Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or is my mother weird for calling female genitalia a "willy"?

165 replies

CoalCraft · 15/12/2020 10:20

(light-hearted)

My parents came round yesterday to see baby DD for the first time, and mum offered to do a nappy change. I went with her to show her where everything was. Mum starts opening DD up and exclaims "oh dear, it (the poo)'s gotten all up in her willy!"

Her. Willy.

At this I suddenly remembered that she'd called it that when I was small too, and not knowing any better, so had I. But it's weird right? A willy is specifically a penis, and the female version is fanny? Anyone else use willy as a slang for vulva? For the record both DD and I are anatomically normal females - we don't have penises!

In case anyone's wondering, yes mum does also use willy for penis, she just makes no distinction - it's so odd!

(Also in before the "use anatomical terms" brigade comes in, DD is far too small to use any words right now, but yes, when she's learning I'll make sure she's aware of the correct words.)

OP posts:
Santaisironingwrappingpaper · 15/12/2020 10:22

Accepting people's weird eccentricities is a head fuck at times op!!
Not as weird as offering to change a shitty nappy though!!
Grin

DappledThings · 15/12/2020 10:23

Yeah, that's definitely weird!

Popskipiekin · 15/12/2020 10:25

Er yes this is odd haha. But people have such strange terms for genitalia. And my parents actually never said the word “poo” when I was growing up. They referred to a “turnout”, so much so that I recall struggling when someone would refer to there being “such a great turnout at that event”.

Maybe you can encourage your DM to at least refer to Willy for boys and Willa for girls? Wink Grin

GroundAlmonds · 15/12/2020 10:25

That’s definitely at least medium grade weird, if not higher.

Is she generally quite prudish?

DrDetriment · 15/12/2020 10:26

Totally wierd!

Nottherealslimshady · 15/12/2020 10:28

How strange! My mum used tupence. But I am of the correct name brigade.
I couldn't have helped saying "what willy? She's a girl you numpty!"

Bells3032 · 15/12/2020 10:34

That is weird haha but kind of funny too. My family always used nonny for a vagina when we were little but never heard anyone else ever use that....so no idea if it was made up

Morana23 · 15/12/2020 10:36

@Popskipiekin

Er yes this is odd haha. But people have such strange terms for genitalia. And my parents actually never said the word “poo” when I was growing up. They referred to a “turnout”, so much so that I recall struggling when someone would refer to there being “such a great turnout at that event”.

Maybe you can encourage your DM to at least refer to Willy for boys and Willa for girls? Wink Grin

This cracked me up Grin
Meredithgrey1 · 15/12/2020 10:37

That’s what my parents called it for my sisters and me when we were growing up!
At a guess I’d say they thought it was a neutral, non-cutesy, not rude, not anatomical word?
We have DD and we’ll just use the correct words I think.

DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow · 15/12/2020 10:42

@ all Bells3032, I've heard people use Nonny but only when I was old enough for my friends to be having children. In my family, growing up it was a Minnie. (or an "underneath" as used by my rather reserved Grandmother if you really had to refer to it at all...)

Littlegoth · 15/12/2020 10:44

My grandma used to call it a ‘front bum’!

Horrid! 😂

thedevilinablackdress · 15/12/2020 10:45

Just a funny quirk IMO
No worse than my DM's "front bottom"

DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow · 15/12/2020 10:46

Front bottom is absolutely vile- makes my toes curl!

Catladyisback · 15/12/2020 10:47

You just reminded me of the TV show "Rake", the episode where the guy's penis is chopped off and they can't say the word penis, as the word offends the judge's wife, and call it a "what not" during the trial.

Too funny.

YANBU

Clawdy · 15/12/2020 10:49

"Front bottom" is the worst! My mum always called it a weewee, which is a bit confusing! I used "crotch" when DD was little.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/12/2020 10:49

Wtf a willy? Clearly she doesn’t think we have any socially acceptable terms for a vagina

MedusasBadHairDay · 15/12/2020 10:51

Definitely weird. People are so much more prudish about female genitals than male, I don't understand it.

Clymene · 15/12/2020 10:53

Just say 'do you mean her VULVA , Mum?'

HappydaysArehere · 15/12/2020 11:00

Perhaps she has never liked “fanny” and Willy sounds better to her. PersonallyI have never cared for fanny and call it “my whatnot”. Ha ha.

Insertfunnyname · 15/12/2020 11:07

Definitely weird. People are so much more prudish about female genitals than male, I don't understand it

this. definitely this. so irritating.

elliejjtiny · 15/12/2020 11:07

That is weird. Mind you I've heard loads of weird names for it over the years. I remember asking my Gran what her bidet was for and she said it was for washing your "seat". I had no idea what she meant and wondered how on earth you were meant to wash a chair in a bidet Grin

LindaEllen · 15/12/2020 11:08

@Littlegoth

My grandma used to call it a ‘front bum’!

Horrid! 😂

Ha, my mum did as well! I was a very confused 5yo when I realised I had two bums and my baby brother had something very different!
ElizaLaLa · 15/12/2020 11:09

She and you are both wrong op. Its a willy and a mini or a moo moo, not a fanny. I'd never say fanny to a little girl Shock

doctorhamster · 15/12/2020 11:12

I've heard so many daft names for it over the years. My DPs always called it a wee wee when I was little, which looking back is pretty odd!

I know actual grown adults who call it a flower or a fairy Hmm

Spied · 15/12/2020 11:12

I automatically use 'Mary'. I don't know why.
I remember dgm using 'tuppence'.