First, be assured: People at Exeter do speak English (of the American variety). But we also speak Exonia, a language that's evolved as terms developed and people have passed them down over generations. (After all, we've been here since 1781. More about our history...)

A quick lesson:

• First, the students:
• Prep: 9th grade
• Lower: 10th grade
• Upper: 11th grade
• Senior: 12th grade

NOTE: Remember PLUS

Then, the terms for other crucial aspects of life at Exeter:

• Block: a class period
• D.H.: dining hall
• Dickie: absence slip
• E.P. Evening prayer, a nondenominational service that takes place from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays in Phillips Church.
• Exonian: a student or alumnus/a. Also the name of our school paper.
• Fat Block: an extended class period
• "Hi": what everyone says to each other on the paths
• Paths: the sidewalks on campus
• Smurfs: Phillips Andover students. Their school color is blue
• V's: visitation permission for a friend of the opposite sex to come to your room from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.