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Errrr … a little tricky to word … what’s a little girl’s equivalent to a 'willy'?

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GrannieWalker Wed 11-Feb-26 23:25:42

What do Gran’s, parents, carers, everyone (in the UK) call a little girl’s equivalent of a little boy’s willy these days?
I’ve asked my three DSs and two DD-i-Ls but I think they all said different things, and whatever they said went in one ear, out the other and didn’t register.
I don’t know when it’s likely to come up with one of my grandchildren but I want to be ready. Is there a name used generally these days that is as well accepted as ‘willy’?
What is amazing me is I don’t have any recall of a name for such (I am being coy, aren’t I ?!?!) when I was a little girl, and neither do my friends!

KellyGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 12-Feb-26 10:17:59

We've had a few reports about this thread and just wanted to confirm that the OP's been posting on the site for a number of years.

We understand that people feel the need to be cautious, but we're happy to let this thread run and have removed some troll hunting posts.

Luckygirl3 Thu 12-Feb-26 10:16:00

It's not difficult - the whole of the external female genitalia are the vulva; the vagina is the internal passage.

This does not seem to be a much used term in spite of its accuracy. Fanny seems to be the favoured term round here. My mum called it Pamela - which was great till I met someone with that name ...

Sparklefizz Thu 12-Feb-26 10:13:47

Ladyleftfieldlover

We’ve always used the correct anatomical terms. Why not?

I agree. I did that with my children too.

Dollygloss Thu 12-Feb-26 10:13:09

A little chuckle. My daughter's young friend referred to pubic hair as public hair!

eddiecat78 Thu 12-Feb-26 10:09:51

GrannieWalker

It is genuine. Please just forget it everyone.
I really did think Gransnet would be able to give me a simple 2026 answer to what I thought was a clear question that deserves an unequivocal answer.
Thank you to the Grans who could see my genuine request but also to those who voiced genuine concerns of safeguarding. I'll go back to all the parents and use a WhatsApp group to get agreement. I hope!

Dear god, I hope that's a joke!
If not perhaps you should put up a big notice to make sure everyone uses the agreed words. They won't seem weird at all.

Witzend Thu 12-Feb-26 10:07:50

I’ve heard a Gdd say fanjo, which I quite like, but I think ‘fanny’ is Ok, too.

It’s a shame we don’t have a universally understood, friendly equivalent of ‘willy’. The ‘correct words are IMO ugly and sound over clinical. And in any case, they are so often used incorrectly - so many people say ‘vagina’ when they actually mean ‘vulva’.

annodomini Thu 12-Feb-26 10:01:14

I suppose 'urethra' is too much of a tongue twister! My DGGD, three and a half, calls it her vagina, as it's all her mum (my DGD) could think of on the spur of the moment!

CariadAgain Thu 12-Feb-26 09:54:06

Sitting here thinking "Times have changed since my day - though for the better" as it's something I wouldn't have dared talk about with my mother (who was a right prude). Personally - I guess I'm still in the habit of not really talking about that - at my age! - but would probably call it a "fanny" if it came to it (as it feels like a fun/slightly slang type word to use to me).

Sago Thu 12-Feb-26 09:48:49

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

GrannieWalker Thu 12-Feb-26 09:45:06

It is genuine. Please just forget it everyone.
I really did think Gransnet would be able to give me a simple 2026 answer to what I thought was a clear question that deserves an unequivocal answer.
Thank you to the Grans who could see my genuine request but also to those who voiced genuine concerns of safeguarding. I'll go back to all the parents and use a WhatsApp group to get agreement. I hope!

25Avalon Thu 12-Feb-26 09:43:30

A friend’s son referred to a girl’s baby hole when he was young. Never really liked it but accurate I suppose.

Sago Thu 12-Feb-26 09:35:54

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Granmarderby10 Thu 12-Feb-26 09:35:05

Some of these nicknames for genitals are disrespectful to any girl named Lulu or even Fanny (a very popular Victorian name) until it it seems it was hijacked, though that’s what “we” girls called it if needs be.

eddiecat78 Thu 12-Feb-26 09:32:59

I'm really not narrow minded or embarrassed but , to me, it is very odd that a grandparent feels they need to know in such detail what to call these parts. What sort of discussions are you anticipating having with these young children?!

