beat the game by any means, ignoring everything optional; 100% means collect or complete everything.
Full definition →Audio interfaceTechnical
The box that converts an XLR microphone's signal to USB for your PC, with clean gain and monitoring. Required for mics like the SM7B.
Full definition →Audio monitoringTechnical
Hearing your own sources (music, videos, your mic) in your headphones via OBS, so you know exactly what viewers hear.
Full definition →AV1Technical
The newest open codec: dramatically better compression, no licensing fees. RTX 40-series+ GPUs encode it; platform support is growing fast.
Full definition →AwareChat
A wide-eyed emote meaning 'I see everything and I'm concerned about it.' Used when the streamer pretends a mistake didn't happen.
Full definition →Backseat gamingCommunity
Chat telling the streamer how to play — 'the door is on the left!!' Some streamers love the help; many have a no-backseating rule.
Full definition →BanChat
Permanently blocking someone from chatting in a channel. Reserved for serious or repeat rule-breaking; timeouts handle the small stuff.
Full definition →Base (canvas) resolutionTechnical
OBS's working resolution — usually your monitor's native size. The output resolution is what viewers get after downscaling.
Full definition →BasedChat
Praise for saying or doing something boldly authentic, regardless of what anyone thinks. The opposite of cringe.
Full definition →BitrateTechnical
How much data your stream sends per second. Higher bitrate = better image quality but needs more upload speed. Twitch caps it around 6,000–8,500 kbps.
Full definition →BitsMoney
Twitch's virtual currency. Viewers buy Bits and 'cheer' them in chat to support a streamer, who earns about 1 cent per Bit.
Full definition →BRB screenCommunity
A 'Be Right Back' scene for bathroom breaks and door deliveries — keeps something on screen instead of an awkward empty chair.
Full definition →Browser sourceTechnical
An OBS source that renders a webpage — how alerts, chat boxes, and most overlays actually work under the hood.
Full definition →Capture cardTechnical
Hardware that brings video from a console (or second PC) into your streaming computer over HDMI. Required for PS5/Xbox streaming through OBS.
Full definition →Category / DirectoryCommunity
The game or topic listing your stream appears under. Small streamers often do better in smaller categories where they aren't buried.
Full definition →catJAMChat
A vibing white cat bobbing its head to the music. Spammed whenever a song slaps. Essential equipment for music streams.
Full definition →CBR (constant bitrate)Technical
Sending data at a steady rate regardless of what's on screen. Required by Twitch and Kick because it's predictable for their servers.
Full definition →Channel pointsCommunity
Free loyalty points viewers earn by watching, spent on rewards the streamer defines — highlight a message, pick a game, make them do push-ups.
Full definition →Charity streamCommunity
A stream where donations go to a charity, often with goals and incentives ('$500 = I dye my hair'). Great for community and for good.
Full definition →Chat playsChat
Streams where chat controls the game by typing commands — famously 'Twitch Plays Pokémon.' Beautiful, democratic chaos.
Full definition →Chatbot (Nightbot, StreamElements bot)Chat
An automated helper in chat that filters spam, runs commands like !discord or !socials, and posts timed messages so the streamer doesn't have to.
Full definition →CheerMoney
Using Bits in chat — typing something like 'Cheer100' spends 100 Bits, triggers an animated emote, and supports the streamer.
Full definition →ClapChat
A clapping emote used to celebrate — or, sarcastically, to slow-clap a fail. 'Clap Clap' after a clutch is high praise.
Full definition →ClipCommunity
A short highlight (a few seconds to a minute) that any viewer can capture from a live stream or VOD and share.
Full definition →Clipping (audio)Technical
Distortion when audio is louder than the system can handle — it sounds crunchy and harsh. Fixed by lowering gain, not by moving away.
Full definition →CollabCommunity
Two or more streamers playing or creating together, sharing audiences. One of the most effective ways for small streamers to grow.
Full definition →Compressor (audio)Technical
Evens out your voice's volume — quiet parts louder, loud parts softer — so viewers never touch their volume knob. Use gently.
Full definition →Content warning / !cwCommunity
A heads-up (often a chat command) telling viewers about sensitive topics in the stream. Part of running a considerate channel.
Full definition →CookedChat
Done for, finished, doomed. 'Chat, I'm cooked' = this run is over. Confusingly, 'he's cooking' means someone is doing great.
