English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

From Latin pudenda (“that whereof one ought to feel shame”), substantive use of the neuter plural gerundive of pudet (“it shames”); in Latin the usage in the plural form (to mean external genitalia), was far more common than the singular form, as is also the case in English.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

pudendum (plural pudenda)

( usually in the plural ) An external genital organ in a human; especially a woman’s vulva. ( in the plural ) A person’s genital organ, mons pubis, anus, and buttocks collectively. ( figurative ) A shameful part of something.

Usage notes [ edit ]

This term appears far more frequently in the plural — as pudenda — than in the singular, analogously with genitalia, which is rarely encountered in its obscure singular form genitale, and with genitals, a plurale tantum whose supposed singular form genital is an adjective in English.

Derived terms [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

“ ” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2 nd Ed.; 1989]

[2 Ed.; 1989] “ ” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [ Draft revision ; Dec. 2008]

Anagrams [ edit ]

Latin [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

From pudet (“it shames”).

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Gerund [ edit ]

pudendum (accusative, gerundive pudendus)

Declension [ edit ]

Second declension, defective.

Case Singular Nominative — Genitive pudendī Dative pudendō Accusative pudendum Ablative pudendō Vocative —

There is no nominative form. The present active infinitive of the parent verb is used in situations that require a nominative form.

The accusative may also be substituted by the infinitive in this way.

Participle [ edit ]

pudendum