"Swinging: meaning, origins and what the word means today"

"Swing" is one of those words everyone has heard but few can explain. It can be about music, sport or a lifestyle. Here is what swinging means, where the word comes from and what it stands for today for open-minded couples.

The original meaning

To swing means to move back and forth. Hence several familiar uses:

• In music, swing is the danceable jazz of the 1930s and 1940s.
• In sport, a golfer or tennis player has a swing.
• In everyday life, a swing is what children play on.

The common thread: movement, exchange, the freedom to come and go.

Swinging as a lifestyle

The meaning we care about here appeared in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, when "swingers" described couples who, by mutual agreement, shared intimate moments with other people. The word travelled, and today it is the most common term in Portugal and Brazil too.

In short: swinging is when a committed couple, openly and by mutual consent, has experiences with other people that they have agreed on together. What sets it apart from cheating is exactly that: nothing is hidden, everything is discussed.

What swinging is not

• Not an obligation. Many couples stick to conversation, flirting or simply watching the atmosphere.
• Not a couple in crisis. Long-time swingers mostly talk about complicity and communication.
• Not "anything goes". Swinging rests on clear rules: consent, respected limits, discretion. See our article on swinger etiquette and consent.

The vocabulary around swinging

Soft swap, full swap, single, unicorn, voyeur… Our swinger glossary explains the common terms.

Swinging in Portugal today

Long discreet, swinging is more visible in Portugal today, mostly around Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. The big change is how people start: many couples prefer to chat online first, calmly, before any meeting. If you are new to it, our swinging guide for beginners is the best place to begin.

Frequently asked questions

What does swinging mean?

In the lifestyle sense, swinging is when a couple, by mutual agreement, has intimate experiences with other people. The word comes from to swing, to move back and forth.

Is swinging the same as cheating?

No. Cheating is hidden; in swinging everything is decided and discussed together.

Can single people take part?

Often yes, as long as they respect couples' choices and limits.

Explore at your own pace

On Alcova, swinging couples and singles talk with complete discretion, with profiles validated by a human team. A good place to ask questions and move at your own pace. It all starts by creating your free profile.