Full definition →CopiumChat
'Cope' + 'opium' — the imaginary drug chat inhales when their streamer loses but insists it was lag. Often paired with a Pepe-in-a-gas-mask emote.
Full definition →CPMMoney
'Cost per mille' — ad revenue per 1,000 views. Streaming CPMs swing wildly by season and region; December pays best.
Full definition →CrackedChat
Insanely good at the game. 'That kid is cracked' = they're hitting every shot. Related: 'built different.'
Full definition →Desktop audioTechnical
Everything your PC plays — game, music, Discord. Streamed as one channel by default; apps like VoiceMeeter split it so you can mix.
Full definition →DiffChat
Short for 'difference' — declaring one player simply outclassed another. 'Mic diff' and 'chat diff' are the joke versions.
Full definition →Discord (community server)Community
The chat app where most streamers build their off-stream home base — announcements, memes, LFG channels, and sub-only areas live there.
Full definition →DiscoverabilityCommunity
How easily new viewers can find you. Streaming platforms are famously bad at it — which is why titles, categories, and off-platform clips matter.
Full definition →Display captureTechnical
Capturing your entire monitor, notifications and all. Flexible but risky — everyone has accidentally streamed their DMs this way.
Full definition →DMCATechnical
The US copyright law behind music strikes. Playing copyrighted songs on stream can get VODs muted or the channel struck — use stream-safe music instead.
Full definition →Donation / TipMoney
Money sent directly to a streamer, usually through a service like StreamElements or Streamlabs, often triggering an on-screen alert.
Full definition →DonoMoney
Chat shorthand for a donation. Text-to-speech donos — messages read aloud on stream — are their own art form and moderation challenge.
Full definition →DownscalingTechnical
Rendering your stream at a lower resolution than your monitor (1440p screen → 1080p stream). Lanczos is the sharpest OBS filter for it.
Full definition →Dropped framesTechnical
Frames your stream failed to send, usually from a weak or unstable internet connection. Causes stutter for viewers.
Full definition →DropsCommunity
In-game rewards viewers earn by watching streams of a specific game. Drops events reliably flood a category with viewers.
Full definition →Dual-PC setupTechnical
Using one PC to game and a second to encode the stream. Once the standard for high-end quality; modern GPU encoders (NVENC) make it unnecessary for most.
Full definition →EmoteChat
A small custom image or reaction used in chat, like KEKW or PogChamp. Subscribers often unlock a channel's exclusive emotes.
Full definition →Emote-only modeChat
A chat mode where messages can only contain emotes — no text. Great for hype moments and for calming a chaotic chat.
Full definition →EncoderTechnical
The software or hardware that compresses your video to send it online. 'x264' uses your CPU; 'NVENC' uses an NVIDIA GPU.
Full definition →Ending screenCommunity
The final scene of a stream — thank-yous, socials, and where you send the raid. A tidy ending makes the whole stream feel professional.
Full definition →EQ (equalizer)Technical
Boosting or cutting frequency ranges to shape your voice — a little low-end for warmth, a high cut for hiss. Subtlety wins.
Full definition →EZChat
'Easy.' Typed after a win, usually ironically after the hardest-fought victory imaginable. Some channels ban it as poor sportsmanship.
Full definition →F in chatChat
Typing 'F' to 'pay respects' when something dies, fails, or breaks. Comes from a Call of Duty quick-time prompt that became a global meme.
Full definition →First-time chatterChat
A viewer sending their first-ever message in a channel, often highlighted by the platform. Welcoming them well turns lurkers into regulars.
Full definition →Follower vs SubscriberCommunity
A follower gets notified when you go live (free). A subscriber pays monthly to support you. You want both, but subs are income.
Full definition →FPS (frames per second)Technical
How many images per second your stream shows. 60fps is smooth and standard for gameplay; 30fps is fine for chatting and saves bandwidth.
Full definition →GainTechnical
The input volume of your microphone. Too low = whisper quiet; too high = distorted clipping. Set it so normal speech peaks around -12 dB.
Full definition →Game captureTechnical
OBS's hooked capture of a game's video directly — the most efficient way to capture gameplay. Use it before Display Capture.
Full definition →GGChat
'Good game.' Said at the end of a match — or sarcastically after a disaster ('GG go next'). One of the oldest pieces of gaming vocabulary.
