Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Dildo/Dong?

Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
OK, I'll start out by saying I'm a former language teacher, so these things interest me.

What is the difference between a dildo and a dong? I've looked it up. Webster's says a dildo is "an object serving as a penis substitute for vaginal insertion". A dong is a "vulgar" word for penis.

So why not just use dildo? Why do they seem interchangeable at sex shop websites? IS there any difference between them? It seems very imprecise to me. I'd give the websites a C for vocabulary use.

Thoughts anyone?
09/03/2009
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09/03/2009
Contributor: Valyn Valyn
Quote:
Originally posted by WildKimA
OK, I'll start out by saying I'm a former language teacher, so these things interest me.

What is the difference between a dildo and a dong? I've looked it up. Webster's says a dildo is "an object serving as a penis ... more
Do sex shop sites use the word dong to describe dildos? Or do you mean companies naming products dongs?
09/03/2009
Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
I guess both do? It seems like all sites use the words indiscriminately. I can't see any difference between something called a dildo and something called a dong. Both seem to be substitute penises (peni?), if that's a fair way to describe them. Here's a quote from EdenFantasys:

"Who can resist the pleasures that await with this handsome lifelike molded dildo? Nothing compares to the realistic sensation of this Doc Johnson dong with its smooth soft rubber shaft made from the most skin stimulating material available on the market today."

This description uses them synonymously. The category is also called "classic dildos and dongs." Confused?
09/03/2009
Contributor: Epiphora Epiphora
I don't think there's technically a difference between them. I hate the word "dong" so in my head I associate dongs with floppy, rubbbery, gross toys I would not want to use.

Maybe by "classic" they mean "shitty"?
09/03/2009
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
I always thought dong was more along the lines of penis shaped where dildos could include less phallic shapes such as basic cylinders or unique shapes.
09/03/2009
Contributor: Liz2 Liz2
I have noticed this but I just don't like the word dong anyway. Somehow, to me, it sounds cheap and I don't use it.
09/03/2009
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
Quote:
Originally posted by Adriana Ravenlust
I always thought dong was more along the lines of penis shaped where dildos could include less phallic shapes such as basic cylinders or unique shapes.
That's what I thought too.
09/03/2009
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by Adriana Ravenlust
I always thought dong was more along the lines of penis shaped where dildos could include less phallic shapes such as basic cylinders or unique shapes.
Me three.
09/03/2009
Contributor: Miss Cinnamon Miss Cinnamon
Dong is just a weird word for me. I've heard it used in sex stores before, and it just makes me cringe. I like "dildo" better because somehow in my head it sounds more tech-y. I also associate dildos with general insertables, while dongs resemble penises more closely. However, I've heard a glass wand referred to as a "dong", so I guess to each her own.
09/03/2009
Contributor: Gary Gary
My initial reaction is to chuckle at the word 'dong', and when I hear 'dildo' I think of sex toys. The word dildo does also remind me of 3rd grade too. Someone learned the word one day, and for a month everyone called each other a dildo

In this day and age, it seems to me that most people use the word dildo. This also makes me think that a very poor choice for marketing, would be to make the best sex toy the world has ever seen, and call it 'The Glass Weiner'.

But, to be fair here, I decide to conduct a scientific experiment. I did a product search of the word 'dong' on EF and there were 421 products containing the word ‘dong’ in the title. I then did the same search using the word ‘dildo’ and got a return of 1,232 items. I must admit, this is a bit surprising. I did not expect ‘dong’ to be used that much.

In closing here is my new theory. It just might be possible that ‘dong’ is a superior term, but since most of do not have a beta-max player, we are unaware of how much better the picture quality really is.
09/03/2009
Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
Very interesting responses! Gary, I wrote the original post because I was surprised how often "dong" was used. Also, I thought there might actually be a difference I didn't know about.

Given the posts here, if I were a sex toy marketing specialist, I'd consider no longer using the word dong. I'd think using a word which seems more attractive to more people would be better. However, it could be that manufacturers intend to appeal to people who want things to be especially vulgar, which I suppose is possible. Certainly, this is a self-selected group and means little in the larger picture.

Did y'all know there is a town in Newfoundland (Canada) called Dildo? FACT! (Of course there is a town in Oregon called Boring. Would you rather live in Dildo or Boring???)
09/03/2009
Contributor: Valyn Valyn
Quote:
Originally posted by WildKimA
Very interesting responses! Gary, I wrote the original post because I was surprised how often "dong" was used. Also, I thought there might actually be a difference I didn't know about.

