Love & Intimacy Dictionary — 60 Sexual Wellness Terms Explained
A clear, judgement-free glossary of sexual wellness and intimacy terms — written with an Indian lens, because most sexual dictionaries aren't. No jargon, no shame, just clinical explanations.
How to Use This Dictionary
Sexual vocabulary is deeply personal and culturally varied — there's no such thing as a silly question. Every term below is explained clinically, without judgement. Where a practice carries a genuine safety consideration, we've noted it. Where a relevant product exists, we've linked it.
We belong to the land of the Kamasutra — a text that treated sexual knowledge as scholarship worth preserving, written well over a thousand years before the West produced anything comparable. Yet somewhere between then and now, the vocabulary of intimacy in India went underground: the words exist, but they're whispered, misspelled into search engines at midnight, and learned from sources ranging from unreliable to actively harmful.
That gap has consequences. Research on sexual health consistently finds that people who possess accurate vocabulary for their own bodies and desires communicate better with partners, recognise problems earlier, and report higher satisfaction. A dictionary is not an instruction manual — knowing what pegging means no more obligates you to try it than knowing what skydiving means. But shame thrives on silence, and silence starts with not having the words.
This dictionary is our attempt to close that gap: sixty terms spanning practices, identities, anatomy, toys and slang — each explained plainly, with its cultural origin, its safety considerations where relevant, and links to related terms and products where they genuinely help. Bookmark it, share it, and return to it whenever a term surfaces that you'd rather understand than pretend to.
Before You Explore: The Three Rules
Consent — enthusiastic, informed, and revocable at any moment — applies to every act in this glossary without exception. Communication — the acts that go well are the ones discussed beforehand, not negotiated mid-moment. Protection — barrier methods remain relevant across far more of these entries than most people assume. Everything else is preference.
The Full Glossary
📜 Origin: Practised and documented across cultures for millennia — the Kamasutra itself references it among its classifications of union.
Anal sex refers to penile penetration of the anus. Because the rectum doesn't self-lubricate the way the vagina does, generous water- or silicone-based lubricant is essential for comfort and to prevent tissue tearing. Relaxation and unhurried foreplay make a significant difference to comfort. Numbing products are not recommended, since pain is a useful signal that something needs to slow down.
Start far smaller than intended penetration — a lubricated finger or slim toy over several sessions builds comfort safely. Condoms remain important here: STI transmission risk is actually higher for anal than vaginal sex due to delicate rectal tissue. Never move from anal to vaginal contact without changing the condom or washing, as this transfers bacteria.
🔗 Related terms: Butt Plug · Rimming · Pegging
📜 Origin: From Greek an- (without) + orgasmos (excitement) — a clinical sexology term, not slang.
Anorgasmia is difficulty or inability to reach orgasm despite adequate stimulation and arousal. Causes range from medication side-effects and anxiety to hormonal factors or a mismatch between the stimulation received and what the body actually needs — many women require clitoral rather than purely vaginal stimulation. It is treatable; a sex therapist or gynaecologist can help identify the underlying cause.
Roughly one in ten women experiences persistent difficulty reaching orgasm, so this is far more common than openly discussed in India. Keeping a simple diary of what does and doesn't create arousal gives a therapist a concrete starting point, and switching or adjusting medications (especially certain antidepressants) resolves many cases outright.
🔗 Related terms: Masturbation · Vibrator
📜 Origin: Borrowed from biology (asexual reproduction); adopted as an identity term by the online AVEN community in the early 2000s.
Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterised by little or no sexual attraction to others. It is distinct from celibacy, which is a choice — asexuality is an innate orientation. Asexual people can still form deep romantic relationships and emotional bonds; the difference lies specifically in the absence of a drive toward sexual activity, not the capacity for intimacy or love.
Asexuality exists on a spectrum — some asexual people enjoy romance and physical affection, some experience attraction rarely (grey-asexual), and some feel attraction only after deep emotional bonding (demisexual). A sudden loss of desire in someone previously sexual is not asexuality; it warrants a medical check for hormonal or psychological causes.
📜 Origin: The compound acronym emerged on early-1990s Usenet forums, folding three older abbreviations (B&D, D/s, S&M) into one.
BDSM is an umbrella term covering Bondage & Discipline, Dominance & Submission, and Sadism & Masochism — a wide spectrum of power-exchange and sensation play. It ranges from light restraint and role-play to more intense practices. The defining requirement across all of it is informed, ongoing consent and a pre-agreed safe word. Practised this way, it can be a meaningful and trust-building form of intimacy.
Newcomers should learn the acronym SSC — Safe, Sane, Consensual — before buying any equipment. Start with soft restraints and light sensation play, agree a safe word that isn't 'no' or 'stop', and debrief together afterward (aftercare). Intensity can always increase later; trust, once broken by going too far, is hard to rebuild.
🔗 Related terms: Rough Sex · Shocker · Strap-On
📜 Origin: From Latin bi- (two); entered the vocabulary through 19th-century European sexology before becoming a self-identity term.
Bisexuality is romantic or sexual attraction to more than one gender. Social acceptance of bisexuality varies significantly and is often uneven across genders — a reality that can make disclosure difficult for some. Bisexuality is a stable, valid orientation, not a phase or a stepping stone to another identity.
