Romance novel jargon

[TheArsonist]

I sometimes read romance novels, and I've noticed that they have their own little jargon, with regularly recurring vocabulary and turns of phrase that I never see in any other contexts (including in the kind of erotica you typically find on LE).

Two that particularly stand out to me are "core" as a synonym for pussy, and "come undone" for achieving orgasm. If you actively search for them there are some instances on LE, even though they are rare; here are a few examples I found:

He shackled both my wrists with one hand and cupped the other over my sex. The La Croix fizzle in my core became lava. […]

I pushed my core at him and mewed. I effin' mewed.

Todd caught my hips before I could push my pussy onto his tongue. "Not yet."

His blue eyes burned into mine and I felt him down there, pushing inside, my tight little core spreading open and around the head of his cock, wide and wider.

She was clutching at the other woman just on the brink. Her legs were trembling around the other women's hips and she felt that any moment now she would either come undone or pass out from so much need.

Have you ever come across these expressions elsewhere (especially in real life), or are they strictly "Romanese"? And have you noticed other characteristic words or expressions in romance writing?

 

[StillStunned]

All this time I thought is was just "come".

Oh dear, I'm all undone!

 

[Bamagan]

I've probably used core on a handful of occasions; for some characters' internal monologues, it and similar euphemisms can help convey that they're not entirely comfortable with the rawness of the acts themselves, I think.
Seeing the expression 'come undone' just makes me think of watching a money shot in reverse, though, where it flies off the actress' face and into a dick.

 

[TheLobster]

I may have used "core" when describing a female orgasm, but in a much more abstract sense of a center of woman's being. Definitely not for pussy; that sounds campy as hell.

But hey, if it really is the jargon, then remember what they say: when in Romance, do as the Romans do.

 

[TheArsonist]

I've probably used core on a handful of occasions; for some characters' internal monologues, it and similar euphemisms can help convey that they're not entirely comfortable with the rawness of the acts themselves, I think.

Yeah, I can see the case for that, though it never feels quite authentic to me. Like, is this really a word anyone uses (even in internal monologue) in this sense outside of romance fiction? Though I think it's more natural in expressions like "core of my being," when the anatomical reference is secondary and not so blatant.

 

[THBGato]

I've used both in my writing.... but then my Lesbian Sex stories are very much about the romance.

In terms of "core", however, I do feel there is a lot of accuracy there. Think in terms of fitness training - your "core" is your abdominal muscles, your pelvic region. With a really good orgasm, you often feel it there. Well, I can't speak for everyone, obviously, but that's been my experience and those of many of my girlfriends. So, it's always felt kind of accurate to me: focusing on the whole body reaction, not just the genitalia.

 

[TheArsonist]

In terms of "core", however, I do feel there is a lot of accuracy there. Think in terms of fitness training - your "core" is your abdominal muscles, your pelvic region. With a really good orgasm, you often feel it there. Well, I can't speak for everyone, obviously, but that's been my experience and those of many of my girlfriends. So, it's always felt kind of accurate to me: focusing on the whole body reaction, not just the genitalia.

In a lot of cases it's unambiguously used to refer to the genitalia, though.

Like in the first example I quoted. "The La Croix fizzle in my core became lava" could feasibly refer vaguely to the pelvic region, a feeling that isn't strictly localized, but in the second part the narrator is explicitly talking about pushing her pussy/"core" into his face.

 

[THBGato]

I was talking about how I use it. Sorry, could have been clearer.

 

[StillStunned]

And have you noticed other characteristic words or expressions in romance writing?

Didn't the word use to be "womanhood"?

I'll admit to using "ecstasy" sometimes to refer to an orgasm.

 

[Kasumi_Lee]

Didn't the word use to be "womanhood"?

I'll admit to using "ecstasy" sometimes to refer to an orgasm.

I use both of these words on occasion.

 

[mildlyaroused]

Ecstasy I can accept because sometimes it is true. I've found I use it more for women than men. Maybe men feel ecstasy too, but I don't think it's in the same encompassing way.

 

[TheLobster]

Didn't the word use to be "womanhood"?

I'll admit to using "ecstasy" sometimes to refer to an orgasm.

I use "ecstasy" all the time, and "womanhood" on rarer occasions when I want the mood of the scene to turn sweeter and more tender.

