Definition
Engaged in self-stimulation of the genitals for sexual pleasure; or in historical medical contexts, a term used incorrectly to describe supposed disease-causing behavior.
Etymology
From Latin 'masturbari' (to masturbate), possibly from 'manu' (by hand) and 'stuprare' (to defile). Medical texts from the 1700s-1800s incorrectly blamed it for diseases ranging from blindness to insanity.
Kelly Says
For centuries, doctors genuinely believed masturbation caused serious diseases and prescribed bizarre 'cures,' including locking people in restraints—it's a shocking example of how wrong 'medical experts' can be!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እንደ ነገር ነው
en-deh ne-ger ne-w
BNবাংলা
আত্মসন্তুষ্ট
atma-san-tu-sh
CACatalà
masturbar
mast-ur-bar
CSČeština
masturboval
mast-ur-bo-val
DADansk
masturberet
mast-ur-be-reh-t
DEDeutsch
masturbierte
mast-ur-bee-er-tuh
ELΕλληνικά
απολάυσε τον εαυτό του
a-po-la-y-seh ton i-a-vo-to
ESEspañol
se masturbó
seh mast-ur-ba-doh
FAفارسی
خودارضایی
kho-dar-di-za-ee
FISuomi
masturbointi
mast-ur-bo-in-tee
FRFrançais
s'est masturbé
se mast-ur-bay
HEעברית
עשה אהבה עם עצמו
ah-seh a-have im etz-mo
HIहिन्दी
अपवित्र
ap-vi-trih
HUMagyar
megerősítette
me-ger-o-shee-teh-teh
IDBahasa Indonesia
memasturbasi
me-mast-ur-ba-see
ITItaliano
si masturbò
si mast-ur-bah-toh
KKKK
өзімен айналастыру
özi-men ayna-last-y-roo
KMKM
ប្រព្រឹត្ត
bra-p-rwet
MSBahasa Melayu
memerlukan
me-mer-lu-kan
MYမြန်မာ
ကိုယ်ပြု
ko-ye-p-roo
NLNederlands
masturbeer
mast-ur-beer
NONorsk
masturberte
mast-ur-ber-teh
PLPolski
masturbowal
mast-ur-bo-val
PTPortuguês
masturbou
mast-ur-boo
RORomână
s-a masturbat
s-a mast-ur-ba-t
RUРусский
мастурбировал
mast-ur-bi-ro-val
SVSvenska
masturberade
mast-ur-be-rah-deh
TAதமிழ்
தன்னுடனான
than-nu-da-na-an
THไทย
สำเร็จความใคร่
sam-ret kwahm khr-ai
TLTL
nag-self-love
nag-self-love
TRTürkçe
mastürbasyon yaptı
mast-ur-bay-zon yap-tee
UKУкраїнська
мастурбував
mast-ur-boo-va-v
URاردو
خود کو مسکرانے
khud ko mas-ker-a-nay
VITiếng Việt
tự xoa
tuh xoa
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Masturbation carries gendered shame—historically pathologized in women's bodies while normalized or invisible in men's. Language reflects suppression of female sexuality and bodily autonomy.
Inclusive Usage
Use clinically and without euphemism. Specify agency and context. Resist reflexive shame narratives in health/education contexts.
Inclusive Alternatives
["self-stimulation","sexual self-exploration"]
Empowerment Note
Women's sexual autonomy and pleasure—including solo sexuality—was medically suppressed through pathology language; reclaiming neutral terminology matters.