Lathyrus3 Thu 12-Feb-26 09:16:45

Crossed posts with you Sago.

Lathyrus3 Thu 12-Feb-26 09:15:44

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Sago Thu 12-Feb-26 09:14:35

Lathyrus3

Please don’t post any tales about your grandchildren in connection with this post.

Thank you Lathyrus3.

It’s astonishing that people are so naive.

Why would anyone with GC and children ever ask such a question?

Every family has their own terms for these words.

As someone who has worked with young people and carried out all the safeguarding training, I cannot stress how important it is to just stop and think.

I was once with my GD on a hot day in a City centre, there was a water feature that lots of little children were playing in, parents/carers had allowed their charges to strip down to just underwear whilst they played so happily.
There were occupied benches all around the area, most of the parents were standing.

The benches were predominantly occupied by men.

I pointed this out to one or two bystanders and the penny dropped…… eventually.

TerriBull Thu 12-Feb-26 09:10:35

I think it helps not to use euphemisms I don't like them at all. I had a friend in our younger years, whose mother gave her such banal advice along these lines "keep your hands over your penny" what kind of nonsense is that, presumably she meant don't engage in sexual foreplay, "well say what you mean then"

I had boys and once they got to the giggly nursery/school age, willy and bottom figured a lot, how small boys love lavatory humour kept them amused for ages. So I suppose when they were at that age "willy" was used mainly by them, but they always knew the correct word.

I think having a granddaughter, was a game changer. I'm trying to recall instances when there would have been a time when I had to refer to any of that, very occasionally. I think I'd refer to the "genital area" which I suppose isn't specific, as in when we went swimming , "make sure you dry yourself everywhere". We've had several discussions about periods, but I can't remember having cause to use the anatomical names, which she's well aware of. My older step granddaughters and sons, don't beat around the bush depending on the context of the conversation in using both penis and vagina, none use euphemisms, they don't seem to share the embarrassment of previous generations. Their ages range in the twenties and thirties. Possibly, they're typical of that age demographic.

Grammaretto Thu 12-Feb-26 09:03:28

I'm sorry GrannieWalker your question sounds perfectly sensible to me. It is something that comes up and can take you by surprise.
What was it called in your family?

Wyllow3 Thu 12-Feb-26 09:00:18

O/P, I'd go by what term the parents use, simply.

Wyllow3 Thu 12-Feb-26 08:59:05

It's a perfectly good OP with a really good question!

Wyllow3 Thu 12-Feb-26 08:57:36

My DiL called them Special Lady Parts in a smily way when DGD first asked very very young re her elder brother, now calls them what they are, ie girls have a vagina and can have babies in the womb, and she knows how re willies, (I think they had a really nice little book?) But at 9 isn't mega interested in pursuing much more.

GrannieWalker Thu 12-Feb-26 08:56:36

It bothers me that I can't be as clear and definitive for my granddaughters as I am for my grandsons. And you can see from the above that other people feel, or actually are, muddled too

Grammaretto Thu 12-Feb-26 08:56:30

Granny walker had asked what was the equivalent of willy in common use, hence I said front bottom because that's what my DGC call theirs. DD learned it from us.

Of course we learn the Latin names but I don't call columbine, aqualegia or lady's mantle, alchemilla mollis. But maybe I should.

The Gaelic is faighin which is derived from vagina and pronounced the same. The word also means sheath or scabbard.

When my DGD was about 3 she followed me into the loo there we go again😄 and asked me if I had a long bottom. I didn't know what she meant so I asked her if she had one. No, she laughed. Who does have one?
Archie, Daddy...
Ah. No I don't have one, I replied.

Belardo Thu 12-Feb-26 08:54:14

GrannieWalker

Stop this conversation now if you want. I am serious. It's just got more complicated for me recently with 5 grandchildren 2mths to 9 years and four nephews/nieces 7 to 11 years and a big family holidays this year. I'm sorry if I worried anyone.

I wouldn't worry about it GrannieWalker. If anyone is embarrassed about such a subject that's not really your fault, is it?