# The evolution of "fanny" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219 "2011-12-14T20:24:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/41 "2011-12-15T18:09:43Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Ma’s out, pa’s out, let’s talk rude: pee poo belly bum drawers. Knickers! > [@](#): > > Out of interest, what were you told to call yours? I think my sisters were told to use fanny (1970s) as opposed to other friends I’ve discussed this with who used “foo foo”, “patata” (Italian for “potato”), and “penol blein” (Welsh for “front bottom”)! I think it was “front bottom” and wet or dirty, for wee and poo. How dreadfully middle class, I know! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/42 "2011-12-15T18:12:31Z")
> [@hermette](#): > > How dreadfully middle class, I know! Well you might just have a dirty when you hear what absurd nursery term I was told to call my willy. Taily ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/43 "2011-12-15T18:32:34Z")
Confirmed by a friend of mine in Australia (I’m a Chicagoan), the word fanny is akin to the American slang C-word. Same crudeness factor. I heard her gasp over the phone when I gave her examples of how Americans use fanny in a sentence. Ha. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/44 "2011-12-15T18:57:04Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > The author Fanny Flagg gets the odd titter as well. Transcribing Victorian grave records I came across the unfortunate Fanny Wragg. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/45 "2011-12-15T18:59:51Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Ma’s out, pa’s out, let’s talk rude: pee poo belly bum drawers. > > Out of interest, what were you told to call yours? I think my sisters were told to use fanny (1970s) as opposed to other friends I’ve discussed this with who used “foo foo”, “patata” (Italian for “potato”), and “penol blein” (Welsh for “front bottom”)! Sadly, if my mother referred to it all, she would say “Down there” pointing into her lap with a look of distaste (60s/70s, older mum). ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/46 "2011-12-15T19:07:41Z")
> [@hermette](#): > > Not in my experience. As a female child, if I’d said “fanny” in front of my parents, I’d have expected to be told off for saying a rude word. Both it and willie[1] were our childish swear words. > > I don’t think we knew the grown up versions, so to us these were the height of rudeness, and yes, if a teacher had to read them out, the class would dissolve into hysterical laughter. > > [1] Penis. We loved the film Free Willy over here, oh yes 😉 It depends on your family. I mean, there are some words that everyone agrees are ‘naughty,’ but fanny, willy and bum were the usual words for those parts in my family while another little boy I knew ran to tell his parents when I used the word bum in front of him. > [@IntelliQ](#): > > Confirmed by a friend of mine in Australia (I’m a Chicagoan), the word fanny is akin to the American slang C-word. Same crudeness factor. > > I heard her gasp over the phone when I gave her examples of how Americans use fanny in a sentence. Ha. I think your friend is taking the mick or very, very prudish, because although opinions on it do vary some, it’s definitely nowhere near as strong as the c-word. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/47 "2011-12-15T19:13:58Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Ma’s out, pa’s out, let’s talk rude: pee poo belly bum drawers. > > Out of interest, what were you told to call yours? I think my sisters were told to use fanny (1970s) as opposed to other friends I’ve discussed this with who used “foo foo”, “patata” (Italian for “potato”), and “penol blein” (Welsh for “front bottom”)! China. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/48 "2011-12-15T19:26:29Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Well you might just have a dirty when you hear what absurd nursery term I was told to call my willy. > > Taily Folklorist Vance andolph confirmed that “tallywhacker” was slang for “penis” in the Ozarks in the first half of the 20th century. Sounds like it’s a shortened form of that. I never hearde it used, myself, but it’s in the script for _The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas_ (play and movie), so I assume it’s Texas slang, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/49 "2011-12-15T19:28:39Z")
I can’t believe I didn’t think to post [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBVTjEjyifQ)earlier (NSFW Scottish sketch illustrating the use of the word) “Gie us a swatch o yir” roughly translates as “Give us a look at your” if that helps… ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/50 "2011-12-15T20:33:06Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Folklorist Vance andolph confirmed that “tallywhacker” was slang for “penis” in the Ozarks in the first half of the 20th century. Sounds like it’s a shortened form of that. > I never hearde it used, myself, but it’s in the script for _The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas_ (play and movie), so I assume it’s Texas slang, too. Tallywhacker was the term my uncle (one year younger than me) was told to use, and that was in northwest South Dakota in the '80s. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/51 "2011-12-16T03:26:25Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Let us not forget that she did her cooking show with her husband… Johnny. > > (For non-UKians, that’s a euphemism for condom.) > [@hermette](#): > > Not in my experience. As a female child, if I’d said “fanny” in front of my parents, I’d have expected to be told off for saying a rude word. Both it and willie[1] were our childish swear words. > > I don’t think we knew the grown up versions, so to us these were the height of rudeness, and yes, if a teacher had to read them out, the class would dissolve into hysterical laughter. > > [1] Penis. We loved the film Free Willy over here, oh yes 😉 We’re familiar with willy, johnson, etc here in America, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/52 "2011-12-16T08:02:11Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > We’re familiar with willy, johnson, etc here in America, too. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Johnson used. Given most UK kids grow up using Johnson & Johnsons bath products, I’m sure that would’ve been a source of great mirth if we had that one 😉 Is it true that Peter is another one for penis? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/53 "2011-12-16T09:18:31Z")
**Malleus, Incus, Stapes!** , “johnny” means “condom”. We don’t use “Johnson” for penis. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/54 "2011-12-16T17:18:42Z")
Right, I’m just saying that if I heard something along the lines of “a johnny, wink wink”, I’d understand it has something to do with penises. Or anything with peter, too. ---
**Author:** ![studmuffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@studmuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/studmuffin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/55 "2011-12-16T18:14:55Z")
As a word for female genitalia Fanny is quite innocuous and funny, it has returned to its rightful place as a mild rude word, UK women are quite at home discussing their Fanny related matters with each other. Australians however, being the uncouth, sun baked primates that they are, have some appallingly disgusting words for the front ladyparts which I won’t repeat in case there are women or people from Canadia present. Actually since we are on the subject of Transatlantic words, the mild swearword Bugger in the UK has a more sexual connotation than the N. American use of the word. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/56 "2011-12-16T18:40:13Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Right, I’m just saying that if I heard something along the lines of “a johnny, wink wink”, I’d understand it has something to do with penises. Or anything with peter, too. Yeah, but if you thought it meant penis then you’d get a rather different image when told that someone saw a johnny discarded in the gutter. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/57 "2011-12-16T22:36:08Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > I think your friend is taking the mick or very, very prudish, because although opinions on it do vary some, it’s definitely nowhere near as strong as the c-word. There are some people who are indeed very prudish. My dad and his wife, for example, (USA), won’t let their kids say: fart (has to be “flitter”), butt (“bottom”), hell (“heck”) and several others I can’t think of. Additionally, when they were teaching their kids the names for the parts of their bodies, they never told them a name for their genitals, but rather let them make one up. All five kids settled on calling it their “pottier”… :rolleyes: So I can easily believe of a family so prudish that even if on a cultural level “fanny” isn’t considered that bad, it may be within a given family. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/58 "2011-12-16T22:44:32Z")
I once saw on an American programme (family one as well), a man complaining about how he’d been shagging his fanny all day… And he was COMPLANING ! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219/59 "2011-12-17T04:38:09Z")
I heard “tallywhacker” mentioned only rarely in my idyllic NE Ohio youth, as a self-consciously rural, semi-humorous term for the penis. “Fanny” was a completely tame and childish term for the buttocks, male or female, that you might use without fear of punishment in front of an adult. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-fanny/606219.md?page=2)