Bisexual people make up the single largest group within the LGBTQ+ spectrum globally, despite being the least visible. Attraction to more than one gender doesn't imply attraction to everyone, nor does a person's current relationship 'decide' their orientation — a bisexual woman married to a man remains bisexual.
🔗 Related terms: Lesbian · Transgender
📜 Origin: American slang from the mid-20th century — one theory ties it to jazz-era musicians' use of 'blow' meaning to play an instrument.
Colloquial term for fellatio — oral stimulation of the penis using the mouth, lips and tongue. Comfort and hygiene matter on both sides: washing beforehand reduces any risk of irritation or infection, and clear communication about pace and depth improves the experience for both partners.
Communication transforms this act: hands and mouth working together, varied rhythm, and attention to the frenulum (the sensitive underside ridge) matter far more than depth. The receiving partner should never push a partner's head — it's the fastest way to make someone dread the act entirely.
🔗 Related terms: Deep-Throating · Sixty-Nine · Cunnilingus
📜 Origin: American college slang first recorded around 1916; the clinical description is 'epididymal hypertension.'
A slang term for the dull ache some men feel in the testicles after prolonged arousal without ejaculation, caused by temporary blood pooling in the genital area. It is uncomfortable but medically harmless and resolves on its own within a short time — it is never a legitimate reason to pressure a partner into sex.
The discomfort typically resolves within an hour without any action, though ejaculation (including solo) clears it fastest. The sensation has been exaggerated in popular culture far beyond its medical reality — it is comparable to any minor muscle ache, not an emergency.
📜 Origin: Plain English put to work by fashion journalism and tabloid culture; no clinical pedigree whatsoever.
Informal term for the visible outline of the penis through clothing, whether flaccid or erect. Fabric tightness and clothing cut affect visibility far more than arousal alone.
In fashion and celebrity media the term carries a body-scrutiny culture of its own — athletes in compression wear and red-carpet photographs feed entire tabloid columns. The practical takeaway is simply that clothing cut and fabric determine visibility far more than anatomy, and that commenting on anyone's body uninvited remains poor form regardless of gender.
📜 Origin: Early versions were sold in 1890s America as quack 'rectal dilators' claiming to cure everything from headaches to insanity.
A tapered anal toy designed to be inserted and left in place, offering a sensation of fullness rather than in-out motion (a dildo serves that purpose instead). Flared bases prevent the toy from being fully absorbed. Liberal lubrication is essential, since the rectum produces no natural lubrication of its own — silicone toys are easiest to clean and maintain.
Sizes are graded deliberately — beginners should start with the smallest in a kit and progress over weeks, not minutes. Only ever use toys with a flared base anally; emergency rooms worldwide see regular cases of non-flared objects requiring removal. Clean with warm soapy water and store separately from other toys.
🔗 Related terms: Anal Sex · Strap-On
📜 Origin: From Latin circumcidere, 'to cut around' — among humanity's oldest surgeries, depicted in Egyptian carvings from c. 2400 BCE.
Surgical removal of the penile foreskin, performed for religious, cultural, or medical reasons. WHO research links circumcision to a reduced risk of HIV transmission, and current evidence shows no meaningful difference in sexual sensation for either partner. It is irreversible, so it should only ever be performed by a qualified medical professional.
In India, circumcision is common in Muslim communities and increasingly chosen for medical reasons like recurrent phimosis or balanitis. If a doctor recommends it for a medical condition, seek a urologist rather than a general practitioner — technique quality directly affects healing and comfort.
📜 Origin: From Japanese kosupure, a portmanteau of 'costume play' coined by journalist Nobuyuki Takahashi in 1984.
Costume play — dressing as a favourite character, real or fictional, to add a role-play element to intimacy. It can range from mild fun at a party to a fully sexual scenario, depending entirely on context and what both partners are comfortable with.
The gateway version needs no full costume: a single prop or accessory signals the character and lets shy partners test whether role-embodiment appeals to them. Comfort matters more than accuracy — a costume that itches or restricts breathing ends the scene early.
🔗 Related terms: Foreplay · Dirty Talk
📜 Origin: Adult-film production jargon from the 1990s that leaked into mainstream vocabulary via the internet.
A term for visible ejaculate remaining after unprotected intercourse, popularised by adult film content. Because it specifically describes unprotected sex, it carries real pregnancy and STI risk — couples not actively trying to conceive should use protection and consider a pregnancy test kit if unprotected sex occurs.
If unprotected sex occurs unintentionally, emergency contraception is effective within 72 hours (sooner is better) and is available over the counter in India. A pregnancy test gives reliable results from about three weeks after the event — testing earlier produces false negatives.
🔗 Related terms: Period Sex
📜 Origin: 1970s adult-film production term — the industry's own name for it was the 'money shot,' reflecting its commercial weight.
Adult-film terminology for visible ejaculation. A media and pornography convention rather than a sexual practice in itself.
Its ubiquity in adult film has shaped expectations that don't reflect most real intimacy — surveys consistently show the convention matters far more to producers than to actual partners. Couples should treat it as one option among many, discussed like any other preference, rather than a default script inherited from pornography.
