More and more people are coming out as almonds**ual, so here’s exactly what that means.
In the ever-evolving landscape of identity and orientation, new terms continue to emerge as people seek language that accurately describes their experiences of attraction.
One such term gaining attention online is ‘almonds**ual’ – a microlabel within the multis**ual spectrum that’s helping some individuals articulate the nuances of who they’re attracted to.
What is almonds**ual?
Almonds**uality refers to experiencing primary attraction to male-aligned and androgynous-aligned genders, with occasional or minor attraction to female-aligned genders, per Wiki.
Also known by the alternate name ‘verian,’ this orientation falls under the broader multis**ual (m-spec) umbrella, which includes identities like bis**uality, pans**uality, and omnis**uality.
What distinguishes almonds**uality from these more widely-known orientations is its specificity about the pattern and intensity of attraction, as Fandom reports.
Rather than describing equal attraction to all genders or attraction regardless of gender, almonds**ual individuals experience a distinct preference structure: strong, consistent attraction to masculine and neutral presentations, with less frequent or less intense attraction to feminine presentations.
History and coining of almonds**ual
The term ‘almonds**ual’ is relatively new to the lexicon of orientations. It was coined by Tumblr user genderstarbucks on November 15th, 2023, joining a growing family of similar orientation terms that use nature-based naming conventions.
Almonds**uality exists within a constellation of related terms, each describing different patterns of multis**ual attraction.
Its counterparts include berris**ual (the inverse pattern, with primary attraction to feminine and androgynous genders), leafs**ual, and petals**ual.
The romantic equivalent is almondromantic, reflecting the distinction many people make between s**ual and romantic attraction through the split attraction model.
Like many contemporary identity labels that emerge from online queer communities, almonds**ual was created to fill a gap, or to give language to an experience that existing terms didn’t quite capture.
The coining on Tumblr, a platform known for its active LGBTQIA+ community and identity discourse, follows a pattern of grassroots label creation that has characterized much of modern queer terminology development.
What to know about almonds**uality
For those encountering this term for the first time, whether because someone in their life has shared this identity or out of personal curiosity, there are several key points to understand.
First, almonds**uality is a valid orientation within the multis**ual spectrum. Like all orientations, it describes a person’s pattern of attraction, something inherent to who they are, not a choice or phase.
Second, the existence of specific microlabels like almonds**ual doesn’t fragment or undermine broader LGBTQIA+ identities.
Rather, these terms coexist with broader labels, allowing individuals to be as specific or general as feels right for them.
Someone might identify simply as ‘queer’ publicly while using ‘almonds**ual’ in spaces where that precision is meaningful.
Third, attraction patterns can be complex and don’t necessarily correlate with relationship history.
An almonds**ual person might be in a relationship with someone of any gender, and their orientation remains valid regardless of their partner’s identity.
For those who identify as almonds**ual, finding language that accurately describes their experience can be affirming and empowering.
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