Full definition →Gifted subMoney
A subscription one viewer buys for another (or for random chatters). Big gifters are minor celebrities in any channel.
Full definition →GigaChadChat
A black-and-white photo of an impossibly chiseled man, posted when someone does something undeniably impressive or confident.
Full definition →Go-live notificationCommunity
The alert followers get when you start streaming. Pair it with a good title and a consistent schedule — it's your free marketing channel.
Full definition →GoatedChat
From GOAT — 'Greatest Of All Time.' If a play, a game, or a snack is goated, it's elite. Often 'goated with the sauce.'
Full definition →Green screen (chroma key)Technical
A green backdrop that software removes, so only you appear over the game. The effect is called chroma keying and it's built into OBS.
Full definition →H.264 / AVCTechnical
The universal video codec every platform and device accepts. When in doubt, you're streaming H.264.
Full definition →HDRTechnical
High dynamic range — brighter brights, deeper darks. Games support it; most streaming pipelines don't yet, so streamers usually leave it off.
Full definition →HEVC / H.265Technical
A more efficient successor to H.264 — better quality per bit. Supported for YouTube streaming and some Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting setups.
Full definition →HopiumChat
'Hope' + 'opium' — the drug chat inhales when believing against all odds that the comeback is real. Copium's optimistic sibling.
Full definition →HostCommunity
Featuring another streamer's live channel on your own page while you're offline. Similar to a raid but without sending a crowd all at once.
Full definition →HotkeyTechnical
A keyboard shortcut you set in OBS for instant actions while gaming — mute mic, switch scene, start a replay. The free alternative to a Stream Deck.
Full definition →Hydrate checkChat
Chat reminding the streamer (and each other) to drink water. Long streams turn chat into a very persistent group of parents.
Full definition →Hype TrainMoney
A Twitch event that starts when lots of subs/bits arrive at once — a progress bar chat can 'fuel' to higher levels with more support.
Full definition →Ingest serverTechnical
The platform server that receives your stream. Picking one near you (usually automatic) means lower latency and fewer dropped frames.
Full definition →IRL streamCommunity
'In Real Life' streaming — broadcasting from the real world (walks, travel, cooking, events) instead of games, usually from a phone or portable kit.
Full definition →JebaitedChat
Getting baited or tricked — falling for a fake-out, in game or in chat. Comes from a classic Twitch emote of esports figure Alex Jebailey.
Full definition →Just ChattingCommunity
Twitch's biggest category: streams focused on talking with chat — reactions, stories, debates — rather than gameplay.
Full definition →KappaChat
The original sarcasm emote — a grayscale smirking face. If a message ends in Kappa, it's a joke. One of the oldest pieces of Twitch culture.
Full definition →KEKWChat
The laughing emote — a wheezing Spanish comedian's face. Spammed when something is genuinely funny. 'KEK' itself is an old gaming way of typing 'LOL.'
Full definition →Keyframe intervalTechnical
How often a full video frame is sent (vs. just changes). Streaming platforms require 2 seconds — set it once in OBS and forget it.
Full definition →LChat
Short for 'loss.' Spammed when something goes badly — a missed shot, a bad take, a crash. Usually playful, not mean. The opposite of a W.
Full definition →Local recordingTechnical
Saving a high-quality copy of your stream to disk while live. Use it for editing clips and YouTube uploads — VODs are compressed.
Full definition →LULChat
Twitch's standard laughing emote, based on a photo of the late streaming legend TotalBiscuit mid-laugh. OMEGALUL is its exaggerated cousin.
Full definition →LurkerChat
A viewer who watches without chatting. Totally normal and still counts toward your viewership — lurkers are appreciated!
Full definition →MaldingChat
'Mad' + 'balding' — raging so hard you're losing your hair. Chat's favorite word when a streamer tilts.
Full definition →Media kitMoney
A one-page document with your stats, audience demographics, and rates, sent to potential sponsors. Looks professional; wins deals.
Full definition →MerchMoney
A streamer's own products — shirts, mugs, emote plushies — usually via print-on-demand stores so there's no upfront cost.
Full definition →MODCHECKChat
An emote of a person looking left and right, spammed when chat wants the moderators to handle something — 'where are the mods?!'