📜 Origin: Directly from Latin: cunnus (vulva) + lingere (to lick) — Roman poets used the term two thousand years ago.
Oral stimulation of the vulva and clitoris. A flavoured or edible lubricant can add variety, and starting slow with light pressure before building intensity based on your partner's response tends to work best.
The clitoris has roughly 8,000 nerve endings — double the penis — concentrated in a small area, which is why indirect, building stimulation usually outperforms immediate direct contact. Consistency of rhythm once something is working matters more than variety; many women report partners changing technique exactly when they shouldn't.
🔗 Related terms: Venus Butterfly · Sixty-Nine · Face-Sitting
📜 Origin: Entered global vocabulary through the 1972 film Deep Throat, one of the most commercially successful adult films ever made.
Oral sex in which the penis is taken deeper into the throat rather than just the mouth. It requires practice, a relaxed gag reflex, and clear communication, since it can be physically uncomfortable or even risk airway obstruction if rushed — never something to push past a partner's limit.
The gag reflex can be gradually trained but never fully suppressed in most people, and there is no obligation to try. Angle matters more than effort — positions that straighten the throat's natural curve make depth dramatically more comfortable than force ever will.
🔗 Related terms: Blow Job
📜 Origin: From Greek diaphragma (partition). The contraceptive version was developed in 1880s Germany and long nicknamed 'the Dutch cap.'
A dome-shaped barrier contraceptive inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix and block sperm. It requires a doctor's fitting and prescription, correct insertion technique, and must remain in place for at least six hours after intercourse (and no longer than 24) to be effective.
With perfect use the diaphragm is about 94% effective, dropping to 88% with typical use — meaningfully lower than hormonal methods or condoms used correctly. It also offers no STI protection, so it suits mutually monogamous couples focused purely on pregnancy prevention.
🔗 Related terms: Creampie
📜 Origin: A 1990s–2000s internet shock-slang term; most references are jokes or urban legend rather than actual practice.
A slang term for an extreme, humour-or-shock-value act involving faecal matter. It carries significant hygiene and infection risk and sits well outside mainstream sexual practice; most couples have no interest in it, and that's entirely normal.
The term functions mostly as internet shock-humour — genuine practice is vanishingly rare, and the hygiene risks (bacterial transfer to the mouth and face) are entirely real. Declining acts like this requires no justification; 'not for us' is a complete sentence in any healthy relationship.
📜 Origin: The practice long predates the phrase — Sanskrit erotic poetry and the Kamasutra both treat arousing speech as an art form.
Verbal expression of desire or sexual intent during intimacy — a form of communication, not obscenity for its own sake. Research links comfort discussing sexual desires openly to greater sexual satisfaction. Being specific rather than vague tends to be far more effective at building arousal.
Start miles below your ceiling: a single sentence about what feels good, said out loud, is dirty talk. Text messages during the day are the lowest-pressure training ground — many Indian couples find written words easier than spoken ones at first, and the anticipation they build carries into the evening.
📜 Origin: Named for the canine mating posture; the Kamasutra classifies the same rear-entry position as the 'congress of the cow' (dhenuka).
A rear-entry position with the receiving partner on hands and knees. Popular for allowing deeper penetration and quick, low-effort setup, making it well suited to shorter or spontaneous sessions.
A pillow under the receiving partner's hips changes the angle enough to reach the G-spot zone, and dropping from hands to forearms deepens penetration further. It's also the position least affected by pregnancy, weight difference, or height mismatch — part of why it consistently ranks in India's top three.
🔗 Related terms: Missionary · Spooning
📖 See our full sex positions library →
📜 Origin: The underlying stop-start method was formalised clinically by Dr James Semans in 1956 as a premature-ejaculation therapy; the slang name came decades later.
Deliberately pausing near the point of orgasm and restarting, repeated to intensify the eventual climax. Widely used as a natural technique for men managing premature ejaculation, often combined with slow, controlled breathing. A benzocaine delay condom achieves a similar effect with less active management.
The technique works identically for women and can dramatically intensify female orgasm — it isn't only a premature-ejaculation tool. Practising solo first makes partnered edging far easier, since you learn to recognise your own point of no return before trying to communicate it mid-session.
🔗 Related terms: Masturbation · Quickie
📜 Origin: Known in BDSM circles as 'queening,' from the image of a throne — the term appears in English erotica from the 19th century.
A position where one partner sits astride the other's face for oral stimulation, often associated with female-led dynamics. Weight distribution matters — leaning rather than sitting fully ensures the receiving partner can still breathe comfortably.
A variation with the seated partner facing the other's feet changes the tongue angle completely and lets nervous partners keep more weight on their own knees. Pillows under the reclining partner's head reduce neck strain during longer sessions.
🔗 Related terms: Cunnilingus · Sixty-Nine
📜 Origin: Adult-film jargon from the 1980s; its normalisation in mainstream expectations is a much-debated media effect.
Ejaculation onto a partner's face, a common convention in adult film content. Purely a matter of personal preference between consenting partners; care should be taken to avoid the eyes.
