Fellatio is oral sex performed on a penis, using the mouth, lips and tongue. The word comes from the Latin verb fellare, meaning to suck, and entered English as a formal, clinical term in the late 1800s. Everyday synonyms include blowjob, BJ and giving head. People sometimes misspell it as felatio.
The word has a long history in literature, art and law, and it gives our brand its name. This guide explains the fellatio meaning, its origins, a short history, and how it connects to Fellate.
What fellatio means today
In modern English, fellatio is the neutral, clinical word for oral stimulation of a penis. Doctors, researchers and educators use it because it is precise and free of slang. Its counterpart for oral sex on a vulva is cunnilingus, and oral contact with the anus is called anilingus. All three fall under the broader term oral sex.
Fellatio is part of the sex life of many adults of every orientation. It can be a form of foreplay, the main event, or part of mutual oral sex, as in the 69 position. For practical technique, read our guide on how to give a BJ.
Where the word fellatio comes from
Fellatio derives from the Latin fellare, to suck. Roman writers used related words such as fellator and fellatrix, often in poetry and satire. The noun fellatio itself is a modern Latin formation, adopted by medical and scientific writing as a respectable way to describe a practice that polite language avoided. From there it moved into general dictionaries.
- Latin root: fellare, to suck
- Related Latin words: fellator, fellatrix
- English use: a formal, clinical term since the late 1800s
- The verb form, to fellate, means to perform fellatio
Fellatio in art and history
Depictions of oral sex appear in many ancient cultures. Ceramics from the Moche culture of ancient Peru include sexual scenes, and Roman wall paintings excavated at Pompeii show a range of intimate acts. Classical Indian texts such as the Kama Sutra discuss oral sex among many other topics. These works show that the practice is as old as recorded culture, even though attitudes toward it have varied widely.
Social views shifted repeatedly. In some periods fellatio was openly joked about in poetry, in others it was considered taboo and rarely named in print. The twentieth century brought research into sexual behavior, which showed that oral sex was common among adults, and gradually made it a subject people could discuss openly.
Fellatio and the law
For a long time, many legal systems treated oral sex as a crime, often under sodomy laws, even between consenting adults in private. In the United States, the Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003 that laws criminalizing private consensual sexual conduct between adults are unconstitutional. Today, in most countries, consensual oral sex between adults is legal.
Laws today focus on consent, age and how sexual content is made and shared. That is why every creator and co-performer on Fellate passes age and identity verification, and signed consent and age records are kept for every piece of content under 18 U.S.C. 2257 and equivalent laws.
How fellatio relates to the Fellate name
Fellate is the English verb form of fellatio. We chose it because it is precise, adult and a little understated, which suits a premium, curated home for oral content. The name says plainly what the library is about, without crude slang.
Behind the name is a simple promise: oral content from verified adult creators, presented with care, alongside honest guides like this one. You can browse the categories on our videos page and learn about health in our guide to STDs from oral sex. For pleasure for her, see how to give oral to a woman.
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Read practical guides on technique, positions and health.
Questions people ask
What does fellatio mean?
Fellatio means oral sex performed on a penis using the mouth, lips and tongue. It is the formal, clinical term for what is informally called a blowjob.
Where does the word fellatio come from?
It comes from the Latin verb fellare, meaning to suck. The noun was adopted into English medical and scientific writing in the late 1800s.
Is it spelled fellatio or felatio?
The correct spelling is fellatio, with a double l. Felatio is a common misspelling.
Why is the brand called Fellate?
Fellate is the English verb form of fellatio. It names the category plainly and with a premium, adult tone, without crude slang.