Full definition →Mods / ModeratorsChat
Trusted viewers who help keep chat safe by removing spam, timing out rule-breakers, and answering questions.
Full definition →monkaSChat
A sweating Pepe emote used when things get tense or nervous — a clutch round, a scary moment, an awkward donation message.
Full definition →monkaWChat
A zoomed-in, even more worried version of monkaS. When monkaS isn't enough anxiety, chat reaches for monkaW.
Full definition →Multistream / simulcastTechnical
Broadcasting to several platforms at once (Twitch + YouTube + Kick) using services like Restream. Check each platform's rules — some restrict it.
Full definition →NetworkingCommunity
Building genuine relationships with other streamers — raids, collabs, being active in their chats. Grows channels far faster than solo grinding.
Full definition →Noise gateTechnical
A filter that mutes your mic below a volume threshold, cutting keyboard clatter and fan hum between sentences. Built into OBS.
Full definition →Noise suppressionTechnical
AI or filter-based removal of constant background noise (fans, AC). OBS ships RNNoise free; NVIDIA Broadcast is the fancy option.
Full definition →NPC streamCommunity
A trend where streamers act like video-game NPCs, responding to paid gifts with canned phrases and motions. Strange, hypnotic, lucrative.
Full definition →NVENCTechnical
NVIDIA's dedicated encoding chip on GeForce GPUs. Streams with almost zero game performance cost — the default choice if you have RTX.
Full definition →o7Chat
A tiny text salute — the 'o' is a head, the '7' is a saluting arm. Posted to show respect, often when a streamer signs off or retires something.
Full definition →OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)Technical
The free, open-source app most streamers use to broadcast — it captures your game, webcam and mic, mixes them into scenes, and sends the stream to your platform.
Full definition →OBS pluginsTechnical
Community add-ons that extend OBS — motion transitions, vertical output, advanced audio. Install from obsproject.com's forums, not random sites.
Full definition →OMEGALULChat
An exaggerated laughing emote (a hugely distorted version of the LUL emote). The bigger the fail, the more OMEGALULs in chat.
Full definition →OverlayTechnical
The graphics layered on top of your gameplay — webcam border, alerts, recent-follower box, chat box, etc.
Full definition →PanelsCommunity
The info boxes under a Twitch stream — about me, rules, donation links, socials, gear list. Your channel's front porch; fill them in.
Full definition →ParasocialCommunity
The one-sided feeling of friendship viewers can develop with a streamer they watch daily. Healthy in small doses; worth understanding as you grow.
Full definition →PauseChampChat
A wide-mouthed anticipation emote — chat holds its breath waiting for a big moment. Often typed as 'PauseChamp ?'
Full definition →Payout thresholdMoney
The minimum balance (e.g. $50 on Twitch) before a platform sends your earnings. New affiliates often wait months for the first one.
Full definition →PB (Personal Best)Community
A speedrunner's fastest personal time. Chat erupts when a run is 'ahead of PB.' Losing a PB pace run is genuine heartbreak.
Full definition →PepegaChat
A distorted Pepe emote used when someone does something silly or clueless. Usually affectionate teasing rather than an actual insult.
Full definition →PepeLaughChat
A teary-eyed laughing Pepe emote, usually spammed when chat knows something the streamer doesn't — right before disaster strikes.
Full definition →Poggers / PogChampChat
An excited emote and all-purpose hype word. Something amazing happens → chat spams POGGERS or 'pog.' Comes from the original PogChamp emote.
Full definition →PollsCommunity
Letting chat vote on decisions — which game next, which loadout, pineapple on pizza. Fast, easy engagement that makes viewers feel heard.
Full definition →Pop filterTechnical
The mesh screen between mouth and mic that tames explosive 'P' and 'B' sounds. Cheap, and the difference is instantly audible.
Full definition →PredictionsCommunity
Twitch's channel-point betting: 'Will I win this game?' Viewers wager points on outcomes and the winners take the pot.
Full definition →PremiereCommunity
Debuting a pre-recorded video as if it were live, with you in chat while it plays. YouTube's version is especially popular.
Full definition →Prime sub (Prime Gaming)Money
A free monthly Twitch sub included with Amazon Prime. Costs the viewer nothing extra but pays the streamer — every new streamer should remind chat it exists.
Full definition →Push-to-talkTechnical
Your mic only transmits while you hold a key. The alternative — an open mic — is why chat heard you chewing.
