Curious about BDSM? Here’s the lowdown on the vocabulary you’ll need to ask questions and learn about it.
If you’re interested in exploring BDSM (bondage/discipline, domination/submission, sadism/masochism), you’ll need to understand the lingo. The glossary below will make it easier for you to parse the technical terminology as well as the not-so-scientific vernacular — aka, slang — you’ll need to speak BDSM.
Aftercare
Age Play
BDSM
Bondage and Discipline
Bottom
Breath Play
Consent
Contract
Dom
Domina
Dominance and Submission (D/S)
Dominant
Drop
Dungeon
Dungeon Monitor
Edge Play
Female Dominance
Female Submission
Fetish
Fetish Wear
Gender Play
Hard Limits
Impact Play
Kink
Master
Male Dominance
Male Submission
Masochist
Munch
Play
Play Party
Pro Domme
Protocol
Role Play
Sadism and Masochism
Sadist
Safe, Sane, and Consensual (SSC)
Safe Word
Soft Limits
Scene
Slave
Submissive
Switch
Top
Topping From the Bottom
24-7s
Vanilla Sex