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Split image: Left, person in plaid shirt labeled "Bear?". Right, person in tank top and pants labeled "Twink?"

We Bet You Can't Correctly Define Even Half Of These Grindr Slang Terms

"**DL**" refers to "**Down-low**". The term often carries historical and cultural significance within Black communities and highlights complexities around identity, secrecy, and sexuality

Bussy refers to a man’s **anus**. It's a playful yet explicit slang term used primarily by gay and bisexual men, and sometimes applied to trans men’s frontal anatomy.

**"Prawn”** refers to a **person with an attractive, fit body, but an underwhelming face**, similar to the idea of peeling off a prawn’s head and discarding it .

Someone with an attractive body but an unattractive face

In queer slang, especially among Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities **“reading”** means delivering a sharp, often humorous critique that highlights someone’s flaws or inconsistencies. The term gained mainstream awareness through **Paris Is Burning** and shows like **RuPaul’s Drag Race**

Call out someone’s flaws with shade

**Chaser** usually refers to someone who is **attracted to a specific type** of person, commonly larger (bear) individuals or transgender people, and may fetishize that identity.

**Kai Kai** specifically refers to **sexual activity between drag queens,** a cheeky term born from drag and ballroom culture. Not to be confused with **“kiki”**, which means a casual laugh or gossip session

The Penetrated Party

**“HH”** usually means **“How hung?”,** a cheeky way of asking how big a guy is “down there".

Well-endowed

**Otter** refers to a **slim to athletic gay or bisexual man with noticeable body hair**, often seen as a middle-ground between a twink (hairless, slim) and a bear (heavier, hairier).

**NPNC** stands for **“No Pic, No Chat”**, which means the user won't start or maintain conversations with profiles that don’t include a clear picture, especially a face shot.

**Side** describes someone who **prefers non-penetrative sex** and doesn't identify as top, bottom, or versatile.

**Unicorn** typically refers to a **bisexual (often cis or trans) person** who is willing to join an existing couple, usually heterosexual, for a threesome or temporary poly arrangement.

**Cruising** refers to **searching for casual, often anonymous, sexual encounters in real life,** typically in public spaces like parks, bars, restrooms, gyms, etc.

**“Tribe”** is used to signal your **subculture or aesthetic type**, like Bear, Twink, Jock, Otter, Daddy, etc.

**Looking** (on Grindr or similar apps) typically means someone is **actively seeking a hookup, date, or chat**. It signals availability without mentioning the specifics.

**Trade** refers to a **masculine-presenting (often straight-identifying or straight-passing) man** who’s a casual sexual partner. The term has roots in queer history, where it also implied a **mutual exchange** of sex, sometimes for goods or secrecy.

You’ve just stepped into the gay side of the internet, and that's okay! From “twink” to “top,” there’s a whole slang universe waiting for you to explore.

Scene from a TV show with a character speaking animatedly saying, "You really haven't grasped the concept of this gay thing yet, have you?"

New on the grid!

You’re probably the friend who asks, “Wait, what’s that again?” mid-conversation. You’re eager, open-minded, and halfway there, so all you need is a little brushing up.

Person lying on a bed using a laptop, looking amused. Text overlay reads "Gurl Plz."

Clueless, but curious.

You can spot a twink from 50 feet away, but might hesitate when someone calls themselves a “side.” You’ve been around the block, just maybe not _every_ block in the neighborhood.

White text on a black background reads: "He's gay, he's gay, gay, gay, bi."

Fluent, but selective.

You’ve cruised, hosted, and sent “looking?” at 2:17 AM to blank profiles. Grindr should be paying you rent; you’ve lived here long enough.

Person in a button-up shirt gestures while humorously saying, "I'm like, as gay as Christmas."

Queen Supreme.

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Topics In This Article

I'm glad it mentions "sides" - we need to normalise that not every sexual partner engages in or likes penetrative sex. It's not a new concept - just a new word for some.

The fetishization is inherent to the term "chaser" and should be part of the actual answer for the question, not just the elaborating text. 

Prawn reminds me of the term "butterface."

As a lesbian, I'm honestly impressed I knew most of them

9/15. thought as a mlm ftm guy I would get em all lmaoo

Oh my God I'm falling behind I need to catch up

We Bet You Can't Correctly Define Even Half Of These Grindr Slang Terms

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