Sucking a clit and doing it well is not rocket science, despite the societal joke that the vulva, vagina, and clitoris are an unsolvable puzzle box of mystery that mere mortals can never hope to understand.

Like a lot of great sexual activities though, clit sucking (and licking, also known as cunnilingus or oral sex) can feel daunting when it’s new to you.

Watch our video below to learn more:

Knowing how to pleasure a clitoris is a good skill to have, whether you’re teasing it with your fingers, licking it with your tongue, or using your lips to create a vacuum-like suction around it.

And just like making an omelet, it isn’t a fussy recipe that makes it good — it’s the skill, instinct, and passion you bring to the endeavor.

If you’re not sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place — we’ll tell you all the things you need to know in order to train yourself to be a world-class, clit-sucking master.

How To Suck (And Lick) A Clit

Sucking a clitoris — at its most basic — involves wetting your lips, shaping them into an “O” around the clit, and pulling it gently into your mouth to create a vacuum, but that’s far from the end of the story.

Good clit sucking involves:

1. Having at least a basic understanding of anatomy (which starts with knowing where to find the clitoris).
2. Using your tongue for additional stimulation.
3. Listening and acknowledging your partner’s cues about what feels pleasurable.

There’s a societal trope that women (or anyone with a vulva) are impossible to please in bed because our sex organs are a riddle wrapped in a mystery enclosed in a Rubik’s Cube.

But our anatomy isn’t that much of an enigma:

As you can see from the illustration above, the clitoris is located near the top of the vulva, beneath a hood of flesh at the apex of the innermost labia — and really isn’t difficult to find if you know where to look.

(And now you do!)

One study found that 36.6% of women report needing clitoral stimulation to reach orgasm — with that in mind, licking (or sucking) the clitoris can be a great place to start if your partner is into it.

Not every person is going to enjoy having their clit sucked, but for those who prefer (or need) clitoral orgasms, it’s a good skill set to have.

To suck and lick a clitoris like a pro:

• Keep in mind that the clitoris has more than 10,000 nerve endings, according to the most recent research, and can be incredibly sensitive to direct stimulation as a result. You might start with “just the tip,” teasing the clit hood before you suck her clit.
• Especially in the beginning, less is more! Approach the clit gingerly at first, with your lips, tongue, or a light finger touch.
• Don’t start sucking away like your life depends on it — for maximum pleasure, treat that very sensitive part with the tenderness it deserves.
• Although sucking clit involves creating a vacuum with your lips and, well, sucking — tongue action (licking the clitoris) is equally if not more important.
• Successful clit sucking (and cunnilingus in general) relies predominantly on how attentive you are to your partner’s responses. Their body language, sounds, and even specific instructions are your best guides.
• Depending on what your partner enjoys, you might try circular, sideways, or vertical flicks of the tongue around the clitoris, varying speed, pressure, and rhythm. Don’t ignore the inner and outer labia, either — the inner lips of the vulva (and the vaginal opening) are sensitive erogenous zones.
• Flavored and edible lubricants can add a touch of extra excitement when you’re giving oral sex (and our taste-tested favorites are perfectly safe for any vaginal sex that might follow).
• Clitoral sucking or cunnilingus doesn’t have to lead directly to a knee-shaking orgasm — it’s an awesome form of sex play at any point or as the main event.
• Although you’ll be using your mouth to lick and gently suck your partner’s clit, your fingers may wander onto the field for a little vaginal stimulation — a manicure is a good idea before any digital-to-genital contact occurs. Trimmed (and filed) nails will prevent accidental injury to the vulva or vagina (during internal stimulation), such as cuts or scrapes.
• There are sex toys designed specifically for clit sucking, and these can be a great option during partnered sex play — or if you find your mouth is getting tired.

If you’re unsure about how to lick or suck your partner’s clitoris, Dr. Susan Milstein, a human sexuality health educator on our medical review board, offered some sage advice.

“Communication is key! Whether it’s your first time with this partner or the 100th time, getting feedback on what feels good is important,” she explained.

Dr. Milstein continued with oral sex education:

“Not all women enjoy the same thing, and the same woman might want a little variety every now and then.

Whether it’s a different angle, a different amount of suction, or taking a break from sucking to use your tongue, hands, or a sex toy, check in with your partner and see how they like what’s happening.

Though they may get a little frustrated if you stop when it’s feeling really good!”

We asked some cunnilingus enthusiasts for their tips as both a giver or recipient of good clitoral sucking.

One cis hetero female advises cunning linguists to try different techniques and “switch it up.”

“Don’t keep doing the same thing nonstop — unless the receiver is clearly showing they want more of that same thing,” she said. “Vary [the] speed, intensity, pressure, and technique from time to time.”

A bisexual male told us the following:

“Popular wisdom says it’s a good idea to make letters with your tongue. Whether you do the whole alphabet, your favorite name, or are sending secret messages via the clitoris — trying different shapes can be a fun way to experiment.”

One bisexual female with experience on both sides of the issue told us, “With giving to another woman, I think about what I like, and then try that to start.”

She added that she also asks her partner about what they like, and what she can do differently or better — sometimes going so far as to employ the use of spreadsheets and diagrams to “discuss exactly where on the clitoral hood she likes to receive pressure, strokes, or sucking.”

“As a receiver, I like enthusiasm, and a willingness to really dive in,” she added. “If it’s a guy, especially, I want him to use his whole face.”

Finally, one cis male explained that he treats the clitoris “as a miniature version” of what he has, applying The Golden Rule and “treating it as I like to be treated,” he said.

He added that he uses a “light touch or stroke with the thumb, tongue, and lips all employed with increasing vigor according to the response.”

What NOT To Do When Sucking A Clit

When it comes to clit sucking (or “eating pussy” if you prefer that terminology), there are some things that are best avoided unless your partner specifically requests them:

• Rough touching or being too hardcore or aggressive right off the bat; it’s generally best to ease into things.
• Frequently stopping to ask if you’re doing it right. Although communication is a vital part of successful oral pleasure, you’re also disrupting your partner’s stimulation every time you stop to ask for approval.
• Incessant sucking or hard suction. Similar to a blowjob (also known as fellatio or giving head), there will be some actual sucking involved — but there is plenty of tongue and lip action that may not be related to sucking at all.
• Not listening to your partner. It’s important to not only hear what they’re telling you — especially as she’s reaching orgasm — but to respond to their cues and/or requests accordingly.
• It should probably go without saying, but avoid biting your partner unless it’s requested (some women love to be gently nibbled but don’t do this without asking first).
• Finally, the clitoris can become painfully sensitive after orgasm, so when your partner tells you to stop the stimulation, do so. It’s not cute or funny to keep going — and for some, it can cause actual pain.

Best Clit Sucking Sex Toys To Try

Sex toys are better than ever these days, and there are clit-sucking toys that can do the job flawlessly, and mechanically, for oral sex on demand.

Our team’s favorite clit suckers are below!

Closing Thoughts

For those who are preparing to suck or lick a clit, we salute you!

We also acknowledge that the act of clit sucking can be impacted by a lack of confidence, basic anatomical knowledge, and good technique — all of which you’ve (hopefully) gained after reading this article.

Luckily, today’s sexually active adults are often much more in tune with their partners and open about discussing sex — and the result is that we’re all having better, more creative, and more fulfilling sex.

Now that you’re clitorate, get out there and practice what you’ve learned!