Vietnam war vocabulary

15 Vietnam-Era Military Slang Terms That Entered Everyday Language
Story by Patricia Quezada Brawn•


Trace the surprising journey of gritty military slang as it slipped from the battlefields of Vietnam right into your daily conversations and pop culture.
©Credit: Picryl.com

Some of the most colorful words and phrases in American English can be traced back to the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam. The Vietnam War wasn’t just a clash of armies—it was a collision of cultures, slang, and gritty humor. Many of the expressions born in that era have stuck around, quietly blending into our daily conversations. Here are 15 Vietnam-era military slang terms that marched straight into everyday language.

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. “Click” Turned into a Quick Way to Measure Distance
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In Vietnam, soldiers needed a simple, fast way to talk about distance. Enter the “click”—military shorthand for a kilometer, as explained on Military.com. “We’re three clicks from base” meant you had about 1.8 miles to go, a handy bit of code when every second counted.

You’ll now hear “click” or “klick” in action movies, adventure stories, and among outdoor enthusiasts as a cool, insider way to talk about distance, even if it’s just on a weekend hike or a road trip.

It’s a perfect example of how military efficiency can make language snappier and more fun to use in everyday life.

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2. “Short-Timer” Became the Countdown to the Finish Line
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A “short-timer” in Vietnam was a soldier whose tour of duty was almost up, as shared on the Vietnam Veterans of America Facebook page. These folks were notorious for counting the days, sometimes even hours, until they could go home. The term captured a mix of excitement, relief, and a bit of nervous anticipation.

It didn’t take long for “short-timer” to become a handy description for anyone nearing the end of a job, school year, or big project. The phrase sums up that special kind of impatience that comes with being so close to the finish line.

It’s a phrase that brings a sense of camaraderie to anyone counting down the days to freedom.

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3. “Frag” Became the Word for Turning on Your Own
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In Vietnam, “frag” was short for “fragmentation grenade,” but it took on a darker meaning: to deliberately attack a fellow soldier or superior, often out of anger or frustration. The term was both a noun and a verb—“to frag” someone was to target them for harm, as discussed on Quora.

The word has since shifted into the worlds of video games and pop culture, where it often means defeating or eliminating an opponent, sometimes even in a friendly, competitive way. The original seriousness has faded, but the sense of direct action remains.

It’s a word that’s shifted from deadly serious to playfully competitive, showing how language can change as it moves from one world to another.