Preferences here divide sharply and both positions are valid: some find it playful or intimate, others find it degrading — which is precisely why it belongs in the discussed-beforehand category, never sprung as a surprise. Avoid the eyes entirely; semen causes genuine irritation and, if either partner's STI status is unknown, conjunctival infection risk.
📜 Origin: Plain descriptive English — likely the oldest and most universal sexual act after kissing.
Manual clitoral or vaginal stimulation using the fingers. Works best slow, gentle and led by the partner's response rather than speed or pressure. Trimmed nails and a good lubricant make a meaningful difference to comfort.
The 'come hither' curl toward the navel targets the G-spot area about two inches inside the front wall. Wash hands before and after, and never move fingers from anal to vaginal contact — the bacterial transfer causes most post-intimacy urinary tract infections in women.
🔗 Related terms: Venus Butterfly · Foreplay
📜 Origin: 'Fetish' derives from Portuguese feitiço (charm, sorcery); the clinical term is podophilia.
A common attraction to feet involving touching, massaging or kissing them. Research links it partly to overlapping brain regions for foot and genital sensation. Entirely non-sexual physical contact for most people who don't share the interest — and completely normal for those who do.
It is among the most researched fetishes precisely because it's so widespread — brain-mapping studies show the foot and genital sensory regions sit adjacent in the cortex. For partners without the interest, a foot massage costs nothing and is often a genuinely appreciated compromise.
📜 Origin: A descriptive compound following the pattern of 'hand job' — internet-era coinage for a much older act.
Penile stimulation using the feet rather than hands, requiring some practice for a comfortable rhythm and pressure.
A few practical notes elevate it from awkward to enjoyable: lubricant on the feet transforms the sensation, sitting positions with back support beat lying flat for the giver, and ticklishness — the most common obstacle — fades with firmer pressure. It pairs naturally with the foot fetish entry above for couples exploring that territory.
📜 Origin: Coined in early 20th-century sexology through English translations of Freud's Vorlust; the Kamasutra devotes entire chapters to the same territory.
Everything that builds arousal before penetrative sex — kissing, touching, massage, and sensual conversation. There's no fixed checklist; anything mutually enjoyable that increases arousal counts. Longer, unhurried foreplay is consistently linked to better sexual satisfaction, particularly for women.
Surveys of Indian couples consistently show the biggest satisfaction gap isn't technique or duration of intercourse — it's foreplay length. Women's arousal physiology simply takes longer to reach readiness; entering before natural lubrication is established is the most common cause of painful sex reported to gynaecologists.
🔗 Related terms: Fingering · Dirty Talk · Cunnilingus
📜 Origin: A 1990s activist coinage, popularised by writer Riki Anne Wilchins in the newsletter In Your Face (1995).
A gender identity that doesn't conform to the conventional male/female binary — someone may identify with both, neither, or a blend of genders. First widely used at the turn of the century by people whose gender identity didn't match what was assigned to them at birth.
Genderqueer differs from being transgender in that it rejects the binary itself rather than transitioning within it. Pronoun preferences vary by individual — asking respectfully is always more welcome than guessing.
🔗 Related terms: Transgender
📜 Origin: Euphemistic slang; the clinical term is urolagnia, catalogued in sexology literature since Krafft-Ebing's 1886 Psychopathia Sexualis.
Slang for urine-related sexual play. A niche fetish some couples report increases feelings of trust and reduced body-shame between them, though it is far from mainstream. As with any fetish, mutual, enthusiastic consent is essential — never assumed.
Urine from a healthy person is low-risk on unbroken skin but should never contact eyes, mouth or broken skin, and drinking it carries genuine infection risk. The shower or bathroom is the practical venue for obvious reasons — and enthusiasm from both partners, not reluctant tolerance, is the entry requirement.
🔗 Related terms: BDSM
📜 Origin: American English from the 1910s, possibly from 'doohickey' (a small thing); British and Indian English prefer 'love bite.'
A visible bruise caused by suction or biting that ruptures small blood vessels under the skin — commonly on the neck. Purely cosmetic and typically fades within one to two weeks; excessive pressure carries a very small risk of vessel damage.
To fade one faster: cold compress in the first day, warm compress after 48 hours to disperse the pooled blood. Concealer and a collared shirt remain the time-honoured Indian workplace solutions. Ask before giving one anywhere visible — what feels passionate at night can cause real embarrassment at Monday's meeting.
📜 Origin: Mid-20th-century American slang; the act itself appears in art and literature across every era.
Manual stimulation of the penis. A lubricant reduces friction-related irritation during longer sessions and is a simple addition most partners appreciate.
Technique beats speed: twist at the head, varied grip pressure, and attention to the frenulum outperform simple repetition. Asking your partner to show you their own preferred grip for ten seconds teaches more than any written guide.
🔗 Related terms: Masturbation · Foot Job
📜 Origin: Marketers claim an ancient Arabic origin (jalq); in reality the practice spread almost entirely through 1990s internet forums.
A manual stretching technique marketed as a way to increase penis size. Urologists have found no reliable evidence that it works, and incorrect technique carries a real risk of damaging blood vessels and causing erectile dysfunction. Not medically recommended.
