Why do the French call it 'Le Petit Mort'?

Question

--"The Little Death" is what they call an orgasm.
Personally,I feel quite the opposite of dead ;-)

Answer 1

Funny funny ! I'm French and I never heard that expression. In fact, in good French an Orgasm is called "Coit"
I am curious to learn where from you got that "Petit mort".

Answer 2

Reunite time and again and you however will not see everything, this is exactly what may happen to you if you may spend your holiday in Florence; with hotelbye you will discover out more. Surprisingly small since it is, this riverside city looms large on the world's'must-sees'list. Cradle of the Renaissance and of tourist masses that group here to food on world-class art, Florence is a magnetic, romantic and active city. The Piazzale Michelangelo (The Michelangelo Square) is among the places you have to see in Florence. This square is just a big, partially pedestrian zed square located throughout the Arno River from the middle of Florence. From the square guests have a spectacular see over the city. The spacious square was organized in 1860 by Giuseppe Poggi, an area architect who is also noted for his development of boulevards across the centre of Florence. Positioned at the middle of the city's principal market district, the Basilica di San Lorenzo is among the oldest churches of Florence and was the burial place of all of the key customers of the Medici family. Do not wait! Florence and their superb pieces await your visit!

Answer 3

I don't know why (or if) the French call an orgasm 'Le Petit Mort' , nor do I care. But I do know that the person who replied "because it is the end of arousal" should find a new partner!!!

Orgasm doesn't end anything. It's just the beginning, my dear, just the beginning.

Answer 4

Neuroscientists doing brain scans on women in the throes of orgasm found decreased blood flow to large portions of the brain. Thus, "the little death". None of the below answers are correct, only assumptions. This study by researchers at the University Medical Center Groningen describes what might be happening. According to the paper's abstract: We propose that decreased blood flow in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex signifies behavioural disinhibition during orgasm in women, and that deactivation of the temporal lobe is directly related to high sexual arousal.

Answer 5

I presume it's because of the emotional and physical draining that accompanies orgasm, a kind of slipping away from reality, temporarily we hope. The French have beaucoup picturesque phrases linking sex and death; my favorite is la mort douce, "the sweet death," which refers to dying during intercourse. By the way, the word death in French is feminine (takes the definite article "la") and not masculine ("le").

Answer 6

I bow to the experience of our French friend. Must say that I've only heard the expression used in English.

Answer 7

Perhaps it is because the female in orgasm goes stiff or rigid which is a little like being dead?

Answer 8

According to wikipedia, it's because some lovers experience fainting spells at the moment of orgasm

Answer 9

I think its cos if you have a realli good one, you see white lights behind your eyes...and apparently when you are about to die, you see "a white light at the end of a tunnel"..this is perfectly explainable but I'm not gunna go on about it here...So yeah, its cos of the lights one sees after a reeaalli awesome one. :-)...

Answer 10

French is a lovely language but very confusing. All nouns are either masculine (le/un) or feminine (la/une) but I don't know why, UN vagin (vagina, masculine!) UNE barbe (beard, feminine!) Even the housework is masculine in French!