It wouldn't be "incubus" either, though I like that one.

[amanuensis1]

Hey, am I mistaken, or is there really no male equivalent slang to the term "nympho"? I mean, yes, we can say that "satyr" would be the parallel term, but no one actually uses that in common parlance. I guess that's because the term for "sex-crazed male" is synonymous with "male," isn't it.

I'm starting to understand why I have a kink for fics where Harry and/or Draco call each other "slut" and "whore." Must have something to do with the idea that I've fetishized them into something other than sex-hungry males--they've become characters who can be insulted by insinuating that they might desire sex. Seems odd. A world of psychology and historical sexism in that, isn't there.

Comments

[lirren.livejournal.com]

I guess that's because the term for "sex-crazed male" is synonymous with "male," isn't it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. *gasp, wheeze* So very, very true. And you're right. Now that I think about it, I honestly can't think of a term that's truly synonymous with nympho. Hmmmm.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

*loves your icon* No, I don't think there is one, not in slang parlance. Other than player or playboy and those aren't really insults.

[christwise.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Never thought about that. I think I've applied the term "nympho" to males as well though. I think the etymology might now be skewed enough that, in common consciousness, it means "sex crazed person" rather than "sex crazed woman." Or perhaps I've just been getting it wrong all these years.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, nympho, short for nymphomaniac and with nymph as its origin, has a female connotation, though if it's come to be in use for both sexes so much the better.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

I guess that's because the term for "sex-crazed male" is synonymous with "male,"

Maybe I've been in fandom for too long, but it would seem that it's "female" that is synonymous with "sex-crazed female." ;)

I'd be curious to see the grocery lists of readers where they outline who they think would be into sex... and those who would be appalled at the insinuation that they like it. I have a feeling both Harry and Draco did a lot of masturbating in their respective cupboards. :D

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Hee, yeah, us loopy fangirls! Though it's funny how there's still this division between "those who are obsessed with sex" and "those who are wanting to have sex themselves." And isn't that a subject for much discussion, too!

[madam-minnie.livejournal.com]

Great question! Now you have me looking all over the place for a word synonymous with "sex-crazed male" or "all-cosumed with sex" for the male gender. I found that nymphomaniac by its etymology is gender-specific to the female, but how can there not be a word for the male gender?!?

Grr... this will drive me batty until I find it!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'd say stop looking, because I bet I'm right. You just don't hear someone say anything beyond "You perv" or "You sex maniac" as slang insults for males, and those are gender non-specific.

[aubrem.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think the equivalent is satyr and yes, I think no one uses it anymore because as you say, it's ok for men to be sex-crazed and so they aren't pointed at and labelled the way women are. : /

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yup. Biiiiig discussion just waiting to be had. AGAIN. ^_^

[sinclair-furie.livejournal.com]

Hm... you're definitely right about the wealth of psychology and historical sexism behind this trend.
That said, I have a tendency to call guys sluts. I know quite a few people who do, actually, and it somehow sounds dirtier when applied to men. Again, probably that history of sexism and whatnot there.
Some people use man-whore, which I just find funny.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

it somehow sounds dirtier when applied to men.

Doesn't it, though? We have to tar them with the brush of not only being sex-crazed but being feminine to get the insult across.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I mean, yes, we can say that "satyr" would be the parallel term, but no one actually uses that in common parlance.

Hunh. "He's such a satyr" doesn't really convey all that social baggage, does it?

You know, when I was a teenager, girls lamented that there wasn't an equivalent of "slut" for boys, but these days, I hear the word thrown around by teenagers in reference to either gender. Of course, I'm sure it still doesn't have quite the same connotation for a boy as it does for a girl.

Does "skank" only apply to women?

[viverra-libro.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we should have a slut-a-thon, to promote the use of the term in connection with men. . .

[phantomminuet.livejournal.com]

Hey, am I mistaken, or is there really no male equivalent slang to the term "nympho"? I mean, yes, we can say that "satyr" would be the parallel term, but no one actually uses that in common parlance. I guess that's because the term for "sex-crazed male" is synonymous with "male," isn't it.

And here I thought you needed my help. :-)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I need lots of help! I'm crazy in teh HED! ^_^

[fabularasa.livejournal.com]

I think "slut" and "whore" are so effective when used on a male because they jar just the slightest bit, and are thus much more insulting, much more interesting. A guy gripping another guy's hair and mouthing "slut" into his ear is sexy and startling and visually interesting; a guy gripping a girl's hair and mouthing "slut" into her ear is only sad and dreary and, alas, all too common.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

A guy gripping another guy's hair and mouthing "slut" into his ear is

I'm sorry, is what? I sort of didn't hear anything after this, I was too busy moaning and trying to get my eyes back into focus. Drool.