The devices and 'routines' sold online carry the same evidence problem — none have passed clinical trials. Men concerned about size should know the research consistently shows partners rate girth, technique and attentiveness far above length; a urologist can address genuine medical concerns.
📜 Origin: From Lesbos, the Greek island home of the poet Sappho (6th century BCE), whose verses addressed love between women.
Describes women who are romantically or sexually attracted to other women. Lesbian sexual activity spans a wide range of practices, most commonly oral sex and manual stimulation, along with toy use where desired.
India's legal landscape shifted decisively in 2018 when the Supreme Court read down Section 377, decriminalising consensual same-sex relationships. The stereotype that lesbian identity is 'a phase' has no research support — orientation stability in women matches that of any other group. Sappho's surviving verse fragments remain the word's 2,600-year-old namesake.
📜 Origin: From Latin masturbari; the older term 'onanism' comes from a misread Bible story and fuelled centuries of misplaced guilt.
Self-stimulation of the genitals for pleasure. A normal, healthy part of sexual wellbeing that helps people understand their own arousal patterns with zero risk of pregnancy or STIs. Mutual masturbation — partners stimulating themselves together — is also a recognised and low-pressure way to learn a partner's preferences.
Despite generations of Indian myth-making, masturbation causes no weakness, vision loss, hair loss or infertility — medical consensus is unambiguous. It's linked to better sleep, reduced stress, and in men, some studies associate regular ejaculation with lower prostate cancer risk. Frequency becomes a problem only when it disrupts daily life.
🔗 Related terms: Edging · Vibrator
📜 Origin: Traced to aviation pioneer Lawrence Sperry, whose 1916 autopilot demonstration flight allegedly ended in an amorous crash-landing.
Informal term for having sex on an aircraft. Logistically difficult and legally risky — public indecency laws apply in the air just as they do on the ground.
The fantasy thrives precisely because the reality disappoints: aircraft lavatories are cramped, turbulence is unpredictable, and crew are legally empowered to intervene. In India, public indecency provisions apply on aircraft exactly as on the ground. Most couples who value the idea channel it into role play at home — same thrill, zero legal exposure.
📜 Origin: An acronym mainstreamed globally by the 1999 film American Pie; adult-media categorisation cemented it.
An acronym referring to an attractive older woman, popularised by mainstream film and widely used in adult content categorisation. A media/pop-culture term rather than a clinical one.
The term sits at a genuine cultural crossroads — critics read it as reducing older women to a fetish category, while others note it helped mainstream the idea that desirability doesn't expire at thirty. Either way, its ubiquity in search data confirms attraction to confident, experienced partners is among the most common patterns there is.
📜 Origin: Alfred Kinsey popularised the name in 1948 via a garbled anthropological anecdote; the position itself is described in the Kamasutra millennia earlier.
The most common position: face-to-face, one partner on top. Valued for eye contact, kissing access and closeness — far from 'basic,' small adjustments like raised legs or a pillow under the hips change the angle of penetration significantly.
A single pillow under the hips tilts the pelvis enough to transform the angle of stimulation — the cheapest upgrade in all of sexual technique. The CAT variation (coital alignment technique), where the penetrating partner shifts higher so the base grinds the clitoris, addresses missionary's main limitation directly.
🔗 Related terms: Doggy Style · Spooning
📖 Explore more positions →
📜 Origin: Onomatopoeic slang popularised by the 2005 comedy Wedding Crashers.
Playfully burying one's face between a partner's breasts while making a humming sound. Light, playful foreplay rather than a primary act.
It survives as one of intimacy's few purely comedic acts — which is exactly its value: laughter during sex correlates strongly with relationship satisfaction in couples research. The only rule is the universal one: playful consent still counts as consent, and enthusiasm from the receiving partner is what keeps a joke funny.
📜 Origin: From Greek orgia — the secret ecstatic rites of Dionysus; the sexual meaning is a later borrowing.
Group sex involving more than two participants. Modern organised gatherings typically operate with clear consent rules and boundaries agreed in advance. Protection remains essential regardless of group size — never skip it.
Modern organised events run on strict etiquette that would surprise outsiders: explicit verbal consent for every interaction, designated sober hosts, and immediate ejection for boundary violations. Protection logistics multiply with participants — fresh condoms between partners are non-negotiable. The Dionysian original was a religious rite; the modern version is a heavily rule-bound social one.
📜 Origin: A visual metaphor from 1980s adult media; ZZ Top's 1981 song of the same name winked at it.
Slang for ejaculation onto a partner's neck or chest, visually resembling a strand of pearls. An alternative some prefer to facial ejaculation.
As with all ejaculation-placement preferences, it belongs in the conversation category rather than the assumption category. Practicalities are mundane: it washes off skin harmlessly, though anyone with sensitive skin may prefer immediate cleanup. The visual-metaphor name has outlived the 1980s media that coined it.
📜 Origin: Coined in 2001 when columnist Dan Savage ran a reader contest to name the act — 'pegging' won the vote.
A woman performing anal penetration on a male partner using a strap-on dildo. Comfort depends heavily on choosing the right harness and dildo size, plentiful lubrication, and going slowly — communication throughout matters more here than in almost any other practice.
