As someone who may be interested in the swinging lifestyle, you may have come across certain symbols and signifiers that are associated with this subculture. These symbols serve as a way for people within the lifestyle to identify and connect with one another, and also to signify the type of sexual activity they are interested in.
These symbols are not only a way for members of the lifestyle community to discreetly identify each other but also as a way of showing their commitment and openness to the lifestyle.
It also helps people to feel more comfortable and confident in expressing their lifestyle choices.
At first glance, it may seem strange that swingers need symbols to identify themselves, but considering the societal stigma surrounding open relationships and non-monogamy, it becomes clear why they are so important.
For most involved in swinging, the lifestyle is not something that they feel comfortable with or wish to advertise to the world.
They may have close family and friends who might not understand or accept their private personal choices, and wearing a symbol is a way for them to discreetly connect with like-minded individuals.
It is a subtle way for them to say, "I'm open to this, are you?" without having to have a conversation about it. But, what are the symbols of swinging?
Swinging has several associated symbols, including a heart with an arrow through it, a key and lock, an "S" and "W" combined, an infinity loop, two overlapping wedding bands and a “playful" emoticon. Also, a pair of interlocking male and female symbols and a combination of the letters "S" and "W" in various forms such as "Swingers" or "SW".
What are the symbols of swinging?
When it comes to the world of swinging, there are a few symbols that you might come across that indicate a person or couple's level of participation or interests. Here are a few examples:
Infinity Symbol
Often depicted as a figure-eight lying on its side, this symbol represents the idea of endless possibilities and the endless connection that can be made within the lifestyle.
This symbol can be found in various forms of communication, such as online dating profiles, social media posts, and in-person interactions at lifestyle events.
Many members of the lifestyle community will include the infinity symbol in their profile picture or bio as a way to discreetly identify themselves as open to the lifestyle. This can help them connect with like-minded individuals and make it easier to find potential partners who share their views on relationships.
One way in which the infinity symbol is used is through jewellery. Many members of the lifestyle community wear the infinity symbol on a necklace, bracelet, or earrings as a discreet way to identify themselves as open to the lifestyle.
Not only does it serve as a conversation starter, but it also allows them to express their openness without having to explain themselves.
Another way the infinity symbol is used is on bumper stickers. Many members of the lifestyle community will place an infinity symbol on their car as a way to discreetly identify themselves as open to the lifestyle.
This is especially useful for those who live in small towns or conservative areas where open relationships may not be widely accepted.
In-person interactions are also an important way the infinity symbol is used. Many members of the lifestyle community will attend lifestyle events, such as swinger parties or meetups, where they can interact with others who share their views on relationships.
The infinity symbol is often worn as a way to discreetly identify oneself as open to the lifestyle, and to connect with like-minded individuals.
Hotwife Symbol
The hotwife symbol is often represented by a combination of a ring and a heart. One way in which the Hotwife symbol is used is through jewellery, specifically in the form of a ring.
The Hotwife ring is a discreet way for women in the lifestyle community to identify themselves as a hotwife and express their desires and role in the relationship.
These rings can typically be purchased online, from various retailers that cater to the lifestyle community or even made by local jewellers.
The ring is often made with a combination of a ring and a heart, this symbol can be worn on a daily basis or only on specific occasions as a way to express their role without having to explain themselves.
The Hotwife ring is a discreet way for women to express their desires and role in the lifestyle. Many women in the lifestyle community wear the ring on their finger, as a conversation starter and a way to connect with like-minded individuals.
They can also wear it on a necklace, bracelet, or earrings as a way to express their desires and role in the relationship in a discreet way.
The Hotwife ring is also a great way for women to express their role and desires to their partners, it's a symbol of trust, openness, and commitment.
It's also a way for them to express their role in the lifestyle community, this ring is a symbol of empowerment and liberation, that allows women to express themselves and their desires freely, without shame or judgement.
Lastly, the Hotwife symbol is used is on social media. Many women in the lifestyle community will include the Hotwife symbol in their profile picture or bio as a way to discreetly identify themselves as a hotwife.
The Cuckold Symbol
The Cuckold symbol is a representation of a man who is in an open relationship and allows his partner to have sexual encounters with other men. It is often represented by a combination of a bull and a heart.
It's important to note that some people might not use the term cuckold as a positive term, as it has been used in the past in a derogatory and demeaning way.
The bull symbolizes the man's acceptance and understanding of his partner's desire to be with other men, and the heart represents the emotional aspect of the relationship.
The symbol is a powerful tool that allows men to express their desires and role in the lifestyle without having to have a conversation about it.
