What Does ‘Horny’ Mean? 9 Signs You're Horny

Plus, the reasons you might be — because sometimes, horniness hits from left field!
What does horny mean Eggplants and water splashes are the emojiequivalent of horniness.

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Figuring out how to know if you’re horny can be prickly business. Imagine feeling tingles in places you've never felt them and wanting to kiss every hottie you see. What’s going on? Sounds like you're horny — but what does horny mean, anyway? 

Being horny can feel different for everyone—and we’ll dig more into that below. But the most important thing to know is that it’s not a bad thing. It’s just one of those things that happens here and there. The most important thing is understanding why it happens, what it feels like for you, and what to do if you need to curb the sensation. But first, let’s dig into some basics.

In this article, you’ll find answers to:

What does being horny mean?

“What does it feel like to be horny?”

“Why am I so horny?”

Now that you know why it happens, should you be worried?

How do I stop being horny?

The “horny” definition is, really, a simple one. Merriam-Webster defines it as "excited sexually" or "desiring sexual gratification." And that sounds about right! 

Feeling horny and dealing with newly minted sexual desires can be simultaneously overwhelming, confusing, and exciting. In addition to craving makeouts and experiencing tingles, you’re more aware of your body (and other people’s bodies…) than usual, fantasies are running wild through your head, and you might even be feeling more stress. And that can all be true regardless of whether you’re sexually active or not!

It's all part of the horniness that comes along with puberty—who knew? It’s not like they teach you to recognize your naturally occurring, budding sexuality in sex education class. There’s no teacher who sits the class down and says, “Okay, guys. This is how you recognize that what you're feeling is sexual desire.” Nope. That doesn’t happen, unfortunately — which is likely why mystery around horny’s meaning persists. (Case in point? The fact that thousands of people google “do girls get horny” each month — as if horniness was reserved only for teen boys and not the full spectrum of gender identities!)

Basically, we make the jump from blissfully unaware elementary school students to confused (and slightly carnal) adolescents with no one there to explain what’s going on. Meanwhile, you’re a bubbling cauldron of new feelings and emotions. If you’ve spent the majority of your life NOT being horny, what happens when you’re suddenly really horny, often? How do you even know that’s what you’re feeling?

You’re not alone! We’ve all been there (and might even be stuck there forever, tbh). Fortunately, there are some physical and emotional signs to help you decode and demystify your horniness for what it is. Below, we share the tell-tale “I’m horny” signs that’ll help you deduce whether you’re a little (or a lot) lustful. And because horniness is a state that ebbs and flows sometimes inexplicably, we’ll walk through some common reasons for feeling horny in the first place, too — so that the next time you’re seemingly hot and bothered out of nowhere, you’ll have some guesses as to why. Welcome to the technicalities of being turned on!

What does it feel like to be horny?

Now that you’re clear on what horniness means, how does being horny actually feel? Well, that’s different for each body. For most people, being excited In That Way is usually accompanied by some combination of the following. Here are 9 horniness signs to spot.

1. You can’t stop fantasizing about the person you’re into.

Or really, you can't stop fantasizing about anyone, from the hot movie star you dig to that barista from Starbucks with the luscious hair; it’s all linked back to your newfound horniness.

Why is this happening to you? Studies found, through brain scans, that the medial orbitofrontal cortex is essential in sexual fantasy. This part of the brain is responsible both for processing images of sexual desire and for your feelings about those desires.

That’s because this part of the brain is pivotal in how your brain processes emotion in general — which is a key element of fantasy. Another reason you’re fantasizing is because your brain is developing. Yes, you’re having sexy thoughts because you’re getting smarter. When you reach adolescence, your brain begins to fully develop abstract ideas... and sometimes, those ideas are HOT. It’s all a part of your imagination.

2. You’re restless.

If you're having trouble sleeping, I have a suggestion. Say your mind is swimming with thoughts of the person you have a crush on. They don’t call it sexual frustration for nothing. To get over this restlessness and actually get some sleep, you can release the frustration. Yes, I’m talking about masturbation.

After an orgasm, your body releases prolactin, a hormone that makes you sleepy. Sweet dreams!

3. If you have a vagina, it’s tingling.

What does horny mean on a physical level? Tingles, for one. I feel like the word tingly is pretty overused by grandmothers to describe female sexual desire in people with vaginas, but it’s not off-base. You really do tingle when you're horny. I repeat, there is a real tingle in your pants.

If you’re feeling things down below that you never have before, that could definitely be a sign that you’re turned on. When you’re sexually aroused, blood flows to your genitals, perking them up in dilation.

Yes, your genitals literally swell with excitement when you’re thirsty for that hottie in your social studies class. Weird, right? Biology, actually.

4. If you have a penis, you might get an erection.

So, more biology. Just like a vagina will swell when someone is horny, a penis will do the same. You may experience an erection, or the beginnings of one. As you become more horny, your brain is sending signals all the way down to your penis, telling the muscles to relax while the blood rushes in. 

5. Your vagina is wetter than usual.

One of the simpler answers to “what does it feel like to be horny”? Wet, honestly. Just because your vagina is a lot wetter than usual doesn’t always mean you’re horny, but it certainly could be the culprit.

Given that the vagina is a mucous membrane, a healthy one will usually be moist to some extent, regardless of whether you’re horny. When you’re aroused, though, extra blood flows to the vaginal walls, facilitating lubrication. So, if you’re having trouble staying dry and are getting tired of changing your undies several times a day, your sexual thirst might be why.

