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

[CoalCraft]

(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.)

My dm always says 'bits and pieces'. It's unisex I guess.

My mum always said 'down below' in a Les Dawson type manner. I call it my gentleman's area.

My mum used crutch. Yes crutch, not crotch. Haven't heard her refer to a crutch before so perhaps she calls that a crotch.

@ElizaLaLa

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

Agree with this, I consider fanny a mild swear word- would never use it around or encourage a child to say it!

We say “willy or penis” for men’s genitalia “loo-Loo” (because you use it on the loo) or vagina for female genitalia.
I have two boys though, so it’s a pretty quick “you have a penis, ladies and girls have a vagina” discussion when it’s done.

My brother and I had pee-pees when we were little. Not sure if that was a South African thing as my mum was South African.

@doctorhamster

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

Going to the panto to watch Peter Pan must take on a very different meaning when you get to the bit about believing in fairies!

Ex nurse here, vulva and penis, bowels open, when my dc were very young they didn't know any different, and if there were medical problems it was understood straight away what they meant.
must admit i don't like the twee names, fairy moo moo and hate the word poo, it's worse when hcp use it.especially towards adults. urgh.

My Mum called it a twinkle and a penis was a todger. She considers the word fart a mild swear word as well which I’ve always found bizarre.

A willy is definitely a penis. Girls do not have willies!

I wouldn't get a kid to use fanny. It just sounds wrong. I say 'privates'

Cant stand it when it's called a 'name', i.e your lily your minnie, your Molly

I’ll never forget returning home from staying at my best friend’s house when I was probably 5 or 6 calling it a fanny. My Mum nearly hit the roof! My best friend’s mum called it that, my Mum thinks it’s a swear word.

We use willy for boys and wally for girls. I hate the fact that there isn’t really a universal, casual willy equivalent for female genitals in English so wally it is!

Is it equally weird that I have never heard my parents refer to genitalia at all, ever? I have no idea what terms they would use and can't imagine a conversation in which this was discussed. My upbringing was strange though.

When my children were little they had girl bits and boy bits. They are late primary above bow and I use the actual words. Although Im a lot mpre comfortable saying vagina than penis. I think its because my boy is my youngest so still my baby

Start calling her breasts her testicles.

'Mum, do you mind if I ask what brand of bra you're wearing? Whatever it is gives your testicles a fantastic shape, looks super comfy and supportive! Wouldn't mind getting one!

My daughter had a willy!

Had a son first & somehow the name transferred over to her.

Obviously when they were young & as long as we knew what they meant it didn't matter.

YANBU Willy is definitely a boy!

However YABU for calling it a fanny, it’s such a disgusting word! I would be if I heard that come out of a child’s mouth. I guess it’s regional though? The acceptable words around here (to use to children) seem to be fairy, flower or moo moo.

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

This gave me my first big laugh out loud laugh for ages. Thank you @Popskipiekin Much needed, my day is instantly brighter.

@YoniAndGuy

Start calling her breasts her testicles.

'Mum, do you mind if I ask what brand of bra you're wearing? Whatever it is gives your testicles a fantastic shape, looks super comfy and supportive! Wouldn't mind getting one!

Genuinely cackled at this

Willy is weird as fuck for girls! Willy is a penis to me.
Also I know some people use fanny for vulva/vagina but to me fanny is a swear word along the lines of dick.
I say foof for female, willy for male interchangeably with the correct terms and no confusion with my children.

@knittingaddict

Is it equally weird that I have never heard my parents refer to genitalia at all, ever? I have no idea what terms they would use and can't imagine a conversation in which this was discussed. My upbringing was strange though.

Same here, never referred to ever. Also never mentioned any words for pee/poo. In the school playground they were called fanny, willy and jobbie but these were all swear words according to my mum (along with fart).

I can half remember words used such as downstairs, and mess, but that's it.

when age appropriate/as the words appeared in the playground ds(16) was taught all correct, twee and inappropriate words for everything and when to use them 🤣

Haha that's very weird!

My mum (a nurse!) calls it a "noo noo"... Made me see the hoover from the teletubbies in a different way!

Also hate front bum/bottom. I don’t know why it just makes me feel a bit sick.

I call it my gentleman's area

OMG - this is even worse than front bottom. By a clear mile. Dreadful.