Full definition →RaidCommunity
Sending your viewers to another streamer's channel at the end of your stream. A friendly way to share audiences and support smaller creators.
Full definition →Raid trainCommunity
A scheduled chain of streamers raiding into each other one after another, so the audience rides along all day. Great for discovery in small communities.
Full definition →RatioChat
When a reply gets more likes than the original post — internet shorthand for 'everyone disagrees with you.' In chat it's mostly used jokingly.
Full definition →Replay bufferTechnical
OBS constantly keeps the last N seconds in memory; press a hotkey and it saves the clip. Never lose an insane moment again.
Full definition →RerunCommunity
Broadcasting a past stream while you're offline, clearly labeled as a rerun. Keeps the channel warm without you being live.
Full definition →ResolutionTechnical
The pixel dimensions of your stream — 1920×1080 (1080p) or 1280×720 (720p). A crisp 720p60 beats a blocky 1080p60 on low bitrate.
Full definition →Restream (service)Technical
Cloud services (Restream.io, Aircast) that take one stream and rebroadcast it to multiple platforms, saving your upload bandwidth.
Full definition →Resub & sub streakMoney
Renewing a subscription month after month builds a streak, announced with a celebratory message. Long streaks are badges of honor.
Full definition →Revenue splitMoney
How sub money divides between platform and streamer. Twitch is typically 50/50 (70/30 for some), Kick advertises 95/5, YouTube 70/30.
Full definition →RTMPTechnical
The protocol (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) your streaming software uses to deliver video to Twitch, YouTube, or Kick. You'll mostly see it when setting up a custom server.
Full definition →SadgeChat
A sad Pepe emote — 'sad' with the -ge emote suffix. Used when the stream ends, the run dies, or anything mildly heartbreaking happens.
Full definition →SaltyChat
Bitter about a loss and letting everyone know it. Salt levels in chat spike after close games and questionable calls.
Full definition →Sample rateTechnical
How many times per second audio is measured (44.1kHz or 48kHz). Just make sure every device uses the same one — mismatches cause crackle.
Full definition →SceneTechnical
A full-screen layout in OBS — like 'Starting Soon,' 'Gameplay,' or 'Just Chatting' — that you switch between while live. Each scene is built from sources.
Full definition →Shoutout (!so)Community
Publicly recommending another streamer, usually with a !so command that posts their channel link. The everyday currency of streamer friendship.
Full definition →Slow modeChat
A chat setting that forces a wait time between each viewer's messages. Keeps fast-moving chats readable during big streams.
Full definition →SourceTechnical
One ingredient inside an OBS scene: a game capture, webcam, image, browser overlay, or mic. Scenes are just stacks of sources.
Full definition →SpamChat
Flooding chat with repeated messages or emotes. Sometimes hype (emote walls during big moments), sometimes disruptive — mods and chat modes keep it in check.
Full definition →SpeedrunCommunity
Beating a game as fast as possible, often within strict rulesets. A huge streaming niche with its own vocabulary and legends.
Full definition →SponsorshipMoney
A brand paying a streamer to feature a product — sponsored segments, key giveaways, or #ad streams. Usually the biggest income source for mid-size+ streamers.
Full definition →SRT protocolTechnical
A modern streaming protocol that survives bad networks better than RTMP. Used for IRL streaming backpacks and remote production.
Full definition →Starting Soon screenCommunity
The countdown scene shown before the stream properly begins, giving viewers time to arrive. Usually music plus a timer.
Full definition →Stream DeckTechnical
A small keypad with LCD buttons for switching scenes, muting your mic, or firing sound effects with one tap. A luxury, not a requirement.
Full definition →Stream delay / latencyTechnical
The gap between what you do and what viewers see — usually 2–10 seconds. Low-latency modes shrink it for chat interaction; adding delay protects against stream snipers.
Full definition →Stream keyTechnical
The secret code that tells OBS where to send your stream. Treat it like a password — anyone who has it can broadcast to your channel. Never show it on stream.
Full definition →Stream scheduleCommunity
Posted days and times you go live. Consistency beats talent for early growth — viewers can't become regulars if they can't find you.
Full definition →Stream snipingCommunity
Watching someone's live stream to find and target them in the same game. Against the rules in most games — and a reason many streamers use a stream delay.
