Sauna terms explained: the glossary from infusion to venik
Infusion, löyly, Kneipp hose, peshtemal: if you are new to the sauna, you will hear plenty of sauna terms that not everyone can place straight away. Some come from Finnish, others from Turkish or Russian, and some are simply the jargon of sauna operators. In this glossary you will find the most important terms sorted by topic and briefly explained – so that next time you can read the infusion schedule, the house rules and the conversations at the bar without any guesswork.
Contents9
Sauna terms: cabins and types of sauna
The first word on any map of a sauna complex is usually the cabin. These sauna terms describe how hot and how humid it is inside. You can read a detailed comparison with pros and cons in the article Types of sauna at a glance.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Finnish sauna | The classic cabin: usually about 80 to 100 °C with dry air. It only becomes more humid during an infusion. |
| Bio sauna | A milder variant at about 45 to 60 °C with somewhat higher humidity. Often with coloured light or herbal scents. |
| Sanarium | Originally a brand name, but often used as a synonym for the bio sauna. |
| Steam room | About 40 to 50 °C with very high humidity. Walls and benches are usually tiled so that they can cope with the water. |
| Infrared cabin | Emitters mainly warm the body; the air in the room stays comparatively cool. |
| Kelo sauna | A sauna made of kelo wood: pine trees that died while still standing and turned silver-grey over a long time. |
| Earth sauna | A cabin built partly into the ground or a hillside, usually with a wood-fired stove. |
| Smoke sauna (savusauna) | A traditional Finnish design without a chimney. The smoke is let out before bathing. |
| Sauna complex | A facility with several cabins, a cooling area, relaxation rooms and usually an outdoor area. |
Terms around the infusion
For many people the infusion is the highlight of a sauna visit – and at the same time the area with the most jargon. How an infusion works and what to look out for is covered in the article Sauna towel during the infusion.
- Infusion (Aufguss): water, often with essential oils or other fragrances, is poured onto the hot sauna stones. Humidity rises and the heat briefly becomes much more intense.
- Löyly: Finnish for the steam created when water is poured on the stones. In Finland the word almost stands for the soul of the sauna.
- Sauna master or infusion master: the person who performs the infusion, announces the steps and distributes the air.
- Towel waving: the hot air is fanned towards the guests with a towel. Depending on the style, calmly or almost acrobatically.
- Infusion schedule: a notice with times, cabins and types of infusion. If you want to be on time, check here first.
- Bucket and ladle: a wooden bucket of water and a long-handled ladle for pouring.
- Ice infusion: instead of water, ice cubes or ice balls melt on the stones. The steam develops more slowly.
- Salt or honey infusion: after the round, salt or honey is applied to the skin. Whether you may bring your own additions is up to each sauna.
- Sauna stove and sauna stones: the stove heats the cabin; the stones store the heat and turn the infusion water into steam.
Cooling down and resting: sauna terms after the round
After sweating come cooling down and a break. Here too you will come across sauna terms of their own, especially on signs in the outdoor area.
- Fresh-air area or sauna garden: an outdoor area where you first give your airways cool air after the round.
- Kneipp hose: a hose for targeted cold-water affusions, named after Sebastian Kneipp. You start far from the heart, i.e. at the feet and hands.
- Bucket shower: a shower that releases a large gush of cold water all at once.
- Plunge pool: a small pool of cold water for a brief dip.
- Crushed ice or ice fountain: crushed ice for rubbing on the skin, mainly the arms and face.
- Warm foot bath: after cooling down, many people sit with their feet in warm water to warm up again.
- After-sweating: the body keeps sweating for a while after cooling down. Only get dressed or start the next round once it has stopped.
- Relaxation room: a quiet room with loungers for the breaks. Silence applies here – more on this in our relaxation room etiquette.
Textiles and equipment
Many sauna terms are about what you bring with you. The names of towels in particular often get mixed up.
- Sauna towel: a large towel you sit or lie on in the cabin. No part of your body touches the wood directly.
