50 Different Types of Kisses and Their Meanings With Pictures

20 Types Of Kisses & The Meaning Behind Each One, From Experts

Kissing can be exciting, nerve-wracking, comforting, and every now and then, completely awkward. The nuances in kissing all depend on context: who you're with, how often you've kissed them, and yes, the type of kiss.

Here, sex and relationship therapist Indigo Stray Conger, LMFT, CST; sex educator and therapist Lexx Brown-James, Ph.D., LMFT; and sexologist Gigi Engle break down 20 types of kisses and offer tips on how to enhance your next smooching session.

In This Article

1

Types of kisses

2

Why people kiss
3

Benefits

4

Kissing tips

20 types of kisses:

1. French kiss

Also known as a makeout, the French kiss includes a mix of open-mouth kissing and tongue (it is a sex organ, after all). Generally, people try to control the amount of tongue used here, but "some people prefer wet, open-mouthed kisses," Stray Conger says. It's all about trial and error.

2. Air kiss

The air kiss is more of a greeting than a romantic gesture, and it can be exchanged totally platonically between even friends and family members. It occurs when two people purse their lips as if they're going to kiss, then brush past the other's cheek without actually touching. In some cultures, a single air kiss is appropriate, while others go for two or three.

3. Peck

The peck is a simple, light touch of the lips. The lips might be closed and slightly puckered or pursed, or they might be looser. This is generally what people aim for with their first kiss because it's intimate without being overly sensual. Plus, it's pretty hard to mess up.

4. Forehead kiss

Forehead kisses are literally that: a kiss placed on someone's forehead. These types of kisses are an affectionate and nurturing gesture, and they tend to signal more sweetness and care than sexual attraction. Forehead kisses can be given between romantic partners but are also commonly given to children from parents or older family members.

5. Hand kiss

If you associate hand kisses with The Crown more than your own dating life, you're not alone. These, when combined with a bow, are often seen as a sign of respect for diplomats or members of royalty. But kissing someone's hand while holding it can also just be a tender, loving gesture if there's an existing relationship between the two people.

6. Neck kiss

Since the neck is a vulnerable part of the body, exposing it is generally a sign of flirtation or comfort, body language expert Blanca Cobb, M.S., once told mbg. Going in for a few neck kisses in the middle of a makeout session can be super erotic. Brown-James recommends kissing the nape of the neck as well as the sides of the neck.

7. Butterfly kiss

Butterfly kisses are when you get cheek-to-cheek and flutter your eyelashes against the other person's eyes or face so that they feel like they're being kissed by a butterfly's wings. These sweet "kisses" are usually exchanged between a parent and young child, but they can also be shared with a partner.

8. Cheek kiss

Kissing someone on the cheek can be a platonic greeting gesture, and it's common for friends and family members to exchange these types of kisses in some cultures. In other situations, it can also be a good way to hint that you like someone if you're not quite ready for a lip-to-lip kiss. Usually planting your lips firmly on the person's cheek and lingering for a moment there can add additional romantic meaning to a cheek kiss.

9. Bite kiss

Take the phrase "bite" very lightly here—in fact, consider it more of a nibble to start. If you want to make your French kiss a bit more interesting, consider gently biting your partner's lip or lightly tugging it with your teeth. Just try not to break skin, unless they're into that.

10. Body kiss

A body kiss is a way to make your makeout session more intimate or erotic, or it can be a form of foreplay. "You can kiss various body parts like earlobes, sides of necks, insides of wrists, and other hot spots, where blood flow is close to the surface of the skin," Brown-James says. "This would include places like the butt crease, inner wrist, nape of the neck, inner arm and armpit, and even the popliteal (back of the knee)."

11. Lizard kiss

A lizard kiss is when partners kiss by touching tongues only, sans lips. The lizard kiss is certainly unique, and it's definitely not for everyone. It can be incorporated into makeout sessions, interspersed between French kissing, usually as a way to add more erotic charge.

12. Earlobe kiss

The earlobe kiss, like the neck kiss, can be extremely vulnerable and erotic. Since the earlobes contain a lot of nerve endings, this can be a sensitive and stimulating area and is often considered an erogenous zone.