Full definition →Studio modeTechnical
OBS's preview-before-you-commit mode: edit the next scene privately, then transition. How pros avoid on-air scene jank.
Full definition →Sub / SubscriptionMoney
A paid monthly follow (usually $4.99+) that supports the streamer and gives the viewer perks like emotes and an ad-free experience.
Full definition →Sub goalMoney
A public target ('50 subs by Friday!') shown on stream, often tied to a reward like a 24-hour stream or a new emote.
Full definition →Sub tiersMoney
Twitch subs come in Tier 1 ($5-ish), Tier 2, and Tier 3, with escalating perks like extra emotes. Almost all subs are Tier 1.
Full definition →Sub-only modeChat
A chat setting where only subscribers can send messages — useful for cutting down spam during big moments.
Full definition →SubathonMoney
A marathon stream where every sub adds time to a countdown clock. Famous ones run for weeks. Plan sleep before attempting.
Full definition →Super ChatMoney
YouTube's paid chat messages — pay to pin your message with a colored highlight. YouTube's answer to bits and donations.
Full definition →Sweat / SweatyChat
Someone playing at maximum tryhard intensity in a casual setting. A sweaty lobby is full of them. Mildly derogatory, mildly respectful.
Full definition →TagsCommunity
Labels on your stream (language, vibe, community identity) that help viewers filter and find you. Free discoverability — use all of them.
Full definition →TiltedChat
Frustrated to the point of playing worse, which causes more frustration. From poker. The cure is usually 'going next' or logging off.
Full definition →TimeoutChat
A temporary mute a moderator gives a chatter (seconds to hours) for breaking rules. Softer than a ban — the person can come back.
Full definition →Touch grassChat
A suggestion that someone has been online too long and should go outside and literally touch grass. Chat prescribes it liberally.
Full definition →Transcoding / quality optionsTechnical
The platform re-encoding your stream into lower qualities (720p, 480p…) so viewers on slow internet can watch. On Twitch, guaranteed for Partners — everyone else gets it when available.
Full definition →VBR (variable bitrate)Technical
Bitrate that rises for complex scenes and falls for simple ones. Efficient for recordings, but live platforms want CBR instead.
Full definition →Vertical streamingTechnical
9:16 portrait streams for TikTok Live and mobile viewers. Some streamers output horizontal and vertical simultaneously with plugins.
Full definition →Viewer gamesCommunity
Playing with your audience — custom lobbies, viewer queues, community servers. One of the strongest small-streamer growth tools.
Full definition →VIPChat
A special badge a streamer grants trusted community members. VIPs skip slow mode and stand out in chat, but can't moderate.
Full definition →Virtual cameraTechnical
OBS pretending to be a webcam, so your full overlay setup can be your 'camera' in Zoom, Discord, or Google Meet.
Full definition →VODTechnical
'Video On Demand' — the saved recording of a past live stream that viewers can rewatch later.
Full definition →VTuberCommunity
A streamer who appears as an animated virtual avatar instead of a face cam, using motion tracking to bring the character to life.
Full definition →WChat
Short for 'win.' Chat spams 'W' to celebrate anything good — a clutch play, a great take, a new sub. The opposite of an L.
Full definition →Watch partyCommunity
Streaming yourself watching something with chat — esports finals, award shows, or (license permitting) movies and TV.
Full definition →WeirdChampChat
A disappointed-face emote used to call out something questionable — the chat equivalent of 'bro, really?'
Full definition →WhisperChat
Twitch's private message system. Useful for coordinating with mods — and a common vector for scam links, so be careful.
Full definition →widepeepoHappyChat
An extremely wide, extremely happy Pepe used for wholesome moments. The purest emotion Twitch chat is capable of expressing.
Full definition →Window captureTechnical
Capturing one specific application window. Safer than display capture for browsers — chat can't see your other tabs.
Full definition →WR (World Record)Community
The fastest known time for a speedrun category, verified by the community. WR pace is the most exciting phrase in speedrunning.
Full definition →x264Technical
Software encoding on your CPU. Its slower presets can beat hardware quality, but cost serious CPU — mostly a dual-PC-setup choice now.
Full definition →XLRTechnical
The three-pin professional microphone connector. XLR mics need an audio interface but offer the best quality ceiling and upgrade path.
Full definition →