Fanny
Fanny (noun) means British slang for the female genitals; American slang for the buttocks. Example: “He fell flat on his fanny.”
How to use Fanny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal body-part word — but be careful, because it means something different in British English (genitals) versus American English (bottom).
Informal/vulgar in British English; mild and casual in American English.
This is a genuine trans-Atlantic trap: in the UK it's a crude term for female genitalia, while in the US it's a mild, even childish word for the backside. A "fanny pack" is harmless in America but would sound odd or rude phrased that way in the UK, where it's called a "bum bag."
Word forms
- Plural
- Fannys, fannies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He fell flat on his _____.
Etymology
From "Fanny," a pet form of the name Frances, which became slang in the 19th century.