13. Nipple kiss

Nipple play can be extremely pleasurably for some people, and some women can even orgasm from it. That's because this type of touch activates the same nerve cortex as the clitoris. Along with massaging, tracing, and pinching the breasts, kissing the nipples can bring pleasure for some.

14. Genital kiss

This is not the same as oral sex, but it's a good segue into it. Kissing your partner through their underwear or directly on the skin of their genitals can leave them wanting more.

15. Spiderman kiss

This kiss is based on the famous Spiderman movie scene, where Tobey Maguire (Spiderman) kisses Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson) while hanging upside. This can be done with one person lying down, and the other person standing above them. When you kiss, your chins will be touching each other's noses.

16. Top of the head kiss

A top-of-the-head kiss usually comes from a parent or grandparent. These can provide a sense of safety, comfort, and familiarity for people. They can signal the same sense of security when coming from a partner, especially when combined with a hug from behind.

17. Single lip kiss

The single lip kiss is a little more sensual than a peck since the mouth is slightly open. This is a good intro to a French kiss, where one partner kisses the other's bottom lip while the other kisses the top lip.

18. Shoulder kiss

Shoulder kisses, especially when done from behind, can be an invitation for a makeout. It can be a sultry and intimate kiss, although alternatively it can also be sprinkled in during a cuddling session depending on your cuddling position.

19. Angel kiss

This type of affectionate kiss occurs when one person gently kisses the other person's eyelid. This type of kiss can have many meanings, but it's often a romantic gesture because it's such an uncommon form of kiss. It can be especially sweet to kiss someone's eyelids when they've been crying.

20. Nose kiss

A nose kiss can be lip-to-nose or nose-to-nose. Most commonly it's a sweet, familial greeting (similar to the butterfly kiss), where two people will rub their noses together.

The science of kissing.

Humans are one of the few animal species to kiss, along with orangutans and bonobos. However, the act is so deeply embedded in our culture, most people don't even think to ask why humans kiss.

According to evolutionary psychologist and University at Albany professor Gordon Gallup Jr., Ph.D., kissing may have evolved as a primitive feeding gesture between mother and child, in which the mom would chew up her food and transfer it to the child's mouth.

On a more romantic and sexual level, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher, Ph.D., once told mbg kissing may have evolved as a mating ritual. The lips are one of the thinnest layers of skin on the human body, Fisher explained. They're also densely populated with nerve endings, which allow people to pick up on temperature, taste, and smell—all of which are clues as to what kind of mate someone will be. That sensitivity is also why the lips are considered an erogenous zone.

The benefits of kissing.

Studies have shown that kissing has its benefits. Kissing has been shown to improve skin health by stimulating the production of collagen and burn calories, and sharing saliva may even enhance the immune system via the microbiome. "Kissing also opens up blood vessels and can lower your blood pressure as you are engaging in passion," Brown-James adds.

Kissing also helps couples connect, says Engle. "A study from The Archive of Sexual Behavior shows that kissing helps to increase pair bonding and feelings of intimacy between partners," she tells mbg. "It's these small moments of slightly lusty affection that establishes you and your partner as sexual beings who relate to one another erotically."

When "deep kissing" is incorporated into sex, it also increases the likelihood of orgasm in women. In fact, some people can reach orgasm from kissing alone (aka oral orgasm).

Kissing tips:

The first step to a good kiss is asking consent, Brown-James says. "Along with consent, hydrating is key so that you're not dry-mouthed," she adds.
Once you go in for the kiss, she recommends starting off slowly. Too much too soon can be overwhelming, but creating some sexual tension with a slow buildup can make the experience all the more pleasurable.
Don't just use your lips, either—get the whole body involved. For a peck, that could mean lightly holding the person's cheek or putting your hands around their waist. For a steamier Frenching session, Brown-James says to let the hands roam and allow the bodies to melt into each other.
When couples become busy with work, parenting, or just grow out of passion, kissing can often fall to the wayside. So Engle recommends adding it to your calendar to help you really prioritize it. "I know that doesn't sound like the hottest thing ever, but it really works," Engle says. "Make sure you set aside 30 to 40 minutes that are just for you and your partner to reconnect, kiss, cuddle, and even have sex, if you're in the mood for it."

Kissing can be seriously fun if you're with the right person and you both know what you're doing. It increases feelings of closeness and improves sexual wellness, no matter the type of kiss. And clearly, there are a lot of them.

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