# What is the prefix meaning “sex”? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106 "2020-04-19T03:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Project\_Patahhh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7cd45c/32.png) [@Project\_Patahhh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Project_Patahhh)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/1 "2020-04-19T03:57:47Z")
Let me explain. I ask because in the world of psychedelic drugs, someone who goes exploring on trips is sometimes called a “psychonaut”. Today I decided to come up with a word meaning the same thing except for sex. Like a sexual explorer, delving into new domains. Something that ends in “naut”. My first choice was “nymphonaut” because I think that sounds cool as hell. Upon googling though, nympho is specifically in reference to females. I’m unable to find a good prefix to replace it with, something gender neutral. Fornicate and copulate are words, but googling those prefixes doesn’t yield results. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/2 "2020-04-19T04:13:02Z")
erogenaut? ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/3 "2020-04-19T04:16:48Z")
The male analogue to “nymphonaut” might be “satyrnaut,” but I admit I don’t love either of those expressions. “-naut” is a Greek suffix meaning “sailor,” and it doesn’t make a lot of sense—not even metaphorically—to sail upon a nymph or a satyr. The most direct neologism I can think of is “eronaut,” combining -naut with “eros” (sexual love). It’s still not ideal, because it’s a homophone with “aeronaut” for most English speakers. I guess you could also go with somonaut, which would mean (approximately) “body sailor.” ETA: AHunter3’s idea seems ok to me and isn’t a homophone for something else. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/4 "2020-04-19T04:21:48Z")
I’d say _erotonaut_, analagous to _erotomania_. Oh, and bonus, it [already exists](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=erotonaut). ---
**Author:** ![ALOHA\_HATER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@ALOHA\_HATER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ALOHA_HATER)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/5 "2020-04-19T21:03:58Z")
“Erotonavigator” is the first one that comes to mind. It’s a mouthful, though. Doesn’t roll off the tongue. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/6 "2020-04-19T21:09:16Z")
naughtynaut? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/7 "2020-04-19T21:57:02Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I’d say _erotonaut_, analagous to _erotomania_. I regret that I did not notice this thread early enough to post this excellent and etymologically well-founded answer, so instead I will commend you for doing so. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/8 "2020-04-19T22:34:59Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > naughtynaut? 😉 Nicely done ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/9 "2020-04-19T22:42:22Z")
Fuckonaut, obviously. Or chingaranaut or foutrenaut or vögelnaut. Try akeedanaut for a Navajo flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Project\_Patahhh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7cd45c/32.png) [@Project\_Patahhh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Project_Patahhh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/10 "2020-04-20T00:23:42Z")
Erotonaut it is! Honorable mention goes to naughtynaut hehe. And chingaranaut is funny, but not catchy enough, sorry 😃 Thanks for the responses! ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/11 "2020-04-20T16:14:33Z")
How about expanding naughtynaut to nightienaut – someone who’s exploring exciting sleepwear? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/12 "2020-04-20T16:30:41Z")
Assorted variants? Frottonaut Oragenaut Orgasmonaut Rectonaut Pornonaut ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-prefix-meaning-sex/852106/13 "2020-04-20T16:33:30Z")
Is a cosmonaut someone who explores sex with Kramer?