The A-Z of Kink:
27 Types of Kinks to Know

Christian Grey has a Red Room, Larys in House of the Dragon likes feet, and Sex Education’s Lily is into alien erotica.

Welcome to the world of kink – an exciting and risqué place to be! You’re in good company as around 45-60% of people are curious about kinky activities.

It’s all very sexy, but can be rather confusing thanks to the bucketload of terminology… So read on for an insight into the many types of kink.

Learn what dracophilia, yiffing and klismaphilia are; decode the smorgasbord of initialisms in BDSM; and understand the difference between a kink and a fetish.

What is a kink?

A kink is a sexual practice that's considered unconventional or "edgy". Kinky sex is subjective though; what's edgy to one person might seem vanilla (mainstream) to another.

Usually, if someone has a kink, that means they like to see or experience something specific during masturbation or sex. It adds to their arousal, either through sensations, fantasy, or exciting power dynamics.

What are the different types of kinks?

There’s really no end to what people can find arousing and there can be a lot of overlap between different types of kinks.

Someone might enjoy impact play (see the letter I in our A-Z below) as part of BDSM (see B). Someone else might love the voyeurism (see V) that accompanies group sex (see G).

Kink is personal and therefore can be as individual as the people who have them. That said, most kinks fall into one of the following categories:

• Sensation play: Finding intense sensations pleasurable. Think: hot (body-safe) wax dripping onto skin, inner thighs tickled with a feather tickler, forearms prickled with a pinwheel, bum spanked with a paddle, and cold, glass dildos sliding… you decide.
• Power exchange: Swapping your typical relationship roles so one partner is more dominant in the bedroom and the other(s) is more submissive. Talk about this first and have a safeword (and action).
• Roleplay: Trying on different hats (sometimes literally, if you like roleplay costumes). Popular scenarios like boss/employee, doctor/nurse/patient or air host/passenger can all entail power exchange. Or explore a fantasy world of vampires...
• Taboo: Having desires that some might find unacceptable like anal play; golden showers (see U); primal sex acts; sexual pleasure from inanimate objects; and even blood play.

You might also hear kinksters refer to edge play, which is an advanced form of kink. Edge play is consensual but risky, designed to push you beyond your limits of pain, humiliation, or restraint.

What's the difference between a kink and a fetish?

A kink is different from a fetish, which is when someone must experience or see something specific to feel turned on.

For example, a person who has a kink for latex can still have fantastically hot sex without their partner wearing latex, or wearing latex themself. A person with a fetish for latex needs someone (please someone!) to be wearing latex to feel horny.

What’s the most common fetish?

A foot fetish is one the most common, with plenty of people being turned on by the sight, smell or feel of feet. But why do we get so excited by feet? “It’s often linked to psychological imprinting and the brain’s sensory mapping,” says our resident sex expert, Annabelle Knight.

“The feet and genital areas are actually close together in the brain’s somatosensory cortex, which could explain the connection,” Annabelle continues. “Additionally, feet are often seen as taboo, making them more desirable. Cultural influences play a part too… high heels and pedicures can enhance their appeal, turning them into a symbol of sexiness and beauty.”

From aftercare to zappers: The A-Z of kink

How to narrow down a plethora of kinks to just 27?! There are loads of types of kink and lots of important kink terms to know (hello, "aftercare"). Trust us when we say this isn’t an exhaustive list…

A is for Aftercare

Kinky sex can sometimes leave you feeling a tired and emotional, so aftercare helps everyone adjust back to “normal”. It can encompass anything that makes you feel good, like a cuddle, a cup of tea or rubbing soothing cream onto your bum after a spanking.

Aftercare is essential after the intensity of a Dom/sub scenario.

B is for BDSM

BDSM involves consensual power play for the satisfaction and excitement of all involved:

Bondage: Limiting a partner’s movement with restraints.

Discipline: Pre-agreed rules and punishments for the Dominant partner to impose on the submissive partner.

Dominance: Directing a partner during sex or everyday life.

Submission: Submitting to the Dominant partner’s rules, actions and wishes.

Sadism and Masochism (Sadomasochism): Pleasure from inflicting pain (sadism) or receiving pain (masochism) through a physical or emotional act.

Learn a whole lot more about beginners’ bondage.

C is for Cuckolding

Turned on by the thought of your partner having sex with someone else? Maybe you’re into cuckolding.

This is distinct from cheating though. Cuckolding is when a person is aware and approves of their partner having sex with someone outside of their relationship. They might even want to watch.

D is for Dracophilia

A kink for all things dragon, like “dragon-based media like movies or erotic fiction,” suggests sex and pleasure expert, Jess Wilde. Other ways to explore dracophilia include “roleplaying as a dragon during sex. Or introducing fantasy sex toys designed to imitate a dragon penis to playtime.”

Watch out: there’s a sexy inferno in the bedroom.

E is for Exhibitionism

An exhibitionist is someone who likes the fantasy or reality of having sex in places where others can see or hear.

According to the hosts of the Pink Kink podcast, surveys suggest that 80% of people feel turned on by the thought of having sex in public places. Common locations include public toilets, parks and fields.

F is for Fisting

Fisting is when all the fingers and thumb on one hand penetrate and pleasure a vagina or anus. Those into fisting enjoy how it can target the G-spot or P-spot and the feeling of fullness.

