Punani

Punani (noun / slang)

(Also spelt Poonani or Poonany)

Definition: Slang for female genitals, sex, or pulling women on a night out.

Pronunciation: /pʊˈnɑː.ni/ (poo-nah-nee)

Where It Comes From: Straight out of Jamaican sound-system culture and 80s dancehall riddims. Caribbean families moving to Britain brought the word into neighbourhoods like Brixton, Harlesden, and Handsworth. UK garage MCs jumped on it in the late nineties, but Sacha Baron Cohen playing Ali G on Channel 4 really tipped it into every school playground and living room in Britain.

How People Actually Use It: Definitely not one for a chat with your nan over a roast dinner.

Lads throw it around when bragging about who they pulled down the club, or in crude group chat jokes on a Sunday morning. Grime, drill, and rap tracks drop it constantly in bars about women and partying. It’s loud, vulgar, and purely used for cheeky or dirty banter.

Examples in the Wild:

• “He blew his entire weekly wage on sambuca shots chasing punani.”

  Translation: “He spent all his money trying to pull girls at the club.”

• “Dave talks a big game, but he hasn’t had any punani in about six months.”

  Translation: “He brags constantly, but his sex life is completely non-existent.”

• “Skip that song in the car mate, gran’s sitting right in the back.”

  Translation: “Change the track because the dirty lyrics will upset elderly relatives.”

Similar Slang: Clunge, Fanny, Pussy, Gash, Bits, Snatch