a term used in the Queer community to describe butch – that is, muscular, beefy or chunky – men with an abundance of body hair, beards, etc.; a look that would be described as very, and stereotypically, masculine.

The opposite to a bear is a twink.

gay slang for a man who pursues bears (the people, not the animal!).

in gay slang, a hunky, muscular bodybuilder to the extreme.

gay slang for a younger twink.

See also: chickenhawk.

gay slang for males that pursue and are into twinks, twunks and chickens.

used in the gay community to describe a young bear. That is, large, hairy guys in their teens or twenties, who will one day grow into bears.

gay slang for an extraordinarily tall guy. (Especially pertinent as male giraffes often engage in same-sex sexual behaviours).

gay slang for a guy who is obsessed or continuously preoccupied with the gym and working out; somebody who is either at the gym or talking about having gone or going to the gym.

in the gay community, an otter is someone who is in between a twink and a bear. Typically, a guy who maintains their body hair but leaves some so as not to be classified as a twink.

an acronym of “older, wiser lesbian”.

gay slang for gay and bisexual males that are hypersexual and into the kinkier and seedier side of gay life.

in gay slang, an alternative term for a “twink“, albeit with a more pejorative twinge, implying a bitchy demeanour.

used in the gay community to describe guys who are skinny, hairless and on the more feminine side. The opposite to a bear.

See also: twunk.

a muscular twink; that is, a more femme-than-butch guy with muscles (although not to the extent of being a body-builder).

the imagery of the unicorn has been closely associated with Queer culture for a long time, particularly unicorns with rainbow manes and tails.

In Queer slang, a unicorn is also a bisexual person – typically female – that is willing to join an existing couple (predominantly an opposite-sex couple) for sex and fun (either together, or both singularly) without causing any inconvenience to, or having demands of, their relationship. So-called because they “do not, or rarely, exist”. Couples who seek unicorns are known as unicorn hunters.

Queer slang for predominantly opposite-sex couples who seek out bisexuals (typically women) that will engage in sexual activity with both partners, together and/or both singularly, without placing any demands or inconvenience on the relationship.

So called “unicorn hunters” because, apparently, such bisexuals are mythical or rare (like unicorns).

Queer slang for Queer men who go out late at night looking for hookups.

in the gay community, a wolf is a guy who is lean and muscular in build, with maintained body hair and a high sex drive.