# Does any guy actually refer to their genitals as their "Pecker"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435 "2007-09-08T02:29:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/1 "2007-09-08T02:29:09Z")
I keep getting a lot of Spam lately trying to sell various, er “Male enchancement”-related pharmaceuticals, and a lot of them have a subject line along the lines of “Ive just started dating this new guy but his pecker is too small and he keeps slipping out”, or "My boyfriends peter isn’t big enough to be feel inside me " :dubious: You get the idea. Anyway, besides having a brief chuckle before hitting the “Delete” button, it did make me wonder- who actually calls their penis a “Pecker” or “Peter” in everyday use? Most guys I know refer to The Lads as being either a Dick or a Cock, or occasionally a few other relatively common slang terms (I don’t want to turn this into the “Let’s all invent humurous euphemisms for our genitals!” thread, so I won’t list them)- but NEVER a “Pecker” or “Peter”. In fact, the only time I’ve heard those terms in connection with one’s private parts is from old movies, usually WWII or Korean War films. So, is the term “Pecker” or “Peter” still actually used as a slang for one’s genitals by anyone under 40, or am I correct in assuming it’s now been consigned to the “Archaic Slang” bin? ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/2 "2007-09-08T02:37:13Z")
I’d assumed that the spam used those particular phrases _because_ they were obsolete. Everyone knows what they mean, but would be unlikely to think to add them to a spam filter. Everybody I know has always just said dick, cock or penis. And there’s been the occasional “lad.” ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/3 "2007-09-08T03:53:46Z")
How often does on refer to their penis at all? I mean, I have one, but I seldom mention it - that would be creepy to my niece… Joe ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/4 "2007-09-08T03:59:15Z")
I went thru a period when I was going to refer to it as “my jimbob” if I ever had occasion to, which I did not. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/5 "2007-09-08T04:06:41Z")
Use of pecker is usually in a joking manner. “I’ve got a small pecker so I’m over compensating” or “you just got that Harley 'cause you have a tiny pecker” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/6 "2007-09-08T04:54:41Z")
I always say dick, cock, or penis, depending on the circumstances. It seems to me that pecker almost always refers to a diminutive specimen, so few men use the word when referring to their own. Peter is a word used only by people too uptight to say penis. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/7 "2007-09-08T05:01:08Z")
In the documentary [This Film is Not Yet Rated](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493459/), about who the MPAA rating board is and what they do, John Waters says he was able to quell protests from the MPAA that the title of his film [Pecker](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126604/) was obscene by pointing out that no one ever uses the word in that sort of way: “Oooh, baby, let me slip you my pecker!” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/8 "2007-09-08T05:02:06Z")
I do have one friend who says “pecker.” He grew up in rural South Dakota, for whatever that’s worth. It might be regional. I’ve never heard anyone say “peter” unless they were trying to sound whimsical or ironic or something. I’e mostly only heard “dick” and “cock” with an occasional wild card like “schlong” or “crank” thrown in there once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/9 "2007-09-08T05:02:33Z")
Oh, and if you’re ever referring to mine, “Excalibur” is always appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/10 "2007-09-08T05:16:36Z")
I’d never use pecker or cock, I find them a bit gauche. Dick, Johnson, unit, junk, wang, weenie, or even penis seem to be more acceptable in my circles of friends. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/11 "2007-09-08T05:20:38Z")
I work with a bunch of nurses. Penis is the only acceptable term at work. Then again, how may workplaces have an acceptable term for it at all? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/12 "2007-09-08T05:22:50Z")
I know what you’re asking yourself and the answer is [yes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357413/quotes). I have a nickname for my penis. Its called the Octagon, but I also nick named my testes - my left one is James Westfall and my right one is Doctor Kenneth Noisewater. You ladies play your cards right you just might get to meet the whole gang. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/13 "2007-09-08T05:46:10Z")
[QUOTE=Koxinga] I know what you’re asking yourself and the answer is [yes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357413/quotes). I have a nickname for my penis. Its called the Octagon, but I also nick named my testes - my left one is James Westfall and my right one is Doctor Kenneth Noisewater. You ladies play your cards right you just might get to meet the whole gang. [/QUOTE] No self respecting woman is going to admit to sleeping with three men at the same time. Or would they… ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/14 "2007-09-08T08:37:12Z")
Ah yes, the Meg a. Dick! The ladies and even the gentleman whizzgaggled at me in the public John… In answer to the OP, no I haven’t heard pecker in conversation in years. 23 male. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/15 "2007-09-08T08:45:34Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] In fact, the only time I’ve heard those terms in connection with one’s private parts is from old movies, usually WWII or Korean War films. [/QUOTE] q.v. Character _Walter Peck_ in Ghostbusters. While it was his name I’ve no doubt it was chosen because of the way “Pecker” is almost always used in a derisive fashion. In fact in one scene Bill Murray’s character says “It’s true. This man has no penis” I think that’s pretty consistant with the way I’ve heard the word “Pecker” used, as **China Guy** says. I’ve never hard the word “Peter” used in reference, but I’ve heard it called a “John Thomas” by people. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/16 "2007-09-08T09:40:26Z")
I’ve heard it referred to a chicken, a monkey, or the Bishop, but only in respective contexts of choking, spanking, or bashing. ---
**Author:** ![Leah\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@Leah\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leah_M)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/17 "2007-09-08T09:53:27Z")
I had a female co-worker who used both ‘pecker’ and ‘peter’ as joking insults but she was about 50 or 60 years old. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/18 "2007-09-08T10:07:22Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] Oh, and if you’re ever referring to mine, “Excalibur” is always appropriate. [/QUOTE] You mean something that would very unpleasent shoved into one’s netherparts and would probably be better off embedding in stone? Well if you say so. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/19 "2007-09-08T12:37:05Z")
Your examples of Spam uses the term pecker right. Your use as it meaning the sack and testes is always wrong. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435/20 "2007-09-08T14:03:51Z")
I grew up hearing both ‘pecker’ and ‘peter’ – I am over 40, though. My mom always calls those long light bulbs ‘peter bulbs’ for instance. And I remember my grandmother teasing my brother, on his way to the chicken coop, “Don’t let the peckers peck your pecker.” My 21 year old son uses ‘pecker’ but only in one context – he is a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy and the nickname for that rate has always been (and remains) ‘pecker checker.’ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-guy-actually-refer-to-their-genitals-as-their-pecker/418435.md?page=2)