DDLG glossary: CG/l terms explained

The DDLG community has its own vocabulary — part kink shorthand, part playful slang. This glossary defines the terms you'll meet most often in stories, forums and conversations, in a sentence or two each. Everything here refers to consenting adults.

By the ddlgfanfic.com team · Updated

A–C

ABDL
Adult Baby / Diaper Lover. A related but distinct community focused on adult-baby role-play and/or diapers. Some littles are also ABDL; many are not.
Aftercare
The care partners give each other after an intense scene or experience — cuddling, water, reassurance, talking it through. Considered essential. See our aftercare guide.
Age play
Consensual role-play between adults in which one or more people take on a younger (or older) role. DDLG often involves age play, but not always. See age play vs. age regression.
Age regression (age regressing)
Slipping into a younger state of mind, often as a way to relax or cope with stress. Frequently non-sexual and sometimes practiced alone. Not the same thing as DDLG.
Big
Informal term for the caregiver in a CG/l dynamic, or for a little's adult self ("my big self has a meeting at nine").
Brat
A little (or submissive) who playfully breaks rules and pushes boundaries to get a reaction. See types of littles.
Brat tamer
A caregiver or dominant who enjoys bratty behavior and meets it with calm, unbothered firmness. See types of caregivers.
Caregiver (CG)
The nurturing, protective, rule-setting role in a CG/l dynamic. A gender-neutral alternative to Daddy or Mommy.
CG/l (CGL)
Caregiver / little. The umbrella term covering DDLG, MDLB and every other combination.
Check-in
A quick moment where partners confirm everyone is still okay — during a scene ("color?") or as part of daily life.
Color system
A common safeword system: green means good, keep going; yellow means slow down or check in; red means stop now.
Consent
Freely given, informed, enthusiastic and revocable agreement. The foundation of every dynamic. See consent & safety.
Consequence (punishment)
A pre-agreed response to a broken rule — a time-out, losing a privilege, writing lines. Always negotiated ahead of time and never used for real conflicts.
Contract
A written (often informal) agreement listing roles, rules, limits and safewords. More a conversation tool than a legal document.

D–L

Daddy Dom (DD)
A dominant who takes a fatherly, caregiving role toward their little. The "DD" in DDLG.
DDLG / DDLB / MDLG / MDLB
Daddy Dom / little girl, Daddy Dom / little boy, Mommy Domme / little girl, Mommy Domme / little boy. See what is DDLG?
Drop (sub drop / Dom drop)
A low mood that can follow an intense experience — hours or days later — as the adrenaline wears off. Aftercare and check-ins help. Caregivers can experience it too.
Dynamic
The agreed shape of a relationship's power exchange: who holds which role, and how.
Good girl / good boy
Classic praise phrases in CG/l dynamics. Hugely popular in fiction; the Praise & gentle shelf is built around them.
Hard limit
Something a person will not do, full stop. Not negotiable in the moment.
Headspace
A state of mind someone slips into during play — littlespace is one; "Dom space" or "caregiver space" is another.
Kink-aware
Describes professionals (therapists, doctors) who understand kink without pathologizing it.
Little
An adult who enjoys a younger, playful, cared-for role or headspace. "Little" describes a headspace, never an actual age.
Little gear
Items that help someone get into littlespace — stuffies, coloring books, onesies, sippy cups, blankets, pacifiers.
Littlespace
The relaxed, carefree headspace a little enters. See what is littlespace?

M–R

Middle
A little whose headspace is closer to a teenager's than a toddler's: moody, sarcastic, into video games and eye-rolls. Still, always, an adult. See types of littles.
Mommy Domme (MD)
A dominant who takes a motherly, caregiving role.
Negotiation
The conversation where partners agree what they will and won't do, before doing it.
Paci
Pacifier. Common little gear; some littles find it calming.
Pet play
Role-play in which one partner takes on the role of an animal (commonly a puppy or kitten). Overlaps with CG/l for some people. See types of littles.
Power exchange
Any consensual arrangement where one partner gives some authority to the other. DDLG is one kind.
Princess / Prince
A little who loves being pampered and adored — and often expects to be.
RACK
Risk-Aware Consensual Kink. A consent philosophy emphasizing that everyone understands and accepts the risks involved. Compare SSC.
Regression
Short for age regression. See above.
Rewards
Treats, stickers, privileges or praise earned by following rules. See rules & rewards.
Rules
Agreed expectations in a dynamic — usually about wellbeing (sleep, water, honesty) as much as obedience.

S–Z

Safeword
A pre-agreed word that stops everything immediately, no questions asked. Chosen to be something you'd never say by accident.
Scene
A bounded period of play with a start and an end, as opposed to the dynamic running in the background of daily life.
Soft limit
Something a person is hesitant about but might explore under specific conditions, with care.
SSC
Safe, Sane and Consensual. An older consent philosophy and community motto. Compare RACK.
Stuffie
A stuffed animal. Often named, often beloved, often the most important character in the story.
Switch
Someone who enjoys both the caregiver and little roles, depending on partner or mood.
Time-out
A gentle, common consequence: sitting quietly for a few minutes to reset.
Total power exchange (TPE) / 24/7
A dynamic that runs all the time rather than in scenes. Requires especially careful ongoing consent.
Vanilla
Non-kink. Can describe people, relationships or activities.

Missing a term? These are the words that come up most in DDLG stories and conversations; the community invents new ones constantly. For how they fit together, start