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Kevin
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August 28, 2023
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Common Questions
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Pop quiz:
What do asparagus, chocolate, and octopus have in common?
If you guessed that these foods are all aphrodisiacs, then go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back because you are correct!
In this article, we’re exploring the mystifying world of aphrodisiacs to uncover what these sensual substances are, how they work, and which to try.
What Is the Definition of Aphrodisiac?
/ˌæf.rəˈdɪzˈdiː.ʒæk/ /ˌæf.rəˈdɪz.i.æk/ /aph·ro·di·si·ac/
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, our word of the day can be defined as something that causes or increases sexual desire, boosts blood flow to certain areas of the body, or increases sexual performance.
In other words, an aphrodisiac is a substance that puts people in the mood for sex.
What Foods Can Boost Your Sex Drive?
As mentioned previously, an aphrodisiac is a substance — such as food — that arouses sexual desire. That said, here is a short list of some tasty foods backed by science that may boost your sex drive:
- Tribulus — may enhance sexual function
- Maca — may boost fertility (nicknamed “the Peruvian Viagra”)
- Red ginseng — may combat erectile dysfunction
- Ginkgo biloba — may increase blood flow
- Fenugreek — may support healthy testosterone levels
- Saffron — may improve sex drive in those taking antidepressants
- Pistachio nuts — may lead to firmer erections
There are a few other foods that are thought to have aphrodisiac properties or an aphrodisiac effect. However, the science just does not back these claims.
Nevertheless, we have listed these alleged sexual stimulants below, even if their side effects may just be a placebo:
- Chasteberry
- Oysters
- Chocolate (also truffles)
- Honey
- Epimedium (aka horny goat weed)
- Alcohol
- Hot chilis
What Is the Etymology of Aphrodisiac?
Our word of the day derives from the name of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.
However, to be a little more precise, aphrodisiac comes from the Greek aphrodisiakos, as well as the Ancient Greek Άφροδίσιος or Aphrodisios — which literally means “pertaining to Aphrodite.”
What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Aphrodisiac?
Now that you understand what aphrodisiac means, it’s time to review a few synonyms and antonyms.
What are synonyms and antonyms, you ask? In short, a synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. In contrast, an antonym is a word of opposite meaning.
Synonyms of Aphrodisiac
- Erotic
- Sexy
- Stimulant
- Sexually arousing
- Lubricious
- Sensual
- Erogenous
- Sexually stimulating
- Seductive
- Provocative
- Kinky
- Venereal
- Naughty
- Lecherous
- Sexually exciting
- In heat
- Ruttish
- Infatuated
- Sloppy
- Turned on
- Lewd
- Of the flesh
- Beddable
- Frisky
- On fire
- Hard-up
- Hot and bothered
- Toey as a roman sandal
- Indulgent
- Anacreontic
- Sex-hungry
- Red-blooded
- Touchy-feely
- Dirty
- Spanish fly
- Love potion
- Magic potion
- Drug
- Charm
- Potion
- Love drug
- Philter
- Popper
- Stimulant
Antonyms of Aphrodisiac
- Nonerotic
- Unsexy
- Antaphrodisiac
- Frigid
- Unfriendly
- Indifferent
- Undemonstrative
- Dispassionate
- Stand-offish
- Cool
- Frosty
- Unfeeling
- Hateful
- Dispassionate
- Unfeeling
- Uninterested
- Uninvolved
- Uncurious
- Aloof
- Apathetic
- Blase
- Disinterested
- Off-putting
- Frightening
- Forbidding
- Disagreeable
- Repulsive
- Offensive
- Unpalatable
- Sexless
- Non-physical
- Aromantic
- Platonic
- Unsentimental
- Chaste
- Companionable
How Can You Use Aphrodisiac in a Sentence?
By now, you should feel pretty familiar with the word aphrodisiac, but do you know how to use it properly in a sentence? Not to worry; we put together a few sentence examples for you to review below:
“Did you know that asparagus is an alleged aphrodisiac?”
“Mario cooked up a feast of aphrodisiacs before dimming the lights to set the mood.”
“I instantly knew what he had in mind after seeing a mouth-watering spread of aphrodisiacs on the table.”
“The hungry look in his eye is the only aphrodisiac I need.”
“If you’re looking for some sexual pleasure, you may want to woo me with an aphrodisiac or two.”
“My OBGYN told me to try a natural aphrodisiac, like pomegranate, to help boost my libido as I go through the woes of menopause.”
“Chocolate is arguably the best and tastiest aphrodisiac of all the aphrodisiacs.”
“Sarah told me that there are some natural aphrodisiacs that may help to balance hormone levels, but I don’t really want to take any more supplements.”
“Some say that adding aphrodisiacs into your diet is a simple way to boost your sex life.”
“Trust me; Jerry definitely ate the powerful aphrodisiac before we tussled in the sheets… I could tell”
“If you’re looking for a good aphrodisiac drug to help spice up your love life naturally, you may want to consider talking with a holistic doctor who specializes in sex.”
“Joe told me that yohimbine is an aphrodisiac that may help me with my erectile dysfunction problem.”
“Are oysters and octopus really aphrodisiacs?”
“Did you know that the Romans worshipped the apple as a powerful aphrodisiac?!”
What Are Some Translations of Aphrodisiac?
Do you know how to say our word of the day in a different language? Here are some common translations of aphrodisiac:
- Polish — afrodyzjak
- Norwegian — afrodisiakum
- Korean — 미약
- Japanese — 媚薬
- Italian — afrodisiaco
- Finnish — lemmenjuoma
- Dutch — afrodisiacum
- Chinese (simplified) — 春药
- Danish — afrodisiakum
- Bulgarian — Афродизиак
- Arabic — ناعوظ
- Czech — afrodiziakum
- Croatian — Afrodizijak
- Vietnamese — thuốc kích dục
- Spanish — afrodisíaco
- Greek — αφροδισιακό
- German — Aphrodisiakum
- Russian — афродизиак
- Portuguese — afrodisíaco
- Ukrainian — афродизіак
- Turkish — afrodizyak
- Thai — ยาโป๊
- Swedish — afrodisiakum
Conclusion
If you’re a 90’s kid at heart, you’ll know that Salt-N-Pepa said it best: “Let’s talk about sex, baby.” That’s just what our word of the day, aphrodisiac, is about.
In short, an aphrodisiac can be defined as any drug, food, scent, sound, or anything really that is known to “put people in the mood for sex.”
We hope you enjoyed learning about the word aphrodisiac! If you’d like to discover more exciting terms and their meanings, head over to our website, where you’ll also find grammar tools, informative blogs, helpful tips, and more.
Sources:
Aphrodisiac Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