Yes, I'm a pretentious hack, why do you ask?

 

[StillStunned]

It might be time to revisit my WIWAW on orgasms...

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

I am not a fan of euphemisms generally, especially not in erotic settings. It feels like a literary hangover from the Victorian period when everything had to be an allusion to avoid being censored. I might understand that certain older women might find a mainstream romance novel more acceptable if the heroine is having 'feelings in her core' rather than in her pussy, but this is Literotica. Call it what it is, please!

 

[mildlyaroused]

I am not a fan of euphemisms generally, especially not in erotic settings. It feels like a literary hangover from the Victorian period when everything had to be an allusion to avoid being censored. I might understand that certain older women might find a mainstream romance novel more acceptable if the heroine is having 'feelings in her core' rather than in her pussy, but this is Literotica. Call it what it is, please!

The problem I run into is not a desire for subtlety/censoring, but too much repetition. I need euphemisms and sneaky lil workarounds to avoid saying "pussy" five times in a paragraph!

 

[THBGato]

I think the other thing is, personally speaking, I try to avoid using words that can double as an insult (pussy, cunt, dick, arsehole). I'm trying to describe a moment of (usually) romantic and erotic intimacy. I don't want to introduce any negative connotations for the reader

 

[lovecraft68]

I imagine this language was used-and still is-to avoid the book falling under the category of erotica. Replace "Cupped the other over my sex" with fingered my cunt, and to many readers you crossed over into porn.

I don't know how old the book/story is you're quoting, but I think that type of language is also perpetuated in a homage style, where this is what worked in the past so its become a staple of the genre. perhaps even expected.

I emailed the quoted section to my wife, and asked 'what do you think' she then called out from the other room, "Tell me you didn't put that crap in a story."

Obviously, she is not a romantic.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I recall seeing "come undone" as the name for somebody's cumshots forum about 15 years ago. No romance in sight, although plenty of happy endings.

 

[KeithD]

I've used "core." I didn't pick that up from reading Romance, but it's not a surprise to me that genres have unique word/phrase uses, when readers/writers alike play extensively in that genre.

 

[lovecraft68]

It’s about genre as opposed to the limited imagination. It’s about skill and craft. A romance story is full of character development. As opposed to I dropped my knickers and played with my pussy. Different strokes different genre. Each to their own, some people have higher qualifications some won’t ever.

Romance writers tend to be highly literate people.

Are you saying its the only category where stories meet the standards you just mentioned as well as implying 'smut' writers aren't highly literate?

Interesting, because to some people, I'd be one of them, that type of jargon makes me roll my eyes and back click, mostly because its sounds like contrived language used to pander to a specific crowd-and we all do that to some degree-and sounds ridiculous. No one speaks like that. Or do you know women in real life who say "cup my sex?" If any woman said that to me in the heat of the moment, I'd still laugh and think she was screwing with me.

If its a period piece, I could buy in, but even back in the day, people were bawdier (look a literate old school word) than this.

Sticking with my original post, I can buy its an expected style, but the writers and readers there being intellectually and stylistically superior is insulting to everyone else.

 

[OffNSFW]

"Core" makes me think of an apple. Not that I don't like apples, but maybe it's not the sexiest of fruits.

 

[KeithD]

"Core" makes me think of an apple. Not that I don't like apples, but maybe it's not the sexiest of fruits.

I use it when someone has fundamentally connected with another. If it's in a sex act, it's as good as it gets.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Pauline Reage, of course, repeatedly used ‘plunged into her belly’.

Other classic words in Romance are ‘bodice’ and ‘bosom’, terms rarely heard these days outside of millinery circles.

 

[Cagivagurl]

I have used core in my romance styled stories.
Sometimes I use it in sex scenes because I don't want to repeat words over and over. I do however agree with @THBGato It is a word that encapsulates a persons inner self, for a woman, the centre of actual essence...
Sometimes, vagina, or pussy just doesn't fit... It has to mean more than a sex organ...
It is everything...
Merely my thoughts.

Cagivagurl

 

[Bramblethorn]

Other classic words in Romance are ‘bodice’ and ‘bosom’, terms rarely heard these days outside of millinery circles.

Millinery? Not where I'd expect to encounter them.

I don't hear "bosom" much, but AFAIK "bodice" is still pretty standard for the fitted torso part of a dress. What would you call it?