'The Handmaid's Tale' Fans, Here's an Important Refresher Ahead of Season 6

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It's been more than two years since The Handmaid's Tale aired a new episode, and fans have been anxious to see more from the world of Gilead. Well, the wait is officially over, as the sixth and final season of the Hulu drama is premiering on April 8, 2025.

Ever since author Margaret Atwood created the dystopian world in her 1986 novel, The Handmaid's Tale, folks have become immersed in the story of June (formerly Offred, played by Elisabeth Moss) and the other Handmaids trying to escape the world of Gilead. And while The Handmaid's Tale may be ending, Margaret's fictional stories aren't finished playing out on TV. According to Deadline in April 2025, Hulu has picked up a spinoff series based on the author's 2020 sequel, The Testaments — and it's going into production just as The Handmaid's Tale wraps up its own story.

But before we jump in to The Handmaid's Tale season 6, let's catch up on the terminology used over the course of the series. Keep reading if you're in need of a refresher on the meanings behind the sayings, character types and quotes from The Handmaid's Tale.

“Blessed be the fruit”: How the people of Gilead say hello. It also has biblical ties to encouraging fertility, which is a main priority for the Commanders and their Wives (more on them later).

“May the Lord open”: The classic response to “blessed be the fruit.” Again, it suggests that they’re praying for God to bring fertility to Handmaids.

“Under His Eye”: Another Biblical reference, this is how Handmaids will say goodbye to one another in person. It suggests that someone — be it God, a Guardian, a Commander or the Eyes — is always watching.

“Praise be”: What you say when you’re glad or thankful about something, like the weather or a pregnancy (June typically says this with some snark).

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum”: Directly translates to, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” June found it scratched into the closet, left by the Handmaid who was there before her. She also wrote it on the walls at the end of season two.

Gilead: The United States as we now know it in Margaret Atwood’s fictional world. There’s the Midwest, East Central, Atlantic, Eastern and New Gilead. Outside of that are locations identified as “rebel-occupied” or “district under conflicts” and the dreaded Colonies. Here’s a map for your reference:

Little America: Space in Toronto, Canada, where refugees and fugitives of Gilead settle down.

Loaves and Fishes: The supermarket where Handmaids do most of their shopping. The products sold only have pictures on them, as it is illegal for women to read in Gilead.

Identipasses: Identification cards that are used in Gilead.

Handmaids: Fertile women who are forced to serve under the Wives and Commanders by carrying a child. You become a Handmaid in Gilead if you were once divorced, married to a man who was divorced or never married a man. They serve one couple for two years and then move on, and their survival depends on their ability to get pregnant. For every move they make, they must change their names to “Of” plus their Commander’s first name (June therefore became Offred after entering Commander Fred Waterford's home). Their uniform consists of a bright red robe and “wings,” a white bonnet covering both sides of their face.

Aunts: Among the few positions of power for women, these are infertile or older women who hold “traditional beliefs.” They prepare the Handmaids for their duties, beginning at the Red Center. They wear a brown uniform, and they are the only women allowed to read and write. The most famous among them is Aunt Lydia.

Marthas: Infertile women who take care of the home and cook for the Commanders and Wives. Their uniform is green.

Wives: The women married to the Commanders. From what we can understand, they are also infertile and act as the mother whenever their Handmaid gives birth to a baby.

Commanders: Powerful men who founded, support and represent Gilead. They procreate using Handmaids and are in charge of the inner workings of the new country.

Quakers: Seen as outlaws of Gilead, the Quakers are peaceful, religious people who are well-versed with the Underground Femaleroad. In season 4, they are also seen as being good at forging passports for those looking to escape Gilead.

Sons of Jacob: The men who joined the movement to create the Republic of Gilead, and who now serve as its leaders.

President’s Day Massacre: The formal name of the attacks that led the Sons of Jacob to take over and create the Republic of Gilead.

Prayvaganzas: These are usually public ceremonies that are often conducted by gender. In the book, the ritual is used for high-society girls raised in Gilead who get married to Commanders and other high-ranking officials.

Econowomen: Women married to low-ranking officials, like the Guardians.

Guardians: Full name is Guardians of the Faith. They act as the police force in Gilead.

Jezebels: Prostitutes in Gilead.

The Ceremony: This is a monthly ritual involving the Commander, Wife, and Handmaid. The Handmaid lays her head in the Wife’s lap, and the Wife holds her arms down while the Commander rapes her.

Breeding colony: Introduced in season 4, a breeding colony (also called a Magdalene colony) is a place where Handmaids work the fields between Ceremonies instead of serving a household. This is also a punishment for those Gilead still wants to forcibly impregnate but feels are too troublesome to participate in the norms of the dystopian society.

Eyes: Short for “The Eyes of God.” Secret police officers who work for Commanders and the Republic of Gilead as a whole. They typically wear all black, and the most well-known in the series is Nick.

Angels: Gilead’s soldiers, who are fighting against rebels to support the Republic.

Keepers: Another name for healthy babies that Handmaids give birth to, and then hand off to the Wives.

Gender traitor: A person who participates in same-sex sexual activity.

The Colonies: “Gender traitors” and anyone who defies the Republic of Gilead are sent off to work until they die in this toxic region.

Birthmobile: Vans that pick up the women to watch a Handmaid give birth.

Unbaby: A child who does not survive after a Handmaid's pregnancy.

Unwoman: A woman who cannot get pregnant.

Underground Femaleroad: This is an underground network that connects the various Quaker stations. Moira (Samira Wiley) used this to make her escape before Gilead officials caught her.

Tokens: Illustrated currency for the Handmaids, Marthas and other women so they can purchase things without reading (since they are illiterate).

Testify: A Gilead ritual that sees Handmaids-in-training being forced to confess any sexual-related "sin" they may have committed.

Salvagings: Public executions that are usually sorted out by a person's gender.

Particicution: A form of a salvaging that sees a prisoner who has committed a serious crime (like rape) being beaten, trampled and killed by other Handmaids.

Rings: These are metal fastenings that are usually hidden by a red veil that hides a Handmaid's necks and mouths. They are mostly seen as a way to particularly seal the mouths of the Handmaids living in Washington, D.C.

Rachel and Leah Reeducation Center: The training center and home where the Handmaids live while in between assignments.

Pearls: While not seen in the television show, Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel (and upcoming spinoff series) The Testaments introduces a new class of women in Gilead. Pearls are described as foreign women recruited from other countries to live in Gilead.

Nighthawk: A violent rebellious group that June and Janine run into while in Chicago. June wants to be part of them in season 4, but Moira rescues her and reunites June with her family in Canada.

A Woman’s Place: The book written by Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) before Gilead uncovers her conservative beliefs.

Mayday: A secret underground resistance group that often uses the term "Mayday" as a way to identify whose part of them.

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