Jism
/dʒɪzəm/noun
A vulgar slang term for semen or ejaculate.
Did you know?English jism comes from Urdu/Hindi jism meaning “body,” which ultimately traces back to Persian and Arabic forms for “body” — a reminder that slang can twist a neutral word into something far more taboo.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sker-
“to cut; body-related roots are not directly secure here”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
جِسْم (jism)
“body, physique”
Persian
Persian
جِسم (jism)
“body, substance”
Urdu/Hindi
Urdu/Hindi
جسم (jism)
“body”
20th Century
English
jism
“slang for semen or ejaculate”
Explore more surprising origins