Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has its own language, and it can feel confusing at first. With more than two million members in over 180 countries, AA is one of the most widely used recovery resources in the world. But if you’re walking into your first meeting or trying to understand what a loved one is going through, the shorthand and slogans can feel overwhelming.
This guide explains the most common terms in plain language. They’re grouped into program basics, meeting types, relationships and the phrases you’ll hear most often. Learning the vocabulary can make meetings feel more familiar. A 2020 Cochrane review found that AA and Twelve-Step Facilitation can be as effective as, or better than, other established treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy for helping people stay abstinent.
Identity and Membership
Friends of Bill W.
A coded phrase AA members use to identify one another in public, such as on cruise ships, in airports or at hotels. Asking, “Are you a friend of Bill W.?” is a discreet way to find another member without disclosing your own membership. “Bill W.” refers to co-founder Bill Wilson, and the phrase reflects AA’s tradition of anonymity.
Bill W. and Dr. Bob
AA’s two co-founders were Bill Wilson, a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob Smith, an Ohio surgeon. Their 1935 meeting, in which one person with a drinking problem helped another, is considered the start of AA. The Fellowship describes itself as beginning with that first act of sponsorship.
Alcoholic
In AA, this is a self-applied term rather than a label assigned by others. Members introduce themselves by saying, “My name is ___, and I’m an alcoholic,” as an act of personal acceptance. The program asks only for self-recognition, not a formal diagnosis.
Newcomer/Pigeon
A newcomer is anyone in their first weeks or months. “Pigeon” is an older, affectionate term for the same thing, though it’s used less often now. Newcomers are encouraged to attend meetings frequently and find a sponsor early.
Old-Timer
An old-timer is a member with long-term sobriety, often measured in decades. There’s no set threshold. Old-timers are valued for their perspective and continuity.
Dry Drunk
A person who has stopped drinking but hasn’t done the emotional work of recovery. They’re sober in body while still carrying the resentments and thinking patterns of active alcoholism. AA uses the term to stress that abstinence alone isn’t the same as recovery.
The Program and Its Structure
The Big Book
The informal name for Alcoholics Anonymous, first published in 1939. It lays out the Twelve Steps, the program’s core philosophy and personal recovery stories. The first section has stayed largely unchanged across editions, and its language reflects its era.
The Twelve and Twelve (12 & 12)
Shorthand for Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, a 1953 book that expands on each Step and Tradition in more depth than the Big Book. Many Step-study groups read it alongside the Big Book.
The Twelve Steps
The sequence of spiritual and practical principles at the heart of AA. They move from admitting powerlessness over alcohol in Step One through moral inventory, amends and self-reflection to carrying the message to others in Step Twelve. Members usually work through them in order with a sponsor and at their own pace.
The Twelve Traditions
Principles that guide how groups operate rather than how individuals recover. They cover group autonomy, anonymity, non-affiliation with outside organizations and avoiding endorsements of outside causes. AA adopted them in 1950 after early growing pains.
The Promises
A well-known passage in the Big Book describing what members can expect as they work the Steps: a new freedom, less regret and a steadier sense of peace. Groups often read it aloud, and “the Promises” is shorthand for recovery’s payoff.
Step Work
The process of working through the Steps, usually in writing and with a sponsor. Step Four, a searching moral inventory, and Step Nine, making amends, are often singled out as especially demanding.
Home Group
The group a member treats as their primary one. It’s where they show up regularly, take on service tasks and are known by name. It provides routine and accountability, especially early in recovery.
GSO (General Service Office)
AA’s central administrative office in New York. It coordinates literature and supports groups worldwide while leaving individual groups autonomous.
AA Grapevine
AA’s monthly magazine, sometimes called “our meeting in print.” It publishes member stories and reflections. A Spanish-language edition, La Viña, also exists.
Meeting Types and Format
Open Meeting
Anyone may attend, whether or not they have a drinking problem, including family members, friends, students or people who are simply curious. It’s often a first stop for those who want to observe before joining.
