Pudenda
/pjuːˈdɛndə/noun
A formal or euphemistic term for the external genitalia.
Did you know?Pudenda comes from the Latin gerundive of *pudere* (“to be ashamed”), so the word itself encodes the idea that these body parts were once treated as socially unspeakable.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
pudenda
“things to be ashamed of; the genitals, especially in euphemistic use”
Classical Latin
Latin
pudere
“to be ashamed; to cause shame”
Proto-Italic
PIE/Italic
*pūdē-
“to be ashamed, feel shame”
Middle English
English
pudende
“a learned euphemistic term for the genitals”
Modern English
English
pudenda
“the external genitalia, especially in formal or medical usage”