Every role, explained.
A role is just a name for something people enjoy. Nobody is only one thing, most people are a mix, and what you’re into can change over time. Your results are a starting point for figuring out what you like, not a box to live in.
Everything in this guide is about adults who’ve talked it through and agreed to it. If it wasn’t agreed, it isn’t kink.
New to all this? Start with Basics, or look up a word in Words you’ll hear.
Power
- DominantA Dominant enjoys being in charge.
- SubmissiveA Submissive enjoys handing control to someone they trust.
- SwitchA Switch enjoys both sides, leading and following.
- TopA Top is the one doing things to a partner: tying, spanking, teasing, touching.
- BottomA Bottom is the one having things done to them.
Dynamics
- Master or MistressA Master or Mistress holds structured, often long-term authority over a partner, usually a slave.
- SlaveA slave enjoys structured, ongoing service and obedience to a Master or Mistress.
- OwnerAn Owner keeps and cares for a pet: training, rewarding, fussing and looking after them.
- PetA Pet enjoys being treated like an animal: a kitten, pup, bunny or anything else, kept and cared for by an Owner.
- BratA Brat submits, but loves pushing back.
- Brat tamerA Brat tamer enjoys a cheeky, defiant partner and loves putting them in their place.
- Service topA Service top does things to a partner for the partner's pleasure.
- Service submissiveA Service submissive gets fulfilment from being useful: doing things for a partner and being appreciated for it.
- CaregiverA Caregiver nurtures and looks after a partner, often a Little.
- LittleA Little is an adult who enjoys slipping into a playful, carefree headspace, usually with a Caregiver.
Pain and sensation
Mind and words
Primal
Rope
Watching and being watched
Everything else
- RoleplayerA Roleplayer enjoys scenes built around characters and scenarios.
- FetishistA Fetishist is strongly drawn to particular things: materials, clothes, objects or body parts.
- Edge playerAn Edge player is drawn to riskier, more intense kinds of play, done with a lot of care.
- ExperimentalistAn Experimentalist is up for trying almost anything once, out of curiosity.
- Non-monogamistA Non-monogamist is open to more than one partner, sexually, romantically or both, with everyone's knowledge.
- VanillaVanilla means being happy without kink.
ImpactOptional pack
CNCOptional pack
Younger rolesOptional pack
Cuckolding and hotwifingOptional pack
- Cuckold or CuckqueanA cuckold or cuckquean enjoys their partner being with someone else.
- HotwifeA Hotwife enjoys being with other people with their partner's blessing, and often loves sharing the details after.
- BullA Bull is the other person in a cuckolding or hotwifing dynamic, invited in by the couple.