Flamingo – The Urban Dictionary

Flamingo is one of the most well-known pink birds in the world and they are often associated with summer, cocktails, and a general light-heartedness. They’re also quite a bit of an Instagram favourite and you can find them in all sorts of fun and bright colours. It’s not uncommon for people to have a flamingo in their garden or even outside of their home. But did you know that flamingos can also be used as a sexual symbol? This is something that is a little bit more controversial and you’ll find that some people use them in this way. It’s not as common as some of the other signs of swinging, like upside down pineapples or black rings worn on the right hand, but it can still happen.

The word ‘flamingo’ comes from the Spanish and Portuguese word flamengo, which itself is derived from the Old Occitan phrase flamenc, which probably means ’Flemish’ (from the Flemings of modern-day Belgium) or ’Flemish-coloured’. It’s possible that it’s a diminutive of the Latin flamma ‘flame’, but this isn’t clear.

A flamingo is a large, brightly-coloured wading bird in the genus Phoenicopterus and the family Phoenicopteridae. They are native to a number of different countries across Africa, Southern Europe and South Asia.

They have long legs, a curved neck and feathers that are usually pink in colour. They are also renowned for their ability to flock together in groups and are known as social birds.

It’s not clear whether they have any other colouring or markings, but it’s thought that they may be able to have some cryptic signals for their partners. Interestingly, a study done on flamingos in the wild found that they often mate for life and stay together in colonies for years at a time.

You might be wondering how these pink birds came to be considered as a sexual symbol, but it seems that it isn’t that complicated. It’s more about the overall image that they portray and the fact that they’re often seen in tropical, exotic settings that makes them a desirable symbol.