Definition
The state of never having had sexual intercourse.
Etymology
From Latin 'virginitas' (virginal state), derived from 'virgo' (virgin, maiden). The concept carried moral weight through medieval Christianity, influencing modern usage.
Kelly Says
Across cultures and history, people have obsessed over virginity—often applying it as a moral test specifically for women and girls, not men. The word carries so much cultural baggage that modern discussions about it often become tangled with unfair expectations.
Translations
CACatalà
virgitat
veer-zhee-ta
CSČeština
panenství
pa-nen-stv-ee
DADansk
jægerinde
ya-ger-in-deh
DEDeutsch
Jungfräulichkeit
yoong-fraw-lee-kheet
ELΕλληνικά
Παρθένος
par-the-nos
ESEspañol
virginidad
veer-zhee-nee-dad
FISuomi
neitsyys
neits-ees
FRFrançais
virginité
veer-zhee-nee-tay
GUGU
dziewicostwo
dzhev-vee-tcho-st-vo
HAHA
Virginity
veer-zhee-nee-tee
HIहिन्दी
कुमारिता
koo-ma-ree-ta
HUMagyar
szüzesség
shoo-zhes-seg
IDBahasa Indonesia
kemurnian
ke-mur-nee-an
IGIG
Virginity
veer-zhee-nee-tee
ITItaliano
verginità
ver-zhee-nee-ta
KO한국어
처녀성
cheo-nyeo-seong
MRMR
कुमारिता
koo-ma-ree-ta
MSBahasa Melayu
kemurnian
ke-mur-nee-an
NLNederlands
maagdelijkheid
maag-deh-lijk-heid
PLPolski
dziewictwo
dzhev-vee-tcho
PTPortuguês
virgindade
veer-zhee-nee-dad
RORomână
fără vină
far-a vin-ah
RUРусский
девственность
dev-stven-no-st
SVSvenska
jungfrullighet
yoong-fru-l-li-ght
SWKiswahili
ushoga
oo-sho-gah
TAதமிழ்
பூணியம்
poo-ni-yam
TEతెలుగు
కుమారి
koo-ma-ree
THไทย
สุภาพสตรี
su-pa-p-sree
TLTL
kabanata
ka-ba-na-ta
TRTürkçe
bakirelik
ba-kee-re-lik
UKУкраїнська
невинність
ne-vi-n-nist
VITiếng Việt
trữ tiết
tru-tee-et
YOYO
Virginity
veer-zhee-nee-tee
ZUZU
Virginity
veer-zhee-nee-tee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Applied asymmetrically: female virginity valued as property/honor (bride price, purity culture); male virginity erased or treated as deficiency. Rooted in property law linking women to paternity certainty.
Inclusive Usage
Use clinically only if relevant to medical/sexual health context. Avoid in morality framing. Recognize harm of purity culture.
Inclusive Alternatives
["sexual history","first sexual experience"]
Empowerment Note
Feminist movements rejected virginity frameworks as tools of control. Comprehensive sex education reclaims autonomy over bodies from honor systems.