If you have a penis, you may also experience some wetness in the form of pre-cum, or pre-ejaculate. This is a small bit of fluid that comes out of the penis before ejaculation—it’s involuntary and you won’t even be able to tell it’s happening most of the time.

6. You keep sneezing.

This sounds weird, but scientists have suggested that sneezing might be a sign of sexual arousal. An article published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine said sneezing is an "underreported" side effect of sexual ideation and orgasm. Basically, it said that people sneeze when they're sexually aroused, or right after they've had an orgasm, more often than we realize. It's not totally clear why this happens, but the article noted that it could be because sneezing is a "forceful emission," which kind of sounds similar to something else that happens as a result of sexual arousal… we’re just saying!

7. Your nipples are hard.

And it’s not because you’re cold! Scientists only semi-recently figured out the link between sexual arousal and hard nipples. A 2016 study found that two different neurons, when activated by the hormone and neurotransmitter noradrenaline, cause the erector muscles connected to our skin to contract, which leads to goosebumps and hardened nipples.

That’s basically all a fancy way of saying nipple erections are one of the body’s hardwired responses to being turned on — and that’s true across the gender spectrum!

8. Your heart rate is up, and you’re breathing faster.

If being horny leaves you feeling a little flustered, that makes sense! Both the body’s blood pressure and heart rate go up in response to even the thought of sexual activity, with the pulse rate of an aroused person rising from about 70 beats per minute to 150. That’s, on average, about the same pulse rate as an athlete who’s in the middle of competing! Your body, when horny, is existing in a mild-ish state of heart-racing tension, and it’s totally normal for that to make you feel a little agitated. (A good vibrator can be helpful for relieving that tension, just FYI!)

9. You might feel a little anxious.

If you’re in public or your horniness comes out of nowhere, it’s normal to feel a bit (or a lot) of anxiety. Just like when you’re feeling sick, being horny is a state of mind and body that demands a bit of personal space—especially if you weren’t expecting it. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. 

Why am I so horny?

You’re in the middle of doing homework or running errands when, suddenly, it hits you. “I’m horny — why?!”

Sometimes, horniness comes from left field. It happens to all of us! While it’s definitely easier to pinpoint your “why” when you’re, say, watching a love scene in a movie or texting your crush, other times, there seems to be no logic behind horniness’ sudden takeover. In situations like this, it’s possible that one of the following factors could be what’s making you horny.

1. Your hormones are going at it.

Across genders, testosterone is often linked to libido; when your testosterone is high, your levels of horniness are likely to be higher, too. There are several reasons your testosterone could be higher than usual, but in people with vaginas, spikes in testosterone are often tied to ovulating, which happens about 14 days before your period. The extra estrogen released during ovulation has been shown to amp up sexual desire, too, and some people experience hormone-related horniness when they’re on their periods as well.

2. You’re eating certain foods.

We’ve probably all heard the hype about aphrodisiacs, or foods and beverages that increase libido. Scientists are still trying to figure out how much of a role aphrodisiacs really play in relation to horniness, and if you think that eating oysters to amp up sexual desire sounds a little Goop-y, we don’t blame you. There’s been research on the effects of some supposed aphrodisiacs, like chocolate, but in general, the findings are inconclusive. Still, if you’re eating chocolate and also feeling horny, aphrodisiacs could be one theory as to why. (Or maybe you’re, y’know, just on your period!)

3. You need to pee.

This one may sound a little silly. But because the clitoris, vagina and urethra are all in close proximity to each other, for people with vaginas, it’s possible that the pressure of a full bladder on your genitals could be what’s making you feel aroused.

4. You’re stressed.

If feeling anxious and feeling horny sometimes overlap for you, you’re not alone! While stress is known to decrease libido in some individuals, in others, it can actually put you more in the mood. Sex and masturbation both release feel-good endorphins and oxytocin, which can boost your mood and help you relieve stress; even just thinking about sex can trigger the release of dopamine. So, if you sometimes use masturbation as a stress reliever — or if you’re prone to “procrasturbate” — it may feel natural for your mind to turn in the direction of sexy thoughts when stressed. (Seriously, this happens for a lot of people!)

Now that you know why it happens, should you be worried?

Absolutely not. There’s nothing wrong with having a high sex drive or moving through hormone changes. But do consider how you handle your horniness. If you find it impossible to focus during class or it’s impacting your relationships, you may want to come up with a strategy. According to the Self Pleasure Report 2021 from sex toy company TENGA, 53 percent of Americans surveyed masturbate “to relax or relieve stress.” Having a weekly solo session not only adds some excitement to your self-care routine, but it can also bring an extra boost of chill—once the fireworks wear off, of course. 

How to stop being horny?

Just to reiterate, being horny isn’t a bad thing. But if you find yourself in a moment where you really, really need to focus on something that isn’t the blood rushing straight to your genitals, there are a few ways to ward off the horniness. First, try tricking your brain with some music. We’re not talking anything or anyone sexy-moody like Frank Ocean—opt for something energetic, more running playlist and less “settling in for the night.” On that note, getting some exercise can help. Take a brisk walk or head to the gym. Focusing on a physical activity will give your brain a task, as well as your body. Pop in some headphones and get lost in an album.

We’ve all heard (or used) the phrase: go take a cold shower. But this will actually help. The temperature change will shock your system, resulting in a reset of sorts. Meditation has also been known to help some, though it will take some practice to master quieting your thoughts as they come and go.

Or, if you do have a bit of time on your hands, masturbate. On the flip side, if you do find that your spontaneous horniness is impacting your daily life or you find yourself asking “Why do I feel hornier than normal,” make a point to talk to your doctor. 

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