A
Abstinence refers to refraining from any kind of sexual activity. Some people, for example, decide to remain abstinent until marriage (often for religious or moral reasons). Another common term for this is celibacy.
Anal sex describes the stimulation (with fingers, the penis, or sex toys) of the butthole (a.k.a. anus) during sex.
B
Bisexual refers to someone who experiences sexual attraction to both guys and girls.
C
Cervix is the entrance to the female’s uterus (womb).
Clitoris is the female sexual organ found where the “inner lips” (a.k.a. labia minora) meet. The size and shape can vary considerably among girls. It’s very sensitive to touch and plays an important part in sexual pleasure for women.
Conception describes the point at which a sperm fertilises an egg.
Consent refers to when someone says “yes” to sex, without pressure or force. Consent is a MUST, coz you should never feel pressured or forced to have sex with someone before you’re ready.
Contraception (a.k.a. birth control) describes products/devices/methods that are designed to prevent pregnancy.
Cunnilingus is oral sex on a girl (often called “licking out”).
D
Dyspareunia is the clinical name for painful intercourse. It can include burning, sharp, searing or cramping feelings in the vagina, vulva, pelvic region or abdomen.
E
Ejaculation (commonly know as “cum”) happens when a sexually-aroused guy has an orgasm that results in the expulsion of semen through the tip of the penis. FYI, sperm can also be released BEFORE ejaculation – this is often called “pre-come”.
Erection (a.k.a. stiffy, hard-on, boner or woody) occurs when the penis fills with blood, causing it to enlarge and stiffen.
Erogenous zones are parts of the body that, when stimulated, elicit sexual arousal. The exact zones can vary from person to person – it’s totally individual!
F
Fellatio is oral sex on a guy, often called a blow job.
Fingering is the common term for using the fingers to stimulate a woman’s genitals.
Foreplay refers to a wide variety of erotic stimulation that doesn’t involve intercourse, but can still be classed as sex. It includes things like “fingering” and oral sex, and helps to increase sexual arousal and prepare the body for intercourse.
G
Gay is a term to describe being attracted to someone of the same sex.
Genitals (or genitalia) are the sex organs in the pelvic region of both guys and ladies.
G spot is the area inside a woman’s vagina that can give her a lot of sexual pleasure.
H
Hand job is the slang term for stimulating a guy’s penis with one or two hands.
Heterosexual describes a person who is sexually attracted to the opposite sex.
Homosexual describes a person who is sexually attracted to members of the same sex.
Horny is a term used by many to describe being really “turned on” or sexually aroused. If you’re horny, you may experience an increased heart rate, dilated pupils, an erect penis (if you’re a guy) or a lubricated vagina (if you’re a girl).
I
Impotence is a guy’s inability to achieve or maintain an erection.
Intercourse is the word commonly used to describe the insertion of a penis into a vagina. Also called sex, sexual intercourse, making love, getting it on, screwing, making whoopee, doing the nasty… er, just to name a few.
J
Jizz or jism are slang terms for ejaculation.
K
Kissing is when two people put their mouths together for pleasure (though you can kiss other parts of the body, natch).
L
Labia are the folds or “lips” of the vulva.
Lesbian refers to women who are sexually attracted to other women.
Libido is another word for sexual drive.
Lust describes any intense desire or craving for gratification and excitement.
M
Masturbation is the self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. It’s a very common behavior, even among people who are sexually active with a partner.
Mutual masturbation or “dry sex” is when you and your sexual partner touch each other’s genitals without having sex (that is, without the penis penetrating the vagina or anus).
N
Nipples are the raised bits of skin at the centre of each breast. They’re usually harder, darker in colour and much more sensitive than the rest of the chest.
O
Oral sex is when one person uses their mouth on another’s genitals for sexual pleasure.
Orgasms (sometimes called climaxing or “coming”) are the peak of sexual arousal, when all the muscles that were tightened during sexual arousal relax, causing a very pleasurable feeling that may involve the whole body.
P
Pap smear is a test performed by a qualified doctor or nurse, where cells are taken from the cervix of a woman to check that it is healthy. If you’re sexually active or over 18, it’s important to have regular Pap smears (at least every two years).
Penis is a part of the male genitals. It’s made up of two parts: the glans (the tip) and the shaft (the main part that contains the urethra, the tube which allows urine and semen to exit a guy’s body).
Period is another word for a girl’s monthly menstruation cycle, when her body discharges blood and bodily cells from the lining of the uterus if conception hasn’t occurred.
Prostate gland is an organ in the male reproductive system that makes nutrients which support and lubricate the sperm.
Q
Quim is another term for vagina.
Queef is slang for vaginal flatulence (a.k.a. vart or fanny fart), when air is released from the vagina. This can happen during activities like sex or exercise.
R
Rhythm method is an unreliable form of contraception that involves only having sex on the least fertile days of a girl’s cycle. It isn’t effective for preventing pregnancy or STIs.
S
Safe sex refers to the act of having sex while protected against pregnancy and STIs – usually with a condom.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), formerly known as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), refer to any infection that is passed from one person to another person during sexual activity.
Straight is a common term used to describe being heterosexual.
T
Testicles (a.k.a. nuts or balls) are the male genital glands that produce sperm for reproduction. They hang in a pouch, called the scrotum, between a guy’s legs.
Transgender is a person who believes they are, or wants to be, the opposite gender. This means they can have male genitals but identify as being female (and vice versa).
U
Uterus (a.k.a. womb) is an internal part of the female reproductive system, where the foetus grows and develops when a woman is pregnant.
Urethra is the transport tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body, which allows urine to pass out.
V
Vagina is the female internal sex organ that begins on the outside, at the vaginal opening, and ends at the cervix.
Virgin describes someone who has never had sexual intercourse.
Vulva is the external genitalia of girls.
W
Wet dream is the term usually used to describe when a guy ejaculates in his sleep.
X
X-rated is typically used to describe pornography (or other types of media) that contains very explicit or violent scenes that are only suitable for mature adults.
Y
Yes means that you agree with what someone is saying to you or asking you to do. Don’t ever let someone pressure you into saying “yes” if you don’t want to. And remember, just because you say “yes” now doesn’t mean you will always say “yes”, and you can change your mind whenever you want!
Z
Zebra penis is a joke term (note: not a scientific fact) referring to a guy who has masturbated so much that his fingers have left indentations striped down his penis.