- Hammam towel or peshtemal: a flat-woven cotton towel from the hammam tradition, light and quick-drying. The Ocean hammam towel measures approx. 180 × 100 cm and weighs approx. 400 g. More about its origins in the article What is a peshtemal?
- Lounger towel: a towel for the lounger in the relaxation room. The Ocean StayOn hammam towel (200 × 70 cm) has a sewn-in pocket for this that is pulled over the backrest.
- Sauna hat: headwear, usually made of felt, meant to protect the head from the strongest heat.
- Sauna kilt: a wrap with a Velcro or button fastening that is worn around the hips.
- Bathing sandals: worn everywhere in the sauna area, but not taken into the cabin.
- Bathrobe: for walking around and for breaks. Light cotton qualities such as the Trimita Barok bathrobe dry quickly. You will find more models among our bathrobes.
Procedures and rules
Similar words appear in every set of sauna rules. These sauna terms help you read the house rules correctly.
- Sauna round: one stay in the cabin, followed by cooling down and rest. Two to three rounds are usual.
- Hourglass: hangs on the wall in many cabins and usually runs for 15 minutes. It is a guide, not an obligation.
- Textile-free: in the cabin you sauna without swimwear, only on your towel.
- Textile sauna: here swimwear is explicitly allowed or required.
- Women's sauna: a cabin or time slot for women only.
- Sauna night: an event with extended opening hours and special infusions.
- Sauna rules: the house rules of a facility. They always take precedence over general tips.
Sauna terms from other bathing cultures
Many words come from countries with a long bathing tradition. If you want to know more about the background, you will find it in the article Bathing cultures of the world.
| Term | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hammam | Turkey, Middle East | Steam bath with warm stone, washing rituals and soap foam |
| Göbek taşı | Turkey | Heated stone platform in the middle of the hammam |
| Kese | Turkey | Rough mitt for washing the body in the hammam |
| Banya | Russia, Eastern Europe | Sweat bath with humid heat and bundles of twigs |
| Venik | Russia | Bundle of birch or oak twigs for gentle patting |
| Vihta / Vasta | Finland | Finnish names for the birch bundle, depending on the region |
Terms that are often confused
Some sauna terms sound similar or are treated as the same in everyday speech, even though they mean different things:
- Steam room and steam sauna: both usually mean the same thing – a humid, moderately warm room. It has little to do with a Finnish sauna.
- Infusion and towel waving: the infusion is pouring water onto the stones. Towel waving is the second step, in which the hot air is distributed.
- Hammam and hammam towel: the hammam is the bath, the hammam towel is the towel originally used there. Today it is also popular in the Finnish sauna, on the beach and when travelling.
- Kneipp affusions and plunge pool: with Kneipp affusions you cool individual parts of the body with the hose. In the plunge pool your whole body goes briefly into cold water.
- Rest break and after-sweating: after-sweating happens during the rest break. Only when it is over is the break really finished.
Related reading: How long should you stay in the sauna? Rounds, breaks and the whole visit · Cooling down after a sauna session: fresh air, shower, plunge pool · How to Recognise a Good Sauna: The Checklist for Guests
Conclusion
Most sauna terms are quickly learned: they describe the cabin, the infusion, cooling down or the equipment. If you can place löyly, Kneipp hose and peshtemal, you will read the infusion schedule and the sauna rules more calmly and know what belongs in your bag. And if someone talks about a peshtemal, you now know: they mean a hammam towel.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hammam towel the same as a peshtemal?
Yes. Peshtemal (also peştemal) is the Turkish name for the traditional, flat-woven hammam towel.
What does löyly mean?
Löyly is the Finnish word for the steam created when water hits the hot sauna stones.
What is the difference between a sauna and a steam room?
The Finnish sauna is hot and rather dry; the steam room is much cooler but very humid.
What does textile-free mean?
In textile-free areas you sauna without swimwear, but always on a towel that separates your whole body from the wood.
What is the difference between a sauna towel and a lounger towel?
You use the sauna towel in the cabin and the lounger towel on the lounger in the relaxation room. Many people bring separate towels for each.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.