testicles

NOUN

testes

Synonyms

STRONGEST

family jewels

STRONG

ballocks balls gonads male genitalia male genitals nuts rocks

WEAK

cullions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for testicles?

The testicles are the testes (singular testis). They are enclosed within the scrotum. Functionally, the testicles are gonads—reproductive glands. Testicles and testes are both formal, straightforward terms. As with all genitals (aka private parts), there are many, many euphemisms and slang terms for them. By far, the most common slang term for testicles is balls. More crude but also common is nuts. Similar slang terms are stones and rocks. Gonads gives us the slang term nads (and the even slangier nards). There are many other terms, like bits and marbles. The Spanish loanword cojones is sometimes used. Like balls and other slang terms for testicles, it’s also used to mean boldness or courage. The word pair is often used in this way. A more fanciful euphemism is the family jewels. An especially British word is ballocks (sometimes spelled bollocks), which is also used as a general swear word. Some slang phrases, such as twig and berries, refer to the penis and the testicles together. Some terms refer to them collectively—one example is junk.

Are testicles and testes the same thing?

Yes, the words testicles and testes are interchangeable. Testes is more commonly used in formal and technical anatomical and medical contexts. Testicles is the straightforward term most commonly used in nontechnical contexts.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As the legend goes, tourists in Milan who grind their heels on the bull's testicles and spin in place three times are guaranteed good fortune and are destined to return.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

They’ve been found in human organs and tissue, such as brains, livers, placentas and testicles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Microplastics have been found everywhere in the human body, including blood, breast milk, testicles, heart tissue, lung tissue and various other organs.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2025

He told the story of a legal case he worked on in which a 23-year-old man who was working in a containment vessel had his pants catch on fire, leading him to lose his testicles.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2024

The physician checked for a hernia and found undescended testicles instead.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

testicles

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