NPU Nice Part Usage: and other typical LEGO abbreviations!

What does the LEGO abbreviation mean?

Sometimes you see a LEGO abbreviation online or on a forum that makes you think "What the hell is that?" Especially for you, 2TTOYS has created a list of abbreviations so you know exactly what is meant by which abbreviation

4-wide

This refers to the width of LEGO vehicles, which are four studs wide. It is reminiscent of the classic LEGO cars from the 80s and 90s.

ABS

This is the plastic that LEGO bricks are made from.

AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO)

These are adult LEGO fans who are passionate about building with LEGO bricks.

BAM

In LEGO Brand Stores you can assemble your own minifigure from different parts, including a head, torso, legs, headgear and hair.

BL

This is an unofficial LEGO marketplace where LEGO fans can buy and sell sets and bricks.

Brick

In essence, this term refers to a LEGO brick. The term is versatile and not trademarked. Even LEGO uses the term "Brick."

Buildable Figures

These are figures that are built from various LEGO bricks and elements that are specially designed for this series. Well-known series include Bionicle and the Star Wars figures.

BURP (Big Ugly Rock Piece)

These are large, often dark gray rock elements that are used, for example, in the LEGO City volcano sets.

CC (Cafe Corner)

This refers to a series of large LEGO residential buildings designed especially for adult fans and part of the Modular Buildings series.

Classic Space

These are the old Classic Space sets that were sold from the 70s to the 90s and are now considered iconic. They are known for their distinctive monorail systems.

CMF (Collectable Minifigures)

These are series of collectible minifigures that have been released several times a year since 2010.

Control+

This is part of the new "Powered Up Systems" and is used in the LEGO Technic sets.

Cuusoo

This was the forerunner of LEGO Ideas and resulted in five official LEGO sets.

D2C (Direct to Consumer)

These are sets that are sold exclusively through LEGO itself for a certain period of time, both online and in brand stores.

Dark Ages

These are the years between childhood and adulthood when interest in LEGO declines.

Display Model

These are creations that are meant to be displayed on shelves and usually have little or no play features. Examples include LEGO Architecture sets or Star Wars UCS models.

EOL (End of Life):

This means that a LEGO product is no longer produced and is no longer available.

EV3

This stands for “Evolution” and refers to the third version of the LEGO Mindstorms programming system.

GBC (Great Ball Contraption)

These are interconnected modules through which small balls move. They are mainly constructed from Technic elements and all modules have the same dimensions (10x10 studs).

GWP (Gift with Purchase)

These are gifts you receive when you spend a certain amount on LEGO products.

Jumper Plate

These are plates used to bridge gaps between studs, like the 1x2 plate with a single centered stud. There are several versions of this.

LAN (LEGO Ambassador Network)

This is a network where LEGO User Groups (LUGs) and Recognized LEGO Fan Media (RLFM) can receive information and exchange ideas.

LDD (LEGO Digital Designer)

This is an official computer program for designing virtual LEGO models using currently available parts. Previously, it was possible to upload your own models to LEGO Factory and purchase them as real sets, but this service was discontinued in 2012. LEGO no longer provides support and updates for LDD, as it was replaced by Stud.io in 2022.

LEGO

The name LEGO is derived from the Danish expression "leg godt", which means "play well".

LFW (LEGO Fan World)

This refers to LEGO fan events and exhibitions.

LOTR (Lord of the Rings)

This is a LEGO set series based on the Lord of the Rings film series.

LUG (LEGO User Group)

These are LEGO fan groups that come together to share and participate in LEGO related activities. If a LUG is part of the LEGO Ambassador Network, it is known as an RLUG (Recognized LEGO User Group).

LURP (Little Ugly Rock Piece)

These are smaller pieces of rock with element number 6083.

MBS (Master Builder Series)

This is a LEGO series that depicts buildings, scenes and landscapes from Star Wars. The first of these sets was the "Betrayal at Cloud City" from 2018, followed by the "Mos Eisley Cantina" (75290) in October 2020.

