English Reference
preposition · verb · noun

cum

prep. · v. · n.
US /ˈkəm/ cum

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    prep.used to link two words that describe one person or thing that has two roles.

    prep.used to join two nouns, indicating that a person or thing has the characteristics or functions of both.

    Simple

    The spare room serves as a guest bedroom-cum-office.

    In context

    He lived in a cramped studio-cum-workshop, where the smell of oil paint was as pervasive as the scent of morning coffee.

    Usage

    Usually connects two nouns with hyphens, such as 'bedroom-cum-study'.

    plusandcombined with
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency SlangVulgar

    v.to reach the peak of sexual pleasure.

    v.to experience an orgasm or to ejaculate.

    Simple

    The video showed people having sex and trying to cum.

    In context

    The dialogue in the adult film was limited to repetitive requests for the partner to cum.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly vulgar term; learners should avoid using it in any professional or social setting.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency SlangVulgar

    n.the liquid that comes out of the body during or after sex.

    n.semen or female ejaculatory discharge.

    Simple

    He wiped the cum off his leg with a towel.

    In context

    The presence of cum on the sheets was used as evidence in the investigation.

    Teacher's tip

    This noun is uncountable and considered extremely offensive in polite conversation.

    semenejaculate

Fool – also seemingly a chief of staff cum carer to Lear – is Max Revell, a dancer with a background in breaking and popping.

The Guardian· 6 Sept 2026

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Latin cum (“with”).

Etymology 2

Variant of come, attested (in the basic sense "come, move from further to nearer, arrive") since Old English. The sexual sense of come is attested since the 1650s. In this sense and spelling, attested from 1970s.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Common
Updated