Given the posts here, if I were a sex toy ... more
My vote is for Dildo. "Hi, I'm from Dildo. Yeah, that's right.. DIL-DO. " *thrusts hips*

Ok, sorry, lol.
09/03/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
My vote is for dildo too. I know way to many people with the sirname Dong. Dido's origins as a word actually meant "to soothe" . I read that in a sex trivia book, not a scientific manual.
09/03/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
My vote is for dildo too. I know way to many people with the sirname Dong. Dido's origins as a word actually meant "to soothe" . I read that in a sex trivia book, not a scientific manual.
ALso from the Italian word "diletto" for delight.
09/03/2009
Contributor: spicywife spicywife
Quote:
Originally posted by WildKimA
Very interesting responses! Gary, I wrote the original post because I was surprised how often "dong" was used. Also, I thought there might actually be a difference I didn't know about.

Given the posts here, if I were a sex toy ... more
There's also Dildo Island off the coast of the town called Dildo.
09/03/2009
Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
So maybe I should write the chamber of commerce in Boring and suggest they change their name to Dildo? LOL
09/03/2009
Contributor: spicywife spicywife
Quote:
Originally posted by WildKimA
So maybe I should write the chamber of commerce in Boring and suggest they change their name to Dildo? LOL
Boring could be a coverup. Maybe it's not really all that boring there afterall.
09/03/2009
Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
Nah, it's no cover. I've been there. It IS boring. OTOH,...you might think I am boring from the outside. Perhaps I have to do more research.
09/03/2009
Contributor: Dangerous Lilly Dangerous Lilly
I read someplace that one has balls and is lifelike, and the other isn't. Can't recall where I read it or which was which.

Either way, I hate the word "dong" with a passion, I won't ever review or buy a toy called it just because I hate it so, and I cringe with others use the word in their reviews or whatever.
09/05/2009
Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
Quote:
Originally posted by Dangerous Lilly
I read someplace that one has balls and is lifelike, and the other isn't. Can't recall where I read it or which was which.

Either way, I hate the word "dong" with a passion, I won't ever review or buy a toy called it ... more
Finally I've heard this explanation. In the back of my mind this is what I thought the difference was. Then I saw how they're used interchangeably and I wondered. A dong has balls and a dildo doesn't. That's what I thought. Where does that come from?
09/05/2009
Contributor: oliverHyde oliverHyde
In my head "dong" is for more the realistic looking dildos.
09/20/2009
Contributor: Gary Gary
This should have been a poll!
10/28/2009
Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
This should have been a poll!
Sorry, didn't think of it. What would the questions have been? "A dong is"....?
10/28/2009
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
A dong sounds like something you'd find in a dark alley...a lost weapon for bludgeoning.

Dildo seems more...universal.
10/28/2009
Contributor: Bill Ditchburn Bill Ditchburn
Dong's a bit too close to 'dung', for my liking. Oh, yeah, and it just reeks cheap. Nobody makes gold plated dongs. Or do they?

And there's a small town in Ontario, Canada called Sodom.
10/29/2009
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by WildKimA
Sorry, didn't think of it. What would the questions have been? "A dong is"....?
I was just picturing this same thread with a poll, Dong or Dildo. Although, I have a feeling which would get more votes
10/29/2009
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by Bill Ditchburn
Dong's a bit too close to 'dung', for my liking. Oh, yeah, and it just reeks cheap. Nobody makes gold plated dongs. Or do they?

And there's a small town in Ontario, Canada called Sodom.
Your logic is flawless! And a town called Sodom... that is so bad ass!
10/29/2009
Contributor: Bill Ditchburn Bill Ditchburn
Someone needs to make a big hairy dong and call it Attila the Hung
10/29/2009
Contributor: WildKimA WildKimA
Quote:
Originally posted by Bill Ditchburn
Someone needs to make a big hairy dong and call it Attila the Hung
Perfect! Toy marketers, are you listening? Names mean a lot, as I've mentioned in several of my reviews. Come on, creativity, please!!

Anyone have an idea WHY Sodom is called Sodom? I mean, it WAS a city in the Bible but.... LOL There was that city in Oregon that changed its name to something dot com to get money. Who would pay for a city in Canada to change its name to Sodom? Hum, the imagination runs wild....
10/29/2009