MIB (Mint in Box)

This means that all parts are in the box. Inner bags may be opened, but instructions should be included, although the box may show signs of wear.

MILS (Modular Integrated Landscaping System)

This is a construction method for compatible modules (32x32 studs) used in railway, landscape and road construction for collaborations. It was first mentioned in the HispaBrick Magazine in 2012.

MIMB (Mint in Mint Box):

In this case, all the parts are in the box and the inner bags are still sealed, but the outer packaging may have been removed or the box may have been opened.

Microfigures

These are small figures used in LEGO games and, in recent years, in Super Heroes, Ideas of Architecture sets. They are attached to a stud.

Minidolls

These are small figures used in Friends, Elves, Disney Princess and Super Hero Girls sets. They are known for their more realistic appearance, but have fewer functions compared to minifigures.

Minifig (Minifigure)

This is short for minifigure and refers to the iconic LEGO figures introduced in the late 1970s.

MISB (Mint in Sealed Box)

For collectors, this is the highest quality. All parts are in the box, the inner bags are sealed, and the packaging is unopened. These sets should look virtually new. However, older LEGO sets may have minor wear on the outer box.

MOC (My Own Creation)

These are models that one builds according to one's own insight, without using instructions or predetermined plans.

MOD (My Own Definition)


This means that official LEGO sets are customized to your own preferences.

Monorail/MoRaSt (Monorail Standard)

This is a modular construction method with monorail tracks that was defined at LFW 2012 in Cologne. It makes it possible to create shared layouts through which trains circulate.

MURP (Middle Ugly Rock Piece)

These are medium sized pieces of rock, similar to BURPs.

NISB (New in Sealed Box)

This is a variant of MISB, where the packaging is new and unopened.

NPU (Nice Piece Usage)

This refers to the creative use of a LEGO element for a purpose other than its intended purpose. An example of this is using a classic croissant as a decorative element in sets like the Parisian Restaurant or the Dragon Boat Race.

Old gray

In 2003, LEGO changed a number of colors, including the old light and dark gray, which were replaced with the new color shades "Light Blue Gray" and "Dark Blue Gray". This led to confusion and discussions, as many fans still preferred the "old gray."

OVP (Original Packaging)

This refers to the original packaging of a LEGO set.

PAB (Pick a Brick)

This is the section in the LEGO webshop or LEGO Brand Stores where you can select and purchase individual bricks and parts.

Plate

A plate is a flat LEGO brick. Three plates stacked on top of each other are as high as a regular LEGO brick.

POOP (Parts Out of Other Parts)

This refers to large LEGO elements that can be assembled more efficiently from smaller existing parts. A BURP is a good example of POOP.

Power Functions

This was the previous LEGO motorization system used in trains and Technic sets. They were battery powered and based on infrared technology.

Powered Up

This is the successor to LEGO Power Functions and is based on Bluetooth technology.

RLFM (Recognised LEGO Fan Media)

These are LEGO-approved fan sites that independently provide information and news about LEGO, similar to our collaboration with Zusammengebaut.

S@H (Shop at Home)

This was the forerunner of the current LEGO webshop.

SNOT (Studs Not On Top)

This is a building technique where LEGO studs are not pointed upwards, but are rotated in different directions to create special effects and flat surfaces.

Stud

This is the LEGO term for an individual stud on a LEGO brick.

Studless

In this building style, there are no or very few LEGO studs visible. Often the SNOT building technique is used, where bricks are rotated to create flat surfaces. Tiles are also used to cover studs.

SW (Star Wars)

This is a LEGO set series based on the film series of the same name by George Lucas, which has existed since 1999.

System

The term 'system' refers to the regular LEGO bricks, as opposed to Technic or DUPLO bricks.

TFOL (Teen Fan of LEGO)

These are teenagers who are LEGO fans and love to build with LEGO bricks.

Tile

This is the English term for a tile, a LEGO picture without studs.

TLG (The LEGO Group)

This is the abbreviation for The LEGO Group, the company that produces LEGO products.

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