Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 15, 2026

Anilingus

Anilingus is an oral and anal sex act in which one person stimulates the anus of another by using their tongue or lips.

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Lesbian anilingus, illustrated by Seedfeeder source ↗

Anilingus (also spelled analingus)12 is an oral and anal sex act (anal–oral contact or anal–oral sex) in which one person stimulates the anus of another by using their tongue or lips.34

The anus has a relatively high concentration of nerve endings and can be an erogenous zone, so the recipient may receive pleasure from external anal stimulation, whereas pleasure for the giver is usually based more on the principle of the act.56 People may engage in anilingus for its own sake, before anal penetration, or as part of foreplay. All sexual orientations may participate in the act. Studies confirm anilingus to be one of the sexual practices between women,7 though only practiced by a minority.8

Safer sex practices generally revolve around hygiene so as to prevent fecal–oral route transmission of diseases. Extra precautions include STI testing, dental dams, or enemas.

Slang terms

Analingus is also known in slang terminology as rimming (or rim-job), or salad tossing.3 The etymological origin of the term "toss someone's salad" is a 1970s gay-slang glossary, described as "encapsulat[ing] the act’s pleasure while retaining its delicacy [and being] the precursor to the main sexual event."9 It has since appeared in prison slang in the United States prison system, where performing anilingus on another inmate is one way of paying dues or gaining favor.1011

Etymology

The term anilingus comes from the Latin words anus and -lingus, from lingere, meaning "to lick"12 and is based on the pattern of cunnilingus.13 It entered English through the 1899 F. J. Rebman translation of Edition 10 of sexologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing's 1886 book Psychopathia Sexualis.1415

Practice

Anilingus can involve a variety of techniques to stimulate the anus, including use of the lips or licking;3 it may also involve the tongue moving around the edge of the anus or up and down the insides of the cheeks of the buttocks. Insertion of the tongue into the rectum is another possible technique.16

Health risks and prevention

Health risk

Anilingus has potential health risks arising from the oral contact with feces. Diseases which may be transmitted by contact with feces include: bacterial diseases including shigellosis (bacillary dysentery); viral systemic diseases including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, poliomyelitis, human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes simplex virus; parasites including intestinal parasites; and infections and inflammations chlamydia infection, gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum17 and other sexually transmitted infections.18

Applying the mouth to the genitals immediately after applying it to the anus can introduce the bacterium Escherichia coli ("E. coli") into the urethra, leading to a urinary tract infection. HIV/AIDS is not believed to be easily transmitted through anilingus.19

Anilingus with a number of casual partners increases the health risks associated with the practice. Generally, people carrying infections that may be passed on during anilingus appear healthy. Parasites may be in the feces if undercooked meat was consumed. The feces contain traces of hepatitis A only if the infected person has eaten contaminated food.

Prevention

Safe sex practices may include thorough washing of the anal region before anilingus to wash away most external fecal particles and reduce the risk of contraction of fecal-sourced infection. An enema can also reduce the risk of direct fecal contact.20 A dental dam may also be used, and another safe sex practice is to avoid unprotected sex which involves fellatio after anal intercourse.

If the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on the genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in the mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, and eating crunchy foods (such as potato chips) relatively soon before or after performing anilingus also increases the risk of transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches on the inside of the lips, cheeks, and palate. These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections that can be transmitted orally under these conditions.

In the 18th century, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote several canons on the topic, including the 1782 6-voice canon "Leck mich im Arsch", which repeats the request throughout. Similarly, he wrote the 1782 lyrics for "Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber" ("Lick my arse right well and clean"). Circa 1786, Mozart composed the 4-voice canon "O du eselhafter Peierl" which jokingly implores his friend to "lick his ass" alongside humorous insults and death threats.

In 2020, the Mozarteum uncovered a 21-year-old Mozart's humorous 1777 commission of a gay rimming scene for his family and friend's target shooting practise. Knowing he would be out of town, he commissioned a target of (in Mozart's own words):

"...a small man with fair hair, bending over and showing his bare arse. From his mouth come the words: Enjoy the spread. The other figure should be shown in boots and spurs, a red suit and a beautiful wig according to the latest fashion; he must be of medium height and positioned in such a way that he appears to be licking the other man’s arse. From his mouth come the words: Just go ahead."21

In 2025, Men's Health published an explanation and list of techniques on the topic.22

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Jordan Tate (2007). The Contemporary Dictionary of Sexual Euphemisms. St. Martin's Press. pp. 8–9, 106. ISBN 978-0-312-36298-0.
  2. Jack Morin (2000). Anal Pleasure & Health: A Guide for Men and Women. Down There Press. p. 147. ISBN 0-940208-20-2.
  3. Kumar, Bhushan; Gupta, Somesh (2013). Sexually Transmitted Infections – E-book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 612. ISBN 978-8-13122-978-1. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  4. LeVay, Simon; Valente, Sharon (2006). Human sexuality. Oxford University Press, Incorporated. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-87893-465-2. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  5. Newman, Felice (2004). The Whole Lesbian Sex Book: A Passionate Guide for All of Us. Cleis Press Inc. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-57344-199-5.
  6. Taormino, Tristan (2006). The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. Cleis Press Inc. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-57344-221-3.
  7. Diamant AL, Lever J, Schuster M (June 2000). "Lesbians' Sexual Activities and Efforts to Reduce Risks for Sexually Transmitted Diseases". J Gay Lesbian Med Assoc. 4 (2): 41–8. doi:10.1023/A:1009513623365. S2CID 140505473.
  8. Jonathan Zenilman; Mohsen Shahmanesh (2011). Sexually Transmitted Infections: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. pp. 329–330. ISBN 978-0-495-81294-4. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  9. Chelsea G. Summers (11 September 2015). "The Tongue-Twisting History of the Many Euphemisms for Eating Ass". Vice.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. Byrne, J.; Hummer, D. (2007). "In search of the "Tossed Salad Man" (and others involved in prison violence): New strategies for predicting and controlling violence in prison". Aggression and Violent Behavior. 12 (5): 531. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2007.02.001.
  11. Marc Levin for HBO (1996). "Prisoners of the War on Drugs". IMDb. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  12. Carroll, Janell L.; Wolpe, Paul (1996). Sexuality and Gender in Society. HarperCollins College Publishers. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-06-500872-2. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  13. "Anilingus Definition & Meaning". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  14. Forsyth, Mark (2011). The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language. Icon Books. p. 49.
  15. "anilingus". Oxford English Dictionary (online ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 16 July 2018. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  16. Bullough, Bonnie; Bullough, Vern (2014). Human Sexuality: An Encyclopedia. Taylor and Francis. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-135-82502-7. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  17. LGBT Foundation. "Lymphogranuloma Venereum – LGBT Foundation". lgbt.foundation. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  18. "Is Oral Sex Safe?". University Health Center at the University of Georgia. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
  19. "What's Rimming?". Columbia University's internet health service. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
  20. Castleman, Michael (27 April 2010). "Rimming: The curious couple's guide to oral-anal play". Psychology Today. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  21. "Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg | Mozart Museum | Konzerte | Wissenschaft". Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg | Mozart Museum | Konzerte | Wissenschaft. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  22. "Let's Talk About Rimming: Tips, Techniques, and What to Know Before You Try". Men's Health. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
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