Fisting dildos offer the sensation of someone else’s hand. Just use lots of specially-formulated fisting lube.

H is for Humiliation

Humiliation can involve gentle teasing, name calling or objectification – BDSM isn’t all about physical acts!

According to Tina Horn, sex educator and host of the podcast, Why Are People Into That?!, “Intense language as a use of force can be just as intense, or even more intense, as consensually degrading physical sensations, like impact play.”

I is for Impact Play

Impact play involves using hands or a spanking accessory (like whips, spanking paddles or floggers) to hit, slap or spank the body. Consent and communication are essential here.

If you’re the one doing the thwacking, aim for fleshier areas of the body, such as the bum cheeks and thighs, to avoid harming bones or internal organs.

Read our guide about how to spank for pleasure.

K is for Klismaphilia

Klismaphilia is Greek for “arousal by enemas” and refers to the kink for receiving or administering an enema.

An enema or douche is a device used to clean the anus and colon by flushing them out with water. Whether to prep for a medical procedure or a squeaky-clean anal sex sesh, some people find enemas bum-clenchingly good.

Here’s how to use an anal douche.

L is for Lactation

A person with a kink for lactation loves the idea of breast milk, sucking on milk-filled boobs, or having sex with a lactating woman.

People into lactation might also have an “adult baby/diaper lover” (ABDL) fetish. It’s a form of age play (more detail under R) where someone enjoys wearing or using nappies (diapers).

M is for Master/slave

“Master/slave dynamics in BDSM are another form of power play,” begins sex and pleasure expert, Jess Wilde.

“Whilst there are no strict rules when it comes to phraseology, many within the BDSM community argue that the Master/slave dynamic is a more advanced form of Dom/sub play.”

Typically, a Master/slave relationship spans beyond kinky sex activities. For example, the slave could be responsible for fulfilling all domestic chores and running the Master’s household.

N is for Nylons

A nylon kink is a sexual arousal by tights and stockings. Someone with this type of kink gets turned on by the look, feel or smell of nylons.

Sexy things to do with nylons might include: wearing them during sex, restraining a partner with them, or ripping or tearing them.

O is for Orgasm Control

Some people into submission also enjoy their Dominant partner controlling their orgasms.

“Don’t cum yet”, “I’m gonna make you cum”, “No orgasms for you all week”. You get the idea.

Orgasm denial is an extreme version whereby the Dominant partner forbids the submissive from having an orgasm. This could be part of cock and ball torture (CBT) – a chastity device can be very effective.

P is for Pegging

A person into pegging finds it sexy to either wear a strap-on to penetrate a partner’s bum or receive anal sex from a strap-on.

Anyone can enjoy pegging or being pegged, no matter their sex, sexuality or gender identity. Just remember to apply anal lube to make sliding into that back passage a breeze.

R is for Roleplay

Have a “thing” for playing a character during sex, that’s different from the role you play in life? You may be into roleplay. Playtime, but for grown-ups.

Age play is a type of roleplay where one or both partners pretend to be a different age from their actual ages – often with a big age gap.

S is for Sploshing

A messy yet mouth-watering kink. People into sploshing find it sexy being around or covered in wet food or drinks, during sex or sexual activities. Think: moist and squidgy cake, wobbly jelly, and squirty cream.

Try it in the kitchen (I mean the fridge is just there) or lay down a waterproof throw to make clean-up easier!

T is for Tentacles

A kink for getting off on watching tentacle porn or using a tentacle-like object for pleasure.

Why do some people find tentacles a big turn-on? Picture fantasies of multiple penetrations mixed in with it being extreme and taboo, and you’re probably beginning to understand this kink.

And yes, you can get tentacle-inspired dildos.

U is for Urophilia

Known as watersports, golden showers, wee or pee play, urophilia refers to people who find urination sexually arousing.

The most familiar form of urination is peeing on someone or letting someone pee on you. We recommend you first explore wee play in a shower to... well, you can guess why.

V is for Voyeurism

A voyeur is someone who gets turned on by watching others when they’re naked or indulging in sexual activity.

Consent is so important here; ask the sexy people you’re perving on for permission – yes, even if you’re at a sexy party or kinky event! They might be exhibitionists, and then it’s a big win for everyone!

W is for Wax Play

Some people love the sensation of hot wax singeing their skin – or a lover’s TLC from a massage candle. Fortunately, specially designed candles burn at a temperature safe for skin contact.

Wax play is sometimes part of temperature play where folks explore the different sensations of hot wax and ice, or cold glass or metal during sex.

X is for Xenophilia

Enjoy your lovers to hark from different countries and cultures from your own? You might be a xenophile; someone who finds the foreign and unknown sexy.

Xenophilia can also stretch to a sexual attraction to beings from other worlds.

Y is for Yiffing

Yiffing is a slang term for sex between furries – whether that’s IRL sex or watching furry porn.

What’s a furry? We’re glad you asked.

It’s a person with a sexual interest in animals with human qualities. Furries might wear a costume tail, animal ears or a mask, but will walk upright like people do. Butt plug tail, anyone?

Z is for Zappers

A zapper is a wand-like device that delivers a safe amount of electrical energy over a person’s body – sometimes tantalising erogenous zones.

Made of 60% water, the human body is an excellent conductor of electricity. By applying an electro sex toy or conductive pad to the body, electricity passes through the nerve cells, creating pulsing, almost vibrating sensations.