Closed Meeting
A closed meeting is limited to people who identify as alcoholics or think they may have a problem with alcohol. This gives members more freedom to speak openly. Directories note which meetings are open and which are closed.
Speaker Meeting
One or more members share their story, usually framed as what it was like, what happened and what it’s like now. These meetings are often open and newcomer-friendly, with more storytelling than group discussion.
Discussion Meeting
A discussion meeting centers on a shared conversation about a topic, reading or Step. These meetings are usually smaller and more interactive, and they make up much of a group’s weekly schedule.
Big Book/Step Study
These meetings focus on reading and discussing the Big Book or a specific Step. They’re more structured and tend to draw members who are actively working the program.
Chips/Medallions
Tokens mark sobriety milestones, commonly 24 hours, 30, 60 and 90 days, six and nine months and yearly anniversaries. They’re often handed out with applause. A “desire chip” or “white chip” may be offered to anyone who wants to stop drinking, no matter where they are in the process.
90 in 90
Shorthand for “90 meetings in 90 days,” a common suggestion for newcomers. The idea is that frequent attendance early on builds routine and connection when relapse risk is highest.
Qualification
A member’s account of their drinking and recovery. The term comes from “qualifying” as someone who belongs in the room. At speaker meetings, the main share is sometimes called the qualification.
Crosstalk
Directly responding to, advising or commenting on what someone else shared. Most groups discourage crosstalk so people can share their own experience without having it analyzed. This helps keep the room safe.
Sponsorship and Relationships
Sponsor
A sponsor is a more experienced member who guides a newer member through the Steps and offers ongoing support. Sponsors aren’t therapists or clinicians. They’re peers sharing what worked for them. In AA’s 2022 membership survey, 81% of members reported having a sponsor.
Sponsee
A sponsee is the person being sponsored. They work through the Steps with a sponsor’s guidance, usually through regular check-ins and written work. Many later sponsor others, which is seen as part of Step Twelve.
Getting a Sponsor
Newcomers are encouraged to approach someone whose sobriety they respect and simply ask. The expectation is to reach out rather than wait for someone to approach them. A common piece of advice is to “get a sponsor before you need one,” meaning before a crisis happens.
13th Stepping
A cautionary term for an established member pursuing a newcomer romantically or sexually. It’s widely frowned upon because newcomers can be emotionally vulnerable, and many groups openly warn against it. If it happens, members are encouraged to talk to a trusted sponsor or consider switching to another group.
The Fellowship
The fellowship is the broader community of AA members. It includes the relationships, shared history and mutual support that build over time, separate from the Steps themselves. For many people in recovery, the fellowship matters as much as the program.
Common Phrases and Slogans
AA culture is full of shorthand. Some phrases come from the Big Book, while others developed over decades of meeting culture. They aren’t doctrine, but they’re widely used and worth knowing.
“One Day at a Time”
Commit to staying sober for the next 24 hours rather than thinking about forever. It’s a more manageable approach and one of recovery’s most recognizable phrases.
“Keep It Simple”
A reminder not to overcomplicate the program. AA is meant to be accessible and doesn’t require formal education or religious expertise. The phrase is often used when someone is stuck analyzing instead of acting.
“Fake It Till You Make It”
Practice the behaviors of recovery, such as attending meetings, doing Step work and calling a sponsor, before the belief or motivation fully arrives. The idea is that action can come before feeling.
“It Works If You Work It”
The program requires active participation, not just attendance. The phrase is often used at the end of meetings, sometimes followed by “so work it, you’re worth it.”
“First Things First”
A reminder to put sobriety before competing concerns, especially during stressful or high-pressure moments.
“This Too Shall Pass”
A reminder that cravings, difficult emotions and stress are temporary. The phrase is widely used in recovery, though it isn’t unique to AA.
“God as You Understand Him”/Higher Power
AA allows members to define a “higher power” in their own way. For some, that means traditional faith. For others, it may mean the group, nature or a sense of purpose.
This flexibility makes room for atheists and agnostics, and some groups are explicitly secular.
Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer is used to open or close many meetings. It asks for the serenity to accept what can’t be changed, the courage to change what can and the wisdom to know the difference.
It’s often attributed to theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, though that attribution is debated. Many members use it as a psychological principle rather than a religious one.
HALT
HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired, four states linked to a higher risk of relapse. It’s a quick self-check. When a craving hits, consider whether one of these states is contributing and address it directly.
Slip/Relapse
A “slip” is a brief, isolated return to drinking, while a “relapse” is a more sustained return. AA treats both as part of the recovery process rather than as moral failures, while still taking them seriously.
Rock Bottom
The point when the consequences of drinking finally lead someone to make a change. AA’s idea of “raising the bottom” challenges the belief that a person must lose everything first. There’s no benefit to waiting for the situation to get worse before offering help.
Pulling a Geographic
Moving somewhere new in hopes of leaving a drinking problem behind, only to bring it along. AA uses the phrase as a reminder that change comes from inner work, not a new address.
Sobriety Birthday/Anniversary
The date a member became sober, celebrated each year, often with a medallion and sometimes a cake. A “belly-button birthday” distinguishes a person’s birth date from their sobriety date.
The Broader Ecosystem: Related Programs and Terms
NA (Narcotics Anonymous)
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a twelve-step fellowship for people recovering from drug addiction. It uses AA’s framework but applies it to any substance. Many people attend both AA and NA, especially if they have a history of using more than one substance.
Al-Anon/Alateen
Al-Anon and Alateen are twelve-step fellowships for the family and friends of people with a drinking problem, not for the person who drinks. They’re based on the understanding that addiction affects the whole family, with Alateen serving younger relatives.
If a loved one’s drinking is affecting you, the Al-Anon resources NRH connects callers with can help.
SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery is a secular, evidence-based alternative that uses cognitive behavioral and motivational tools instead of a spiritual framework. It doesn’t use the disease model or ask members to label themselves. It’s often suggested for people who prefer a non-spiritual approach to recovery.
Sober Living/Oxford House
Sober living homes are structured, substance-free residences for people in early recovery. Oxford Houses are a self-governed national network of these homes.
Many residents attend AA or NA as part of their daily routine. Sober living can serve as a transition between treatment and independent living.
A Note on Participation
AA’s vocabulary has grown over more than 80 years, and it varies by place. Meetings differ in tone, focus and demographics. Some terms are clear and practical, while others reflect mid-20th-century America.
The fastest way to learn the language is to attend an open meeting, where it starts to make sense in context. If you’re not sure where to begin, the National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 can point you toward AA meetings and other recovery options.
FAQ: AA Lingo & Terms
- What Does “Friends of Bill W.” Mean? It’s a discreet, coded way for AA members to identify one another in public without revealing their membership. “Bill W.” refers to AA co-founder Bill Wilson.
- Do I Have to Be Religious to Do AA? No. AA asks members to define a “higher power” however they choose. It may be the group, nature or a sense of purpose. Many members are atheists or agnostics, and some meetings are explicitly secular.
- What’s the Difference Between a Slip and a Relapse? A slip is usually a brief, one-time return to drinking, while a relapse is a more sustained return. AA treats both as part of recovery rather than failure and encourages people to return to meetings quickly.
- Is AA My Only Option? No. Alternatives like SMART Recovery offer a secular, evidence-based approach. Treatment can also include therapy or medication. With 27.9 million people ages 12 and older in the United States experiencing alcohol use disorder in 2024, there’s no single path that fits everyone.
- How Do I Find a Meeting or Get Help? You can call the National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 to get connected with meetings, treatment options and recovery resources. It’s a non-emergency line available 24/7.
- Is Calling the Hotline Free and Confidential? Yes. The National Rehab Hotline is free and confidential. You don’t have to share more than you’re comfortable with to be directed toward the right help.
Help Is Available
Whether you’re heading to your first meeting or supporting someone you love, you don’t have to navigate recovery alone. The National Rehab Hotline can connect you with meetings, treatment options and resources that fit your situation.
Call 866-210-1303. It’s free, confidential and available 24/7.
