# A poll for the ladies re: terminology for "that area" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869 "2006-01-27T18:02:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/41 "2006-01-28T04:54:05Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Guys? You think women like “vagina”? Not a word that should be used outside of a doctor’s office. We need euphemisms. > > Personally I like “cunt” but I suppose I’m in the minority of woman who consider that a romantic term. > > Mount of Venus can also be mons venus which I think is a bit better…and while a bit Harliquinny, is rather charming I think. > > Or fuckhole…ok, probably in the minority there too… so…um…how YOU doin? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/42 "2006-01-28T04:54:55Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Guys? You think women like “vagina”? Not a word that should be used outside of a doctor’s office. We need euphemisms. With apologies to Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim-substitute Vagina for the name Maria, as in West Side Story… _I just met a woman’s vagina, and suddenly that name, will never be the same to me. Vagina! I’ve just kissed a woman’s vagina, and suddenly I’ve found, how wonderful a sound can be! Vagina! Say it loud and there’s music playing. Say it soft and it’s almost like praying. Vagina! I’ll never stop saying vagina!_😛 ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/43 "2006-01-28T05:40:19Z")
Read Nabokov’s _Lolita_ and _Ada, or Ardor_. No one is better at describing body parts (and lots of other things as well, but that’s another thread) than he is. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/44 "2006-01-28T06:06:35Z")
Ohh, I vote for fertile crescent. Very nice ;0) ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/45 "2006-01-28T06:18:02Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > :dubious: Don’t get laid much I’m guessing? I actually first heard that joke from a girlfriend who thought it funnier than I. I’ve always thought “sex” had a deliberate, but not vulgar or overly poetic, sense to it in this context. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/46 "2006-01-28T06:34:54Z")
I like a term that a doper suggested a couple of years ago: Area 51. Not remotely romantic, though:p Honestly, though, were I you I’d go with “sex”. ---
**Author:** ![Whifton\_Polekitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/97f17d/32.png) [@Whifton\_Polekitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whifton_Polekitty)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/47 "2006-01-28T07:06:12Z")
“Minky”. I like “minky”. Or if I’ve been wrangling boxen for too many days straight, STDIN, which sounds REALLY bad but makes perfect sense when you’re sleep deprived and writing poetry in PERL. If you’re writing for romance, though, yeah, just the simple “sex” seems to go over well. ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/48 "2006-01-28T07:49:58Z")
I once had a coworker that gleefully referred to her nether region as “The Shredder”, which always made me feel rather faint. But then, I’m not being helpful. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/49 "2006-01-28T08:07:18Z")
I’m wondering if women who prefer “cunt” are really a minority anymore. I know quite a few of us who think it’s far sexier than “pussy” (which sounds… too much like pus to not squick me out) and far more deliberate than any number of flowery terms which, to me, make it seem like it’s a place SO forlorn that we have to call it “bunny” or “calla lilly” to downplay it’s ick factor. If cunt is too forward, I personally would prefer, “clit” “lips” and “inside” to make up the difference. I would avoid “axewound” at all costs. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/50 "2006-01-28T10:05:39Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > :dubious: Don’t get laid much I’m guessing? It’s an old joke and does not reflect my attitude toward women. Actually I have been celebate for a number of years, but it’s due to emasculating medications, not attitude. Thanks for asking though. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/51 "2006-01-28T10:26:11Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > It’s an old joke and does not reflect my attitude toward women. Ah well, it’s just that as I’m fond of the word, I hate to see it used as an _actual_ insult. But I didn’t mean to be hostile if you didn’t 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/52 "2006-01-28T10:44:34Z")
Well, Henry Miller used the term ‘cunt’ aplenty in his letters to Anais Nin, and there’s no question that she found this coarseness in him sexy; still, I’d be wary of using it unless your lady has a rather bawdy turn of mind, and/or you are pretty sure she would be likely to appreciate it in the somewhat naughty spirit you appear to intend by your use of it. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869/53 "2006-01-28T13:49:49Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Personally I like “cunt” but I suppose I’m in the minority of woman who consider that a romantic term. > > Mount of Venus can also be mons venus which I think is a bit better…and while a bit Harliquinny, is rather charming I think. The OP puts forth a really interesting dilemma. I have to agree with betenoir - I enjoy cunt, too, though not generally as a romantic term. I agree with betenoir that many women would find this offensive. I’m not sure why I like it. Maybe because I write erotica. Or perhaps I’m somewhat perverted. Anyway…I generally like it best when talking dirty. The term “sex” works, too, though it may be too general. I think the word you use depends on the tone of your letter and, of course, the recipient’s sensibilities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-the-ladies-re-terminology-for-that-area/341869.md?page=2)