The receiving partner controls pace absolutely, especially the first time — the prostate ('P-spot') sits a few inches inside toward the front, and stimulation there is why many men find the experience unexpectedly intense. Start with fingers or a small toy well before any strap-on.
🔗 Related terms: Strap-On · Anal Sex · Butt Plug
📜 Origin: Menstrual taboos span scripture from Leviticus to the Manusmriti — the modern term is neutral by deliberate contrast.
Intercourse during menstruation. Medically safe for most people, though pregnancy is still possible with irregular cycles — sperm can survive up to five days. A towel underneath helps with any staining, and protection is still advisable unless pregnancy is intended.
Menstrual blood is not unhygienic — it's blood and uterine tissue, nothing more. Some women report orgasm relieves cramps via uterine muscle release. A dark towel, shower sex, or menstrual discs (which sit high and allow mess-free intercourse) are the practical workarounds couples actually use.
🔗 Related terms: Creampie · Spooning
📜 Origin: From Greek poly (many) + Latin amor (love); coined around 1990 within the American pagan community.
Practising or open to romantic and sexual relationships with more than one partner, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Structures vary widely, from a primary-plus-secondary arrangement to fully egalitarian networks. Clear communication and consistent protection use across all partners matter more here than in monogamous relationships.
The non-negotiable infrastructure is scheduling honesty and sexual-health transparency across all partners — regular STI testing is standard practice in functional polyamorous networks. Jealousy isn't eliminated but negotiated; the community term 'compersion' describes finding joy in a partner's other relationships.
🔗 Related terms: Threesome
📜 Origin: A French-coined term for a practice linked to the devadasi tradition of South India; colonial-era slang called it the 'Singapore grip.'
A technique using trained vaginal muscle contractions to stimulate a partner during intercourse, with roots in ancient Indian and Arabic texts. Regular pelvic-floor (Kegel) exercises are the modern equivalent training method, and also support long-term bladder health.
Modern training is simply Kegel practice: contract the muscles that stop urine flow, hold five seconds, release, repeat in sets daily. Benefits extend beyond technique — stronger pelvic floors improve orgasm intensity, postpartum recovery, and bladder control into older age.
🔗 Related terms: Tantric Sex
📜 Origin: Descriptive English; historical medical warnings against it were overturned by modern obstetrics almost entirely.
Sex during pregnancy, generally safe unless a doctor has flagged a high-risk pregnancy, bleeding, or multiples. Comfort naturally shifts as pregnancy progresses — spooning, doggy, or woman-on-top positions avoid pressure on the abdomen better than classic missionary in later trimesters. Always confirm with your gynaecologist if uncertain.
Orgasm-triggered contractions are harmless in normal pregnancy — they are not labour. The baby is protected by the amniotic sac and cervical mucus plug and cannot be 'poked' or harmed by intercourse. Libido changes in either direction across trimesters are normal; second-trimester increases are especially common.
🔗 Related terms: Spooning · Missionary
📜 Origin: American slang from the 1920s, originally meaning any hastily produced thing — quickie divorce, quickie film — before settling here.
Fast, low-preparation sex, typically driven by limited time or privacy rather than an unhurried mood. Works best when both partners are already aroused going in, since there's little time built in for extended foreplay.
The best quickies are seeded in advance — a suggestive message an hour earlier means both partners arrive already aroused, solving the no-foreplay problem. Keep the essentials accessible: fumbling for a condom kills the momentum that defines the entire format.
🔗 Related terms: Edging · Doggy Style
📜 Origin: From 'rim' (edge); the clinical term is anilingus, documented in sexology since the 19th century.
Oral-anal contact, also called anilingus. A dental dam significantly reduces the risk of transmitting bacteria, parasites or viruses, and washing beforehand is essential for comfort and hygiene on both sides.
The hygiene protocol is what separates safe practice from risk: showering beforehand, and ideally a dental dam (or a condom cut open flat) as a barrier — hepatitis A and intestinal parasites transmit through this route even between healthy-seeming partners. Flavoured barriers exist precisely for this act. Vaccination against hepatitis A/B is a sensible baseline for anyone practising it regularly.
📜 Origin: Descriptive English; notably, courts worldwide (including India's) increasingly reject the so-called 'rough sex defence' in assault cases.
Sex involving more intense physical elements — spanking, hair-pulling, or restraint — as opposed to slow, tender lovemaking. Interestingly, research shows women report watching 'rough' and 'bondage' adult content at notably higher rates than men. Whatever the intensity, clear boundaries agreed in advance are what keep it enjoyable rather than distressing.
Agree the menu beforehand, not during: which acts, how intense, and the safe word. Choking specifically carries real medical risk even when consensual and should be researched seriously before ever attempting. Aftercare — water, warmth, reassurance — matters as much here as in formal BDSM.
🔗 Related terms: BDSM · Dirty Talk
📜 Origin: 1990s internet slang built on a trombone-mime visual joke; almost always invoked for humour rather than practice.
Slang for simultaneous anilingus and manual stimulation. A niche practice combining two acts described elsewhere in this glossary.
