Definition
Relating to or containing explicit sexual images or content designed primarily to cause sexual arousal.
Etymology
From Greek 'porne' (prostitute) and 'graphia' (writing or depiction). Literally means 'writing about prostitutes,' combining Greek roots to describe sexually explicit material.
Kelly Says
The word literally means 'writing about prostitutes' from ancient Greek—it's a clinical term made from two root words, which is why it sounds technical rather than crude!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
性 ምርጫ ነገር
sex mircha neger
BNবাংলা
পর্নোগ্রাফিক
porno-gra-fik
CACatalà
pornogràfic
porn-o-gra-fik
CSČeština
pornografický
porn-o-gra-fic-ky
DADansk
pornografisk
porn-o-graf-isk
DEDeutsch
pornografisch
porn-o-gra-fisch
ELΕλληνικά
πορνογραφικό
por-no-gra-fi-ko
ESEspañol
pornográfico
porn-o-gra-fi-ko
FAفارسی
pornográficos
porn-o-gra-fi-ko
FISuomi
pornografinen
porn-o-gra-fi-nen
FRFrançais
pornographique
porn-o-graf-ik
GUGU
પોર્ન ગ્રાફિક
por-no-gra-fik
HAHA
pornografiya
pornografiya
HEעברית
פורנוגרפי
porno-grafi
HIहिन्दी
पोर्नोग्राफिक
porn-o-gra-fik
HUMagyar
pornográf
porn-o-graf
IDBahasa Indonesia
pornografi
pornografi
ITItaliano
pornografico
porn-o-gra-fi-ko
KKKK
порнографический
porno-grafi-cheskiy
KMKM
រឿងប្រណី
reu-a-pra-nei
MRMR
पोर्नोग्राफिक
porn-o-gra-fik
MSBahasa Melayu
pornografi
pornografi
MYမြန်မာ
ပို့နိုင် ပုံစံ
po-nai-pon-san
NLNederlands
pornografisch
porn-o-graf-isch
NONorsk
pornografisk
porn-o-graf-isk
PAPA
ਪੋਰਨographers
porn-o-gra-far
PLPolski
pornograficzny
porn-o-gra-ficzny
PTPortuguês
pornográfico
porn-o-gra-fi-ko
RORomână
pornografic
porn-o-gra-fik
RUРусский
порнографический
porno-grafi-cheskiy
SVSvenska
pornografisk
porn-o-graf-isk
SWKiswahili
pornografia
pornografia
TAதமிழ்
பொர்னோகிராபிக்
porno-gra-pik
TEతెలుగు
పోర్నోగ్రాఫిక్
porno-gra-fik
TLTL
pornograpiya
pornograpiya
TRTürkçe
pornografik
porn-o-graf-ik
UKУкраїнська
порнографічний
porno-grafi-chnyy
URاردو
پورنografic
por-no-gra-fik
VITiếng Việt
khiêu dâm
khiêu dâm
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Industry disproportionately objectifies and coerces women. Language around pornography often erases exploitation and frames consumption as neutral.
Inclusive Usage
Use clinically when necessary. Avoid normalizing language ('content,' 'material') that obscures harm. Center consent and agency in any discussion.
Inclusive Alternatives
["explicit sexual material"]
Empowerment Note
Women's agency and bodily autonomy in all sexual contexts—including production, distribution, and consumption—must be centered in language.