Erotic talk

"Dirty talk" redirects here. For other uses, see Dirty talk (disambiguation).

"Saucy" postcard (1905–1915)

Erotic talk, also known as dirty talk, love talk, sexy talk, talking dirty, or naughty talk, is the practice of using explicit word imagery to heighten sexual excitement before and during (or instead of) physical sexual activity. It is commonly a part of foreplay, and can include vivid erotic descriptions, sexual commands and rude words. The intention of erotic talk is generally to generate excitement between one, both or all parties engaged in a sexual interaction, or even to induce orgasm.

Erotic talk can be an important aspect of virtual sex, particularly phone sex and cybersex, in long distance relationships.

Research

The 2013-2014 Great Australian Sex Census found that 62.0% of respondents enjoyed talking during sex, with 41.7% preferring dirty talk, 13.1% preferring sweet talk, and 7.2% preferring stern directions.

A 2022 study found that there are generally few differences between genders regarding the content of erotic talk.

Individualistic and mutualistic

There are two main types of erotic talk, which can be broken down into four subgroups each. These categories include Individualistic Talk (Sexual Dominance/Submission, Ownership, and Speaking Fantasies) and Mutualistic Talk (Instructive Statements, Reflexive Calls, Emotional Bonding, and Positive Feedback). A 2016 study from Jonason at al. found that both mutualistic and individualistic talk showed a positive correlation with sexual satisfaction, while only mutualistic talk, especially bonding talk, showed a positive correlation with sexual satisfaction.

See also

• Non-penetrative sex
• Obscene phone call
• Phone sex
• Ribaldry
• Sexting

Bibliography

• Fogarty, Lisa (14 May 2015). "The reason we love dirty talk — finally explained". SheKnows. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
• Head, Meredith (18 November 2015). "Hump day: Bridging long distance with communication, vibrating underwear". The Badger Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
• Holgate, Emily (30 September 2024). "A sex educator shares her best foreplay ideas". Fashion Journal. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
• Jonason, Peter; Betteridge, Gabrielle; Kneebone, Ian (1 January 2016). "An Examination of the Nature of Erotic Talk". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 45 (1). Springer Nature: 21–31. doi:10.1007/s10508-015-0585-2. ISSN 0004-0002. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
• Merwin, Kathleen E.; Bergeron, Sophie; Jodouin, Jean-Francois; Mackinnon, Sean P.; Rosen, Natalie O. (1 November 2022). "Few Differences in Sexual Talk by Gender/Sex and Dyad Type: A Retrospective and Daily Diary Study with Couples". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 51 (8). Springer Nature: 3715–3733. doi:10.1007/s10508-022-02363-y. ISSN 0004-0002. Retrieved 11 September 2026.

Further reading

• Sexual communication at BBC Health
• Merwin, Kathleen E.; Rosen, Natalie O. (23 March 2020). "Perceived Partner Responsiveness Moderates the Associations Between Sexual Talk and Sexual and Relationship Well-Being in Individuals in Long-Term Relationships". The Journal of Sex Research. 57 (3): 351–364. doi:10.1080/00224499.2019.1610151. Retrieved 11 September 2026.