What is Terps?

Slang · Scientific shorthand

Terps is the everyday shorthand for terpenes — the aromatic compounds produced in cannabis flower that give each cultivar its characteristic smell and much of its flavor.

The clipped form moved from grower slang into mainstream consumer vocabulary: you will hear "loud terps" for strongly aromatic flower, "terp profile" for a cultivar's dominant-terpene makeup, and "terpy" as praise for a flavorful batch. The singular "terp" appears in phrases like "that's a limonene-forward terp profile".

Using the word correctly is about aroma, not potency: a batch can have high THC with muted terps (flat smell), or modest THC with loud terps. Connoisseur culture generally prizes the latter, which is why "terps" shows up constantly in reviews, menus and extract marketing.

Examples

• "These terps are loud — you can smell the jar across the room."
• "The terp profile is mostly myrcene and limonene."
• Extract labels: "live resin — full terps preserved", contrasting with terpene-stripped distillate.

Common confusions

• Turps: Turpentine — a different word and a different substance. Cannabis "terps" are the plant's own aromatic compounds.
• THC percentage: Terps describe aroma compounds, not cannabinoid potency; the two are measured separately on a lab report.

Related terms

• Terpene
• Entourage Effect
• Myrcene
• Limonene
• Live Resin
• Flower

More definitions

• What is Terpene Chart?
• What is Candy Gas?

Frequently asked questions

Are terps the same as terpenes?

Yes — "terps" is simply the slang shortening of terpenes, used constantly in cannabis conversation and marketing.

What does "loud terps" mean?

Slang for flower or extract with an unusually strong, room-filling aroma — a sign of high terpene content and careful handling.