Genitals
/ˈdʒɛnɪtəlz/noun
The reproductive organs.
Did you know?Latin *genitalia* comes from *genitalis* (“pertaining to birth or begetting”), from *gignere* (“to beget”), the same deep root behind *gene*, *generate*, and *genius*—a word once tied to a person’s life-force or attendant spirit.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵenh₁-
“to beget, produce, give birth”
Classical Latin
Latin
gignere
“to beget, engender, produce”
Classical Latin
Latin
genitalis
“pertaining to birth or generation”
Late Latin
Latin
genitalia
“the reproductive organs”
Middle English
English
genitals
“the reproductive organs”