Culture & Lifestyle • Sexuality

Sexual position

A sexual position is a bodily arrangement or posture used during sexual activity, including intercourse, oral sex, or manual stimulation.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A sexual position is a bodily arrangement or posture used during sexual activity, including intercourse, oral sex, or manual stimulation. Sexual positions vary widely across cultures, partner preferences, and intended stimulation, and are often described in sex education and popular culture.

Definition

A sexual position is the posture or arrangement of one or more people during sexual activity. The concept is broad and can include positions used for vaginal, anal, oral, or manual stimulation.

Common positions

Frequently named positions in modern English and French-language sources include missionary, doggystyle/levrette, cowgirl/amazone, reverse cowgirl/andromaque inversée, spooning/cuillère, and 69. Naming conventions vary across sources and languages.

Historical and cultural context

Sexual positions are discussed in historical erotic texts and in modern sex guides. The Kama Sutra is often cited as a classic reference, though it is broader than a simple list of positions.

Use in sex education

Sex-education materials often present positions as ways to vary comfort, intimacy, angle of penetration, and types of stimulation. Popular sources also discuss positions in relation to pleasure and communication between partners.

Key facts

Sexual positions refer to the physical arrangement of partners during sexual activity.
The term is used for both penetrative and non-penetrative sexual acts.
Commonly discussed positions include missionary, doggystyle/levrette, cowgirl/amazone, and 69.
Many position names vary by language, culture, and publication.
The Kama Sutra is a well-known historical reference associated with sexual positions.

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Canadian context

Canadian sex-education and sexual-health sources commonly use position terminology when discussing consent, comfort, and safer-sex practices.

Frequently asked questions

What is a sexual position?

It is the physical arrangement of partners during sexual activity, such as intercourse, oral sex, or manual stimulation.

What are some common sexual positions?

Commonly named positions include missionary, doggystyle/levrette, cowgirl/amazone, reverse cowgirl/andromaque inversée, spooning, and 69.

Is the Kama Sutra a list of sexual positions?

It is often associated with sexual positions, but it is a broader historical text about love, sexuality, and relationships.

Do sexual position names vary by language?

Yes. The same position may have different names in French and English-language sources, and some names are not used universally.

Are sexual positions only for intercourse?

No. The term can also apply to oral sex, manual stimulation, and other forms of sexual activity.

References

Wikipédia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Position_sexuelle
Supports: General definition and examples such as missionary and 69.
Durex Canada — https://www.durexcanada.com/fr/blogs/sex-101/basic-sex-positions-for-everyone-to-try
Supports: Examples of common positions including cowgirl/cowboy and levrette.
Lovense France — https://fr.lovense.com/sexe-blog/positions-sexuelles-les-plus-populaires
Supports: Descriptions of common positions including missionary-like, 69, spooning-like, and rear-entry positions.
Santé Magazine — https://www.santemagazine.fr/psycho-sexo/desir-et-plaisir/positions-sexuelles-et-kamasutra/quelles-positions-sexuelles-privilegier-pour-une-penetration-profonde-1032718
Supports: Discussion of positions in relation to angle, depth, comfort, and stimulation.
Femme Actuelle — https://www.femmeactuelle.fr/amour/sexo/kamasutra-positions-en-images-14919
Supports: Reference to the Kama Sutra as a historical source associated with many positions.