The Cuckold symbol is commonly used in the swinging community, and it is worn as a form of jewellery, such as a ring, necklace, bracelet, or earring.
It can also be found on social media profiles, in-person interactions at lifestyle events, clothing, accessories and tattoos.
The Key and Lock Symbol
The symbol is composed of a key and a lock, the key represents the idea of opening up to new experiences, and the lock represents the idea of being open and receptive to new experiences.
The symbol is often used by couples in the lifestyle community as a way to discreetly identify themselves (the idea of "Unlocking" themselves to new partners) as open to exploring new experiences.
Many couples in the lifestyle community wear the symbol on a keychain, necklace, bracelet, or earrings as a discreet way to identify themselves as open to the lifestyle.
It serves as a conversation starter and a way to express their openness without having to explain themselves.
The Unicorn Symbol
It is a representation of a bisexual woman who is open to joining an established couple in a sexual relationship.
The symbol is often represented by a combination of a woman and a horse, the horse representing the mythical and unique creature, and the woman representing the bisexual individual.
The symbol is used by bisexual women in the lifestyle community as a way to discreetly identify themselves as open to joining an established couple in a sexual relationship.
One way the Unicorn symbol is represented in jewellery is through pendants.
Pendants can be made of different materials like metals, glass, or resin, and they can feature different designs such as a woman and horse silhouette, a horse head, or a horseshoe. Pendants can be worn on a necklace, a bracelet, or even earrings.
The Unicorn symbol can also be represented in jewellery by rings, made of different materials like metals, leather or fabrics featuring different designs.
Three-Way or "Ménage à Trois" Symbol
A "three-way" or "ménage à trois" symbol is a representation or icon used to indicate that a person or couple is open to engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners at the same time.
This can include a threesome or group sex scenario. In the context of swinging, it typically refers to a couple who is interested in participating in sexual activities with other couples or individuals.
This symbol is often used on websites and in personal ads catering to the swinging community as a way to indicate one's interest in this type of sexual activity.
It is commonly represented by an image of three people or figures arranged in a triangle or group.
This can be illustrated in a variety of ways, such as a silhouette of three figures, a stylized image of three people holding hands or embracing, or a simple image of three circles or dots arranged in a triangle.
The symbol is often used in a sexual context and may include imagery that is suggestive or explicit.
"Swinger" Symbol
The "swinger" symbol is a representation or icon used to indicate that a person or couple is open to engaging in the lifestyle of “swinging."
The symbol can vary depending on context and source, but a common representation is an image of two people or figures, often inside a circle or oval, sometimes with an infinity symbol crossing the figures. It could also be represented by the letter S with a circle around it.
It is commonly represented by an image of two people or figures arranged in a way that shows they are a couple.
This can be illustrated in a variety of ways, such as a silhouette of two figures holding hands, a stylized image of two people sitting or standing together, or a simple image of two circles or rings joined together.
The symbol is often used in a sexual context and may include imagery that is suggestive or explicit.
It could also be represented by the letter S with a circle around it, showing that the people or couples within the circle are swingers.
"Key and Padlock" Symbol
The "key and padlock" symbol is a representation or icon used to indicate that a person or couple is in a "closed" relationship when it comes to swinging.
This means that they are only interested in engaging in sexual activities with each other and not with other people.
The symbol is usually a picture of a key and padlock together, where the key is used to lock the padlock, representing that the couple's relationship is close to others.
"Velvet Rope" Symbol
The "Velvet Rope" symbol in the swinging community refers to a couple or individual who is selective in their choice of partners and may have a strict screening process for potential partners.
It can also refer to a couple or individual who only participates in exclusive or private events.
In some cases, the velvet rope symbol can also refer to a couple or individual who is considered to be particularly attractive, desirable or experienced in the community.
The symbol is typically represented by a picture of a velvet rope or a rope with a "V" symbol on it. It may also be represented by a picture of a red rope or a red "V" symbol.
"Couples Only" Symbol
The "couples only" symbol in the swinging community is used to indicate that a couple or group is only interested in interacting with other couples or groups.
It is usually used at swinging events, parties, and on online dating sites and apps.
The symbol is intended to communicate that the person or couple using it is not interested in interacting with single individuals.
The symbol can be represented in different ways, it could be an image of two people holding hands, two wedding rings, two figures kissing or any other visual representation that clearly convey the idea of a couple.
It can also be represented by a simple text like "Couples Only" or "Two is a Company" etc.
It is usually placed on one's profile, pictures, or personal belongings to let others know that they are only interested in interacting with other couples.
"No Means No" Symbol
The "No Means No" symbol in the swinging community is used to indicate that an individual or couple has the right to say no to any sexual advances or activities.
It is intended to communicate that the person using it has the right to set their own boundaries and to have those boundaries respected.
This symbol is used to promote the idea of enthusiastic consent, which means that everyone involved in a sexual encounter should give a clear and enthusiastic "yes" before proceeding.
The symbol can be represented in different ways, it could be a simple text written "No Means No" or "Respect My Boundaries" or any other visual representation that clearly conveys the idea of consent.
It can be also represented by an image of a red hand or a red circle with a slash through it, or any other image that is easily recognizable as a symbol of “no."
"Kinky Symbol"
The "Kinky" symbol in the swinging community is used to indicate that an individual or couple is interested in exploring and engaging in kinky or BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism) activities.
It is intended to communicate that the person or couple using it is open to exploring different forms of sexual expression and is interested in activities that are considered to be outside of the mainstream.
The symbol can be represented in different ways, it could be an image of a whip, a pair of handcuffs, or any other visual representation that clearly convey the idea of BDSM or kink.
It can also be represented by a simple text like "Kinky" or "BDSM" or any other term that is commonly used to describe those practices.
It is usually placed on one's profile, pictures, or personal belongings to let others know that they are open to exploring kink and BDSM activities.
Some examples of physical representations of the symbol include:
- An image of a whip, a pair of handcuffs or any other BDSM related gear.
- A simple text written "Kinky" or "BDSM" or any other term that is commonly used to describe those practices
- An image of a heart with a lock on it, representing the idea of locked-in love or commitment to BDSM practices
- An image of a mask or hood, often used in BDSM to represent anonymity or the idea of role-playing
"Single Male" Symbol
The "Single Male" symbol in the swinging community is used to indicate that a person is a single male and is interested in participating in sexual activities with couples or groups.
It is intended to communicate that the person using it is available and interested in joining other couples or groups in sexual activities.
"Single Female" Symbol
The "Single Female" symbol in the swinging community is used to indicate that a person is a single female and is interested in participating in sexual activities with couples or groups.
It is intended to communicate that the person using it is available and interested in joining other couples or groups in sexual activities.
What is a soft swap versus a full swap in the swinger lifestyle?
In the world of swinging, there are different levels of participation and different terms used to describe those levels. One such distinction is between "soft swap" and "full swap."
Understanding the difference between the two can be important for those who are new to the lifestyle or are considering joining in.
A "soft swap" is a term used to describe a level of participation in which couples engage in sexual activities with one another, but do not engage in full intercourse.
This might include activities such as kissing, touching, or oral sex. In a soft swap, couples typically stay in their own separate beds or rooms and do not engage in intercourse with other couples. This is often considered a more "vanilla" or less intense form of swinging.
A "full swap" is a term used to describe a level of participation in which couples engage in full intercourse with one another.
This might include activities such as vaginal or anal intercourse. In a full swap, couples may switch partners and engage in intercourse with different partners in the same bed or room.
This is often considered a more intense form of swinging.
It's worth noting that a full swap, or any other type of swap, is never mandatory in the swinger lifestyle, it is an agreement between the couples involved, and depends on their comfort level and boundaries.
It's also important to note that communication, consent and safety are crucial in any type of swap.
Lastly, below there is a list of secret symbols for swingers to use and to get potential, indication of who around you can also be involved in “the lifestyle”:
- Pampas grass in the garden
- Pink or purple decorations in the front yard
- Pineapple placed upside down in a shopping cart
- A pineapple door knocker
- A woman wears an anklet on her right leg
- A woman wears an anklet on her left leg
- A man or woman wearing a red ball cap
- Wearing a thumb ring
- Wearing a toe ring
- Yin-Yang tattoo
- Infinity tattoo
Final thoughts
In conclusion, the symbols and terms used within the swinging lifestyle serve a variety of purposes.
They can be used as a way for people within the lifestyle to identify and connect with one another, and also to signify the type of sexual activity they're interested in.
These symbols can also serve as a reminder of the important values and guidelines within the lifestyle, such as discretion, consent, and respect.
It's important to remember that everyone's experience with the lifestyle is unique, and not everyone may use or recognize all the symbols and terms.
It's also worth noting that these symbols and terms may vary between different communities and individuals, and new symbols and terms may emerge over time.
But, overall these symbols and terms are a way for the community to connect and understand each other better, and it's a way for them to express their preferences and desires in a consensual and respectful way.