And, yes, I would want any woman in that same situation, called slut, to slap the bastard and get up and put her clothes on and leave. 'S the way it is.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

priapist.
libertine.
wanton probably goes both ways. *g*
rake is a little too admiring.

(any help there?)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

They're all accurate but none are going to be used in the way of "Oh my god, she's such a TOTAL nympho." Which I know you get so I don't even have to add "y'know." ^_^ Yay for wanton! Lovely word.

[zedmeister.livejournal.com]

I've often heard people of my generation (early twenties) say, "he's such a ho!" That would be wildly out of place in an HP fic though; it sounds so *American* :D

[zedmeister.livejournal.com]

Now that I think about it, calling someone of either gender a ho refers to the (excessive) number of people they sleep with rather than their sex drive, but it's interesting that it's come to be applied to males in that meaning, at least.

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to understand why I have a kink for fics where Harry and/or Draco call each other "slut" and "whore."

For me, it's just that I have a serious dirty-talk kink that's as much about the delivery as anything. Having Establishment Carrie-Anne grinning at Jason and saying "You're such a slut," is cute banter. Having her grab his hair and pull his head back while she hisses in his ear, "You know you want this, slut," is hot. Same word, but context is everything.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I still react wrongly to it when a male says it to a female. Makes me want her to look at him and say, "Slut? Well, guess who's NOT getting any tonight."

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

*nods*

Though I'm pretty sure that there's also an element of well, opposite gender roles in calling a male those names - it feminises them, and (well, in our sexist world) that undermines their status/self-perception as males (being in control of/during sex, for example...). Well, just a stray impression :).

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're wrong, either. Lots of baggage on the whole issue.

[ajat.livejournal.com]

the term for "sex-crazed male" is synonymous with "male," isn't it

OMG yes yes yes *falls over larfing*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Hee. *hearts*

[cyclogenesis.livejournal.com]

I will take this opportunity to say that I completely and totally share your kink. Rough fucking and the bottom being called a slut or a whore or a bitch? Yes, please.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

YUM. *hearts*

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

debauchee? lecher? Don Juan?

And there's lots of slang that refers to men who frequent prostitutes - dollymopper, whorehopper, whorehound, whorechaser and also words associated with homosexual promiscuity like fantail...

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I don't hear those very often, but maybe I'm just hanging about the wrong locales. ^_^

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Satyr.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yes, but one just doesn't hear that said in slang parlance, do they? As a rule.

[starry-diadem.livejournal.com]

Meandering over here from metafandom.

Not slang, that I can think of. But in psychology, the male equivalent of nymphomania is satyriasis. She's a nymph, he's a satyr.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you just don't hear that said in slang like you do "nympho" though.

[janet-carter.livejournal.com]

Wandering in from metafandom to be kind of off-topic and pedantic - I think, technically, nymphomaniac should refer to men, not women. I mean, looking it up, it's always referred to women, but it was coined in the 18th century, and I think they got their derivation wrong - that it should mean mania for nymphs, not in nymphs - like kleptomania is a mania for stealing. I might be totally wrong; it's been a few years since my Greek-major-days, but I thought that was interesting.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

If that's the case, then, yeah, it's really undergone a transformation. Kind of set now, though!

[metamorphogenic.livejournal.com]

My internal thesaurus just kicked up "horndog".

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

HA! I'd totally forgotten that one. It really is perfect. Male AND derogatory.

[ravenna-c-tan.livejournal.com]

What's funny is that I've heard people use the word nymphomaniac in a gender-neutral way bc they couldn't come up with a suitable male equivalent. "Horny devil" just doesn't carry quite the same connotation, nor does satyr. I like the word "horndog" myself, but I don't know if if applies in the UK. I think of it as Southern US...

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, "horndog" is excellent, even if it's rather regional.

[indywind]

I don't see why men can't be nymphos. Or sluts or hos or wtfever.

I personally know bio guys who are insulted to be considered sex-hungry. So far they've all been good in bed.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

It's just that those are traditionally feminine labels, especially "nympho" for "nyphomaniac" which means (vaguely) "woman who uncontrollably acts on sexual desires." Specifically "woman," not "person."