The coordination required — two simultaneous acts at different rhythms — makes it more comedy anecdote than regular practice for most. All hygiene guidance from the rimming entry applies in full here; the humour value of the name doesn't reduce the bacterial reality of the act.
📜 Origin: 1990s American college slang spread by a hand-gesture meme; the act it names predates the joke.
A slang term for an act involving sudden, unannounced touch. Because it depends entirely on surprise, it inherently bypasses consent unless explicitly discussed and agreed beforehand — which is required for it to be a safe or welcome experience rather than a startling one.
Its meme status (complete with hand gesture) obscures the serious point: any act defined by surprise contradicts the consent that makes intimate acts welcome. The discussed-in-advance version — where the element of 'surprise' is anticipated but the act itself is pre-agreed — is the only version compatible with trust.
📜 Origin: From the shape of the numerals; the French soixante-neuf appears in erotic literature as early as the 1790s.
Simultaneous mutual oral sex, with partners positioned in opposite directions. Works most comfortably when partners are of similar height; some couples find it easier to focus on giving and receiving one at a time rather than both at once.
The classic complaint — inability to focus on giving and receiving simultaneously — has a simple fix: treat it as taking turns within the position rather than constant mutual action. Side-lying 69 eliminates the height-difference problem and the neck strain of the stacked version.
🔗 Related terms: Blow Job · Cunnilingus
📜 Origin: Adult-film slang of the 1990s, referenced by name in Kevin Smith's 1994 indie film Clerks.
Passing semen between partners' mouths during a kiss after oral sex. A niche practice; comfort and consent should be discussed beforehand rather than assumed.
Comfort with one's own or a partner's fluids varies enormously and predicts nothing about the relationship's health. STI transmission risk mirrors that of oral sex generally — low between tested, monogamous partners, and worth a conversation otherwise. As with most acts in this glossary's slang tier, curiosity, discussion, and easy veto rights are the whole framework.
📜 Origin: From spoons nested in a drawer — in Victorian England, 'spooning' simply meant affectionate cuddling and courtship.
A side-by-side position with one partner behind the other, popular both for penetrative sex and simply for post-coital cuddling. Comfortable during pregnancy since it avoids pressure on the abdomen, and it frees a hand for touch elsewhere on the body.
As a sex position, spooning offers the shallowest penetration angle of the major positions — which makes it ideal for partners managing size differences, pregnancy, or sensitivity. The free upper hand's access to the whole front of the body is its quiet advantage.
🔗 Related terms: Doggy Style · Period Sex · Pregnant Sex
📜 Origin: The phenomenon is discussed in texts as old as Aristotle and the Kamasutra; the modern clinical debate uses 'female ejaculation.'
Fluid release from the vagina, sometimes occurring with orgasm. Research remains genuinely divided on its exact source — some studies point to a mix of urine and fluid from the Skene's glands. It doesn't happen for every woman, and its absence says nothing about the quality of an orgasm.
Whatever its precise composition, the practical takeaway is pressure-free: it is neither a performance goal nor proof of orgasm quality. Waterproof mattress protectors exist for couples who encounter it regularly — a far better solution than anxiety.
📜 Origin: Descriptive English; harness-worn devices appear in ancient Greek comedy as the olisbos, proving the concept is anything but new.
A wearable, non-vibrating dildo held in place by a harness, used for penetrative sex regardless of the wearer's anatomy. Fit against the body and comfort of the harness matter more for a good experience than the dildo itself — silicone toys clean most easily after use.
Harness fit determines everything: it should sit snug against the pubic bone without shifting during thrusting. Double-ended designs allow the wearer simultaneous internal stimulation. Budget silicone over cheap PVC — porous materials harbour bacteria that no washing fully removes.
🔗 Related terms: Pegging · Lesbian
📜 Origin: From Sanskrit tantra ('loom, weave, system'). Western 'neotantra' borrows the name while diverging heavily from the original spiritual texts.
A slow, meditative approach to sex rooted in Hindu and Buddhist spiritual traditions, emphasising synchronised breathing, prolonged eye contact and sustained intimacy over reaching orgasm quickly. Orgasm is treated as secondary to the depth of connection built during the encounter.
A beginner's session needs no training: sit facing each other, synchronise slow breathing for five minutes, maintain eye contact, and delay any genital contact for at least twenty minutes. Most couples find the enforced slowness initially awkward and then revelatory — arousal built this gradually peaks differently.
🔗 Related terms: Edging · Pompoir
📜 Origin: Visual slang that jumped to global fame through 2000s gaming culture, where the taunt was mimed in multiplayer shooters.
Slang for placing the scrotum against a partner's mouth or face, generally done kneeling or standing over them. A niche, playful practice for those who enjoy it.
Gaming culture gave the term its second life, but the physical act needs one practical caution: the scrotum's sensitivity means teeth, pressure and sudden movement are genuine hazards — slow and gentle is the entire technique. Kneeling-over positions give the receiving partner control of height and contact, which most couples find works better.
📜 Origin: Follows the old English group suffix '-some' (as in golf's foursome); the French ménage à trois dates to the 18th century.
Sexual activity involving three participants, in any gender combination. Clear boundaries and enthusiastic consent from everyone involved — discussed before, not negotiated in the moment — make the difference between a good and a bad experience for all three people.
The couple's relationship survives threesomes that are negotiated exhaustively beforehand and debriefed honestly afterward — and rarely survives spontaneous ones. Decide in advance: who does what with whom, what's off-limits, and what happens if anyone wants to stop. The third person is a full participant with their own boundaries, not a prop.
🔗 Related terms: Orgy · Polyamory
📜 Origin: Coined by psychiatrist John Oliven in 1965 and popularised in the 1990s; India's hijra communities predate the word by many centuries.
Describes someone whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. Transgender people continue to face elevated rates of depression and anxiety linked to social stigma rather than their identity itself — acceptance and respect make a measurable difference to wellbeing.
India legally recognises transgender persons' rights under the 2019 Act, and hijra communities hold centuries of documented history here — gender diversity is not a Western import. Using a person's chosen name and pronouns is basic respect and is consistently linked to dramatically better mental-health outcomes.
🔗 Related terms: Gender Queer
📜 Origin: Named for the Roman goddess of love and catapulted to fame by a 1986 episode of the TV series L.A. Law.
A technique combining oral (cunnilingus) and manual (fingering) stimulation simultaneously, aimed at layering clitoral and vaginal sensation at once. Best done slowly, giving the layered sensation time to build rather than rushing toward climax.
Coordination is the skill: the tongue maintains steady clitoral rhythm while fingers curl toward the front vaginal wall — two different motions at two different tempos. If that's overwhelming, alternate rather than combine; the layered effect still builds across the session.
🔗 Related terms: Cunnilingus · Fingering
📜 Origin: Electromechanical vibrators were patented in the 1880s by Dr Joseph Granville — as medical massage devices for treating 'hysteria.'
A toy designed to deliver clitoral, vaginal or anal stimulation through vibration. One of the most reliable ways for many women to reach orgasm, since the clitoris and vulva are especially responsive to vibration. Available in wand, insertable, and countless other forms — waterproof models exist for shower or bath use.
First-time buyers in India should start with a simple external bullet or wand rather than an insertable — external stimulation suits most anatomy and the learning curve is gentler. Body-safe silicone, a motor quiet enough for shared housing, and USB charging are the three specs that actually matter. Clean before and after every use.
🔗 Related terms: Masturbation · Squirting
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A Closing Note
Knowing the correct term for something doesn't obligate you to try it — this dictionary exists purely to inform, not to pressure. What matters far more than vocabulary is consent, communication and comfort with your partner. If a term here describes something you're curious about, talk to your partner first; if it describes something you'd rather never think about again, that's completely fine too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to not know some of these terms?
Completely. Sexual vocabulary varies hugely by culture, generation and personal experience. This glossary exists precisely so nobody has to feel embarrassed asking — every term here is explained in plain, clinical language.
Are all these practices safe?
Most are simply variations of normal, low-risk sexual activity. A smaller number carry genuine hygiene, infection or physical risk and are flagged accordingly in their entries — always prioritise consent, communication and appropriate protection regardless of which practice you're exploring.
Why does India need its own version of this glossary?
Most sexual glossaries online are written from a Western cultural perspective. India has its own long history with sexual scholarship — the Kamasutra predates most Western sex manuals by over a thousand years — so several entries here are framed with that context in mind.
What products does Condombazaar recommend for beginners?
A water-based personal lubricant and a reliable condom cover the majority of practices in this glossary safely. For anal play specifically, extra lubrication is non-negotiable. Browse our Wellness and Personal Lubricants categories to get started.
Is delivery from Condombazaar discreet?
Completely. Every order ships in plain, unmarked packaging with sender name CA Gain Healthcare — no product name or brand visible anywhere on the box. Delivering privately across India since 2010.
Is the Kamasutra really just a sex manual?
No — the sexual positions occupy roughly a fifth of the text. The Kamasutra is a broader treatise on living well, covering courtship, marriage, household management and social conduct in ancient India. Its frank treatment of pleasure as a legitimate life goal is what makes it remarkable, especially measured against the silence that followed.
How do I bring up trying something new with my partner?
Outside the bedroom, without pressure, and framed as curiosity rather than complaint: 'I read about something and it sounded interesting — would you ever want to talk about it?' gives your partner room to react honestly. Sharing an article (like an entry from this glossary) often works better than a direct request, because it makes the conversation about an idea rather than a demand.
Are any of the practices in this glossary illegal in India?
Between consenting adults in private, none of them. The Supreme Court's 2018 reading-down of Section 377 decriminalised consensual acts regardless of gender. What remains illegal is anything public (obscenity and public-indecency provisions), anything non-consensual, and anything involving minors — none of which this glossary describes.
Are sex toys legal to buy and own in India?
Owning and using them is not an offence — no Indian law criminalises possession. The legal grey zone concerns obscenity provisions affecting how they're marketed and imported, which is why products are typically listed as 'massagers' or 'wellness devices.' Buying from an established Indian retailer like Condombazaar avoids the customs-seizure risk of importing directly.
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