The hair around the genitals is commonly called pubic hair.
Understanding Pubic Hair
Pubic hair is the coarse hair that grows in the pubic region, the area around the external genitalia. Several sources confirm this terminology:
- Vocabulary.com defines "pubic hair" explicitly. [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/pubic hair](https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/pubic hair)
- Multiple medical websites, such as the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, use "pubic lice" in reference to parasites found in this hair, further solidifying its name. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pubic-lice-crabs/symptoms-causes/syc-20350300 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4522-pubic-lice-crabs
- The term is also used in discussions about hair removal and grooming. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/to-shave-or-not-to-shave-an-ob-gyns-guide-to-pubic-hair-care
While some may mistakenly refer to it as "public hair," this is incorrect. The term "public hair" lacks a formal medical or scientific designation and is likely a misunderstanding. A Reddit post even highlights this common misconception. https://www.reddit.com/r/PointlessStories/comments/1eiuxml/i_thought_pubic_hair_was_called_public_hair/
It's important to note that the vulva is the external female genitalia as a whole, encompassing the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening, and pubic hair surrounds this area but isn’t part of the vulva itself. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/vulva https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=34&contentid=19522-1
