Etymology

From Ancient Greek κλειτορίς ‎(kleitorís), a diminutive of uncertain origin, probably from κλείω ‎(kleíō, “I sheathe, shut”), in reference to its being covered by the labia minora.

The related noun form κλείς ‎(kleís) has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door)." Wooden pegs were the original keys; a connection also revealed in Latin clavis ‎(“nail”) and claudere ‎(“to shut”) (see close). Some medical sources give a supposed Greek verb κλειτοριάζω ‎(kleitoriázō, “touch or titillate lasciviously, tickle”) literally "to be inclined (toward pleasure)" (compare German Kitzler ‎(“clitoris”, literally “tickler”), related to Greek κλειτύς ‎(kleitús), a variant of κλιτύς ‎(klitús, “hillside”), related to κλίνω ‎(klínō, “I slope”), from the same root as κλῖμαξ ‎(klîmax, “ladder”). But many sources take κλειτορίς ‎(kleitorís) literally as Ancient Greek "little hill".

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈklɪtəɹɪs/, /klɪˈtɔɹɪs/