The Monkey Sex Position: Which Version Do People Mean?

The monkey sex position has no agreed meaning. Guides use the name for at least two unrelated setups, and the nearby names spider, spider monkey and kangaroo muddy it further.

For this guide, each version of the monkey came from a single commercial site. A sex-toy retailer describes a lying position, with the receiving partner on their back and both knees drawn toward the chest. An illustrated position guide gives the same name to a standing carry from the side. No health publisher or named-author magazine we found defines either one.

Those two ask very different things of your body. The first needs a bed and maybe a pillow. The second needs real strength in the standing partner’s arms, back and legs. Our advice is simple: if you want to try a monkey, start with the lying fold, and treat the carried and inverted versions as optional extras rather than the real thing. This guide sets the versions side by side and leans on health sources for where the strain falls.

Which monkey do they mean? The versions side by side

If someone mentions the monkey position, they may mean one of the setups below. Each row comes from one site only, so treat the table as a map of how the name is used, not a fixed definition.

The first two rows compete for the plain name. The spider monkey rows matter because one guide files it as a monkey variation and another treats it as a separate position.

Read the effort and strain columns first. A couple with sore knees, a weak back or a stiff neck can rule out most of these versions before trying anything. The body-load section below explains why, using health sources rather than the position guides.

Each monkey position, one at a time

The lying fold: knees drawn toward the chest

This is the gentlest monkey and the one to try first. The retailer WildNightX calls it a variation of missionary in which the receiving partner lies back and draws both knees up toward the chest. The other partner kneels between their legs or leans in from above.

Setup is simple. Lie across the bed rather than along it if the kneeling partner needs room, and slide a firm pillow or wedge under the lower partner’s hips to hold the tilt. If you already know the missionary position, this will feel like a small change. The retailer also lists a variant where the receiving partner moves on top instead, without describing a layout. That sits close to the cowgirl position, which covers the setup properly.

Watch two things. Folded knees press the thighs against the chest, which some people find tiring for the hips or lower back. The folded angle can also feel deeper. Cleveland Clinic notes that deep pain during sex can feel worse in certain positions, so lower the knees or remove the pillow if it hurts. Because the folded partner lies on their back, this is also a poor fit for later pregnancy, as the body-load section explains.

The side cling: a standing carry from the side

The illustrated guide LovePlay uses the name for a different position altogether. One partner stands with feet a little wider than shoulder width. The other approaches from the side, hooks one arm over their neck and wraps their legs around the waist at a diagonal.

With the full version, the standing partner holds the other’s whole weight off-center, which is why the guide rates it advanced. Its lighter form keeps one foot on the floor, so the standing partner carries less of the weight; how much depends on stance and footing. A wall or door frame within reach gives a quick way to rest, and a stair step can even out a big height gap.

This version suits strong, steady partners who enjoy something playful, and it is best kept short: the fun is in the carry, not in holding it. Skip it on a slippery floor or in socks, since a fall is the obvious risk of any carry. When the standing partner’s forearms start to burn, lower down and reset. If either partner is pregnant or has a sore back, read the health notes below before trying it.

Spider, spider monkey and kangaroo: the names people mix up

Animal names travel in packs. The lists that mention the monkey also tend to name a spider, a spider monkey or a kangaroo, and none of them has an agreed meaning either.

Spider monkey position: two descriptions that do not match

Sources split badly here. One entertainment site, TheCityCeleb, describes a rear-entry version that starts like doggy style. The receiving partner is on all fours, and the partner behind lifts one or both legs over theirs with feet planted on the bed or floor. A half version moves just one leg, and it is the easier way to find out whether the shape works for you.

WildNightX means something far riskier. Its spider monkey has the receiving partner balance on the shoulders in a supported near-headstand while the other stands and holds them steady. We would leave this one out, and the neck section below explains why.

So the spider monkey position could mean a tricky kneeling setup or an inversion that loads the neck. Those are very different risks. If you want the rear-entry kind, the doggy style page covers its plain form.

The spider sex position: chair or seated face to face?

The spider sex position has two descriptions as well, each from a single commercial page. A single tabloid feature in The Sun, quoting Cosmopolitan, puts one partner on a chair or bean bag while the other climbs on top facing them and sets the pace. We did not check the Cosmopolitan original. The retailer Adutoys instead describes both partners sitting face to face with their legs entwined.

Both versions are low on strength. The chair version needs a sturdy seat without wheels. The seated version needs a firm mattress or floor and some hip flexibility. Of the two, the chair version is easier to get right, because the seat does the holding. The Adutoys page later describes a reclining setup too, so even a single source is not always consistent.

Kangaroo sex position: no clear definition found

The search for this guide, run in November 2026, found no health publisher, sex educator or named-author magazine that defines the kangaroo sex position. The top results were mostly adult video sites.

Not finding a definition does not prove that none exists, but it does mean there is no agreed description to point to. If a partner suggests it, ask them to describe who goes where. Do not assume it matches anything on this page.

Where the monkey position puts strain on the body

Every monkey version loads one body far more than the other, and that is the most useful way to choose between them. Work out who is carrying the weight and which joints take it, then pick the version that spares whoever has the weaker knees, back or neck.

Knees and thighs, plus comfort tips

Kneeling carries the load in the lying fold, and both partners kneel or crouch in the rear-entry spider monkey. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists squatting and stair climbing among the repeated stresses behind kneecap pain. The same source notes that the condition makes kneeling painful. So a partner with sore knees should take the kneeling role carefully, or not at all.

A few tips help. Put a folded towel or pillow under kneeling knees. Lower the bed or use its edge so the kneeling partner is not reaching. Kneeling is also gentler than squatting, so where a version offers the choice, kneel.

Grip, forearms and the standing partner’s back

The side cling puts the whole load on the standing partner’s hands, wrists and back. Carrying a partner is a lift held at an awkward angle, and the person doing it should judge it the way they would any heavy lift: if it feels like a strain, it is too much.

Back pain does not follow one rule. University of Waterloo researchers tracked spine movement in couples and found that the right position depends on which movements trigger a person’s pain. Their guidance favoured hinging at the hips over moving from the spine. So a partner with back trouble should test any version gently, keep the carried weight close, and stop at the first twinge.

Neck and shoulders in the inverted spider monkey

The inverted version puts the receiving partner’s body weight through the shoulders and neck. A near-headstand loads the neck in a way none of the other versions do, and no surface or setup has been shown to make it safe. This is the one version on this page we would leave out, and anyone with neck or shoulder problems should not try it.

Pregnancy

Cleveland Clinic says sex is typically considered safe during pregnancy unless a healthcare provider says otherwise. It advises trying positions that keep pressure off the belly. It also says not to lie on your back for long periods, especially in the second and third trimesters, because the growing belly can press on important blood vessels. That rules out a long session in the lying fold later in pregnancy. A standing carry adds a fall risk that a side-lying position avoids, so the spooning page is a better starting point.

The partner underneath and penile injury

During the lying fold, the folded partner takes the pressure. Cleveland Clinic notes that deep pain during sex may point to a condition such as endometriosis. Pain that keeps returning is worth raising with a doctor.

Studies summarised by the Sexual Medicine Society of North America name doggy style and partner-on-top positions as the most frequent settings for penile fracture. Both overlap with versions here: the rear-entry spider monkey starts like doggy style, and the on-top variant is close to cowgirl. The reverse cowgirl guide explains the warning signs and why slowing down matters.

Easier positions that give a similar feel

Most of what draws people to the monkey can be had with less effort, in positions with far more guidance behind them. For most couples, these are the better choice. The closeness of the lying fold, the control of an on-top variant and the face-to-face contact of the side cling all exist in simpler forms.

For the folded-knees feel, the amazon position is the nearest match with the roles swapped. WebMD describes the partner underneath lying back with knees pulled toward the chest while the top partner squats over them and sets the pace. Its kneeling version swaps the squat for kneeling, which eases the load on the top partner’s legs. That makes it easier on one body, not easy overall: the partner underneath still needs flexible hips and a comfortable lower back. WebMD also advises stopping if the squat hurts the top partner’s knees.

If the appeal is one partner on top choosing the rhythm, try the cowgirl position. The top partner kneels astride the other, so nobody is lifted, though the top partner’s knees and thighs still do the work. The reverse cowgirl position faces the other way and changes the angle, though partner-on-top positions need care with that angle.

A carried feel is possible without the carry. One partner sits at the edge of the bed with the other on their lap. The edge-of-bed positions guide covers furniture height for that kind of setup. On tired days, the low-effort lying-down positions keep the closeness with less work, mostly for the partner underneath. They are not automatically right for a sore back or a pregnancy, so check that page’s own notes; for pregnancy, the side-lying spooning setups are the better start.

Why slang names drift, and how to check what a partner means

Position names have no governing body. They spread through magazine features, shop blogs, apps and social media, and each new writer reshapes them a little. The monkey shows how far that goes: a retailer and an illustrated guide gave the same name to a lying position and a standing carry.

Animal names drift faster than most because they describe a feeling rather than a layout. Clinging, curling up and gripping can all look like a monkey to someone. So when a partner suggests the monkey, the name tells you very little, and that is fine. What matters is the layout you agree on, not the label.

The fix is a short, practical chat before anyone moves. Ask who is on top, whether anyone will be lifted, and what the furniture is for. If one of you has bad knees, a sore back or a stiff neck, say so now rather than halfway through. Showing a partner this page’s table is a quick way to point at the version you mean.

That talk is worth having even for couples who know each other well. A meta-analysis in the Journal of Family Psychology cites research that partners know only about 62 percent of what pleases each other. The same review linked better sexual communication with higher sexual satisfaction.

Monkey and spider names: FAQ

What is the meaning of monkey style?

Monkey style has no fixed meaning, and we found no two independent sources that agree on one. One retailer uses it for a lying position where the receiving partner draws both knees toward the chest. An illustrated guide uses it for a standing carry in which one partner climbs on from the side. Ask your partner which one they have in mind before you try anything.

What is the spider sex style?

The spider has two descriptions, each from one commercial page. The Sun, quoting Cosmopolitan, describes one partner on a chair or bean bag with the other climbing on top, facing them. A retailer blog instead has both partners sitting face to face with legs entwined. Both are fairly low effort. The spider monkey is a separate and much harder position.

Is the monkey position good for beginners?

It depends on the version, and each one rests on a single site’s description. The lying fold needs no lifting, only a bed and a firm pillow, though the folded partner’s hips and lower back still work. The standing side cling is rated advanced because one partner holds the other’s full weight off-center. If you want setups with more guidance behind them, missionary and cowgirl are described by many mainstream health and sex-education sources.

What is the difference between the monkey and the spider monkey position?

No source settles what the monkey means; the lying fold and the side cling each come from one site. The spider monkey is harder, and its two descriptions disagree. One is a rear-entry setup where the partner behind lifts their legs over the other’s. The other is a supported near-headstand that loads the neck, which this guide suggests skipping.

Is there a kangaroo sex position?

The name circulates, but the search for this guide (November 2026) found no credible non-porn source that defines it. The top search results were mostly adult video sites. Treat any description you see as one writer’s idea rather than an agreed position. If a partner brings it up, ask them to describe it plainly first.

Choosing a monkey that works for both of you

The name monkey covers a lying fold, a standing side cling and a few looser variants, and each rests on one site’s description. The related spider names split again. Agree on which one you mean before anyone climbs, folds or lifts.

Pick by what your bodies can handle, not by the name. Sore knees argue against the kneeling roles, since kneeling is painful with kneecap pain. A weak back or tired arms argue against the carry, because back pain depends on which movements trigger it. A stiff neck argues against the inverted spider monkey, which is best left out. If you are pregnant, avoid long stretches on your back. When in doubt, a better-documented position such as missionary or cowgirl gives a similar closeness with more guidance behind it.

Whichever version you pick, stop when a knee, wrist, neck or back complains. If something hurts, switch to an easier position from the list above and try again another day.

Related reading

• Cowgirl Position: Woman on Top, Straddling and Squatting Variants
• Reverse Cowgirl: What It Is, Angles, Comfort and Penile Safety
• Amazon Sex Position: Setup, Comparisons, Risks and Easier Options

Sources

1. The Monkey Sex Position: How to Do It (Plus Variations) - WildNightX
2. Monkey (Kama Sutra) - Illustrated Guide - LovePlay
3. Curious About the Spider Monkey Sex Position? Here’s What You Need to Know - TheCityCeleb
4. Dyspareunia (Painful Intercourse): Causes & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic
5. The Spider sex position is making couples go hump in the night this Halloween - The Sun
6. Spider Sex Position: How to Get Into It, Benefits, and Drawbacks - Adutoys
7. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo)
8. Amazon Sex Position: What It Is - WebMD
9. Back pain killing your sex life? - University of Waterloo (news release via EurekAlert!)
10. Sex During Pregnancy: Benefits, Myths and Safety - Cleveland Clinic
11. What Are the Risk Factors for Penile Fracture? - Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA)
12. Dimensions of Couples’ Sexual Communication, Relationship Satisfaction, and Sexual Satisfaction: A Meta-Analysis - Journal of Family Psychology (via PubMed Central)