noun
Cunnilingus is oral sex involving the stimulation of the vulva — particularly the clitoris, labia, and vaginal opening — with the mouth, lips, or tongue.
It may be performed for pleasure, intimacy, or as part of foreplay between consenting adults. Like other forms of sexual contact, cunnilingus can transmit certain sexually transmitted infections, so barriers such as dental dams may be used for safer sex.
Cunnilingus Slang
Informal terms/sexy slang describing cunnilingus include: “Eating pussy,” “Muff diving,” “Carpet munching,” “Going down the Y,” “Having a box lunch.” Ancient Indian sexual literature discussed many forms of kissing, touching and oral pleasure. The Kama Sutra, composed during the early centuries CE, includes references to oral-genital contact, although its treatment of cunnilingus is less detailed than its discussion of fellatio.
The History of Cunnilingus
Classical Greek and Roman writers also acknowledged oral sex. Attitudes depended heavily on gender, social rank and who was considered the “active” or “passive” participant. In Roman society, performing oral sex could carry stigma because the mouth was associated with public speech, dining and social dignity. These judgments concerned status more than the act itself, and they differed considerably from modern ideas about sexual orientation.
Chinese “bedchamber arts” approached sexuality through concepts involving health, harmony and vital energy. Sexuality was discussed relatively openly in some philosophical and medical traditions, although surviving writings frequently reflected male-centered assumptions.
In much of medieval Christian Europe, religious teaching generally approved of marital sex for reproduction and condemned non-procreative activities such as oral sex. Because cunnilingus could not produce pregnancy, theologians and legal authorities sometimes grouped it with other prohibited sexual behavior.
Nevertheless, official condemnation does not mean the practice disappeared. Sexual acts conducted privately were rarely documented unless they appeared in court records, confession manuals, satire or erotic literature. That makes the historical record incomplete and heavily shaped by institutions seeking to regulate sexuality.
During the nineteenth century, physicians and early sexologists began creating clinical terminology for sexual practices. The English word “cunnilingus” appeared in the late nineteenth century and comes from the Latin cunnus, meaning vulva, and lingere, meaning to lick. The terminology was new; the behavior certainly was not.
In the twentieth century, researchers including Alfred Kinsey helped move discussions of sexual behavior from moral judgment toward scientific observation. His influential studies of American sexuality appeared in 1948 and 1953 and contributed to the broader changes that preceded the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.
The literal translation of cunnilingus may be interesting from a linguistic standpoint, but for the person receiving it, what matters far more is the experience itself: how well it is performed, how pleasurable it feels, and, for some women, how often they get to enjoy it.
Common cunnilingus techniques include:
Gentle licking: The ‘giver’ manages light tongue strokes across the receiver’s vulva before gradually focusing on their clitoris.
Broad tongue strokes: A more relaxed, flat tongue pressing approach from the giver offers softer stimulation over the receiver’s wider genital area. The vaginal lips can be spread by the flat application of a tongue, as can the clitoris be teased when it is completely covered by the flat of a tongue.
Small circles: The giver traces tight controlled circles around — or gently over — the clitoris, depending on their partner’s sensitivity to this more pinpoint action.
Up-and-down strokes: The pussy licker maintains an even rhythm rather than changing movements constantly.
Side-to-side motion: The person going down on their partner provides indirect stimulation, perfect for those who find direct clitoral contact intense.
Kissing and light suction: Soft kisses or very gentle suction around the clitoral hood, and to the vaginal lips add variety. A caution here should be on any kind of pulling action.
The Sweet Spot: The upper left (or sometimes upper right), at the 10-11 o’clock area of the clitoris is the most sensitive part, for many vulva owners. Focusing your stimulation here can often create faster, more intense orgasms.
The Kivin Method: The Kivin Method is a technique for cunnilingus that emphasizes a different angle and movement pattern than the more familiar up-and-down or circular approaches. It is often described as having the receiving partner lie on their back while the giver approaches from a perpendicular or sideways position, allowing the tongue to stimulate the clitoris and surrounding vulvar tissue from a different direction.
In addition to mouth stimulation, lovers may introduce fingers and even sex toys into their cunning play. They can be introduced into the vagina itself during cunnilingus or even into the receiver’s anus during the act.
References:
Cunnilingus and women’s orgasms
The study, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, examined sexual practices during women’s most recent heterosexual sexual encounters. The researchers found that women were more likely to orgasm during encounters that included cunnilingus.
Receiving oral sex and sexual satisfaction
Among the women surveyed, 59.2% rated receiving oral sex as “very satisfactory” and another 21.9% as “quite satisfactory.”
“Going beyond ‘With a Partner’ and ‘Intercourse’: Does Anything Else Influence Sexual Satisfaction among Women?” — Public Med
Women’s preferences for cunnilingus
There’s also a really interesting qualitative study specifically examining women’s experiences and preferences regarding cunnilingus. It found that women who desired cunnilingus sometimes had to be assertive about getting it, while women who didn’t want it could experience pressure from expectations surrounding the practice.
“Women’s negotiation of cunnilingus in college hookups and relationships.” — Public Med
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