Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

vulva

/ˈvʌlvə/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.74 in modern English

Syllables: vul-va
IPA: /ˈvʌlvə/

11

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The external female genitalia of humans and other placental mammals, which includes the clitoris, labia, and vulval vestibule/vulvar opening.

noun

A protrusion on the side of a nematode.

Example Sentences

"The vulvae of the sow were popular as a gourmet's dish. Credited with erotic effects."
"The wedge-shaped character was the triangle, the archaic Paleolithic sign of the vulva; the pubic triangle was at the end of the phallic stylus."
"Many of the less-sophisticated works are sexual in nature. Among the most common images are stylised vulvas, whole flocks of which appear on some cave walls."

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin vulva, earlier volva (“womb, female sexual organ”), probably from volvō (“to turn, wrap around”). Akin to Sanskrit उल्ब॑ (úlba) and उल्व॑ (úlva, “womb”) or English valve, valva and other descendants of the Latin term (evolve, involve, revolve).

Word Breakdown

Root: *welH-

Inflected Forms

vulvas (plural) vulvae (plural) vulvæ (plural)

Derived Forms

multivulva pseudovulva vulvaed vulval vulvaless vulvalike vulvar vulvate vulvectomy vulvic vulviform

Phrases

blue vulva vulva dentata camel toe moose knuckle

Frequently Paired Words

camel toe moose knuckle

Synonyms

axe wound badly packed kebab bearded clam beaver beef curtains burger chocha clam cooch coochie coochy cookie

Rhymes With

culver

Questions

How do you pronounce vulva?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈvʌlvə/.
What does vulva mean?: The external female genitalia of humans and other placental mammals, which includes the clitoris, labia, and vulval vestibule/vulvar opening.
Where does vulva come from?: Learned borrowing from Latin vulva, earlier volva (“womb, female sexual organ”), probably from volvō (“to turn, wrap around”). Akin to Sanskrit उल्ब॑ (úlba) and उल्व॑ (úlva, “womb”) or English valve, valva and other descendants of the Latin term (evolve, involve, revolve).

How to pronounce vulva

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “vulva”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈvʌlvə/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “vulva”.
Repeat and practice — Say “vulva” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.