Tribbing can be more than just scissoring. From riding thighs to using toys to solo grinding, explore how this queer sex act inspires deep pleasure for all.

Discover what tribbing really is, from solo grinding to queer partnered play. This pleasure-forward guide celebrates tribbing as real, satisfying sex.

What is Tribbing? A Queer Sex Guide to Grinding

What Is Tribbing? With Divine Rae & Godis Meaux

What Is Tribbing? A Queer, Real Talk Guide From a Porn Performer

one of the oldest known ways women have had sex with each other

, but it’s still widely misunderstood. It’s also a lot hotter than most people realize.

The word tribbing comes from tribadism, which originally meant rubbing with the clitoris or using a dildo. 

The word started in ancient Greek, where τρίβω (tríbo), meant ‘to rub'

. Over time, the term evolved: τριβάς came to label women who had sex with other women as engaging in “unnatural vice”. 

Today, tribbing is most commonly associated with lesbian sex, and usually means one person with a vulva rubs against another person’s body––be it another vulva, a thigh, a pelvis, a penis, or whatever feels good. It’s all about connection and pleasure. It can be sweaty, raw, intimate, and deeply erotic. Still, some people wrongly think it’s not “real” sex. But for many, it definitely is.

 or tried it yourself, tribbing deserves more than a punchline. Let’s break down what tribbing is, what it isn’t, and how you can explore it on your own terms, whether solo or with a partner.

Pssst! Want to see what that kind of chemistry actually looks like? Check out 

this Lustery video by Divine Rae and Godis Meaux

, where they break down the difference between tribbing and scissoring with chemistry that’s anything but performative.

At its core, tribbing is about rubbing the clitoris to feel good. It’s a form of sex where two bodies connect and create pleasure through friction. Simple, right? But there are many ways to do it. 

 when they hear the word tribbing. Scissoring is a specific position where partners lock legs and rub their vulvas together, but it’s not the only way to trib. In fact, it’s not even the most common. 

 includes any kind of grinding or rubbing on a thigh, a pelvis, a strap-on, or whatever helps build pleasure. 

So why talk about lesbian tribbing at all? Because tribbing is intense, deeply pleasurable, real sex, although many people still don’t realize that. Here are some popular ways people trib:

Clit-to-Clit Grinding: This is what most folks picture. Two people with vulvas wrap their legs together and rub their clits. When it clicks, it feels intimate, sweaty, and electric. But let’s be real; it takes some flexibility, patience, and good communication to really enjoy it without feeling super awkward.

Thigh Riding: This method is all about stability and control. Grinding on a partner’s thigh gives more stability and pressure, making it easier to control the angle and pace. Plus, it builds heat as there’s plenty of eye contact and slow-burn build-up.

Pelvis-to-Pelvis: If your partner has a penis or wears a strap-on, you can grind your vulva against their pelvis (especially while they’re lying flat). It gives deep friction without going inside, and it can feel deeply sexy.

Toy-Enhanced Tribbing: Flat-surfaced vibrators or solid dildos can be placed between two grinding bodies. Iconic. Whether it’s clit-on-clit or pubic bone to toy, the added buzz or pressure of tribbing with toys can make things even hotter, turning into 

You don’t need a partner to enjoy the pleasures of tribbing. In fact, solo tribbing can be a powerful way to feel good in your body, explore your own pleasure, and grow more confident about your pleasure. 

If you’ve ever humped a pillow, grinded against a couch corner, or rubbed against your own thigh––congratulations! You’ve already engaged in solo tribbing. Many people with vulvas find this out naturally. It’s a simple and physical way to get the right kind of pressure exactly where you want it.

And there’s no shame in it—none. Grinding or rubbing your vulva against something, or even your own body, is a totally normal and satisfying way to masturbate. For many, it’s the first way they ever learn what feels good, making it a big part of getting to know yourself.

Here are some easy and popular ways to solo trib:

 Fold or fluff your pillow how you like it, then straddle it while moving your hips back and forth. The soft shape gives just enough pressure and mimics partnered tribbing sensations. 

Use the edge of your bed or roll up a towel to create something firm yet soft. Then press your vulva against it and move your hips. This helps hit the clit or pubic area just right.

 You can sit on your own foot or press your hand between your legs and grind. It gives a firmer feel and can bring a different kind of pressure. 

Flat or wide vibrators, suction toys, or wands you can straddle are game changers for solo tribbing. These add buzz or suction to the rubbing and make the pleasure even stronger. 

This means squeezing your thighs together while flexing your pelvic floor (like holding in pee). 

, the clitoris extends internally along the vulva’s sides, so pressure here can feel amazing—not just on the outside, but deep inside. People with penises can try tucking the penis between their thighs and applying pressure to the head for similar pleasure.

Whether you’re relaxing after a long day or exploring your body in a new way, solo tribbing is a valid, powerful, and hot-as-hell form of self-love. In the end, it’s all about connecting with your body on your own terms.

Why Tribbing Still Isn’t Seen As “Real” Sex

Tribbing is one of the most natural and common ways people with vulvas have sex. But it’s often left out of regular conversations about sex. 

Why? In part, it’s because there’s no traditional penetration involved. Defined by heteronormative standards, for a long time people believed the only “real” kind of sex is a penis going into a vagina. That idea leaves out a lot of ways people connect and feel good, making tribbing seem like just foreplay instead of real sex. 

For many queer people (especially those with vulvas), tribbing isn’t just a warm-up; it can be the main event. It’s about sensation, connection, mutual pleasure, and it can lead to full-body orgasms. Whether you’re scissoring, riding a thigh, or rubbing hips through layers of cotton underwear, tribbing is deeply valid, deeply hot queer sex.

Recognizing tribbing as real sex doesn’t just affirm queer pleasure though––it expands everyone’s understanding of what intimacy can look like. It reminds us that sex doesn’t have to follow a script, and can be deeply intense, all without a single moment of penetration.

Can we say it louder for the people in the back? Tribbing is hot, it’s real, and it’s queer. Whether you’re scissoring, riding a thigh, humping a pillow, or just doing your own thing, keep grinding, keep exploring, and most importantly, keep feeling good about your sex life.

And yes, I love tribbing, too. Whether I’m filming a solo scene or getting close with a partner, it turns me on. The body-to-body contact, the pressure, the rhythm… and when you add things like sucking on your tits, squeezing your butt, or grabbing hips for more friction? Whew. It can send both of you over the edge.

If you want to see more real sex, real connection, and learn from people’s 

 features tons of videos and experiences that celebrate pleasure in all kinds of ways. 

Divine Rae & Godis Meaux

“Starstruck” is the word Godis Meaux uses to describe the first time she saw Divine Rae at a spoken word event. They already followed each other online but when she saw him in the flesh, she introduced herself without hesitation. It’s been more than three years since then and said stars must have aligned because since then they’ve gone from fans to lovers to married. They’re also performance partners whose seemingly cosmic chemistry inspires everything they do, whether it's romantic lovemaking, power exchange and kink play, or creating erotic art. 

Age	39 & 38
Type	primary-partners
Location	Atlanta, United States
Sex life	Cosmic

What Is Tribbing? With Divine Rae & Godis Meaux

Couple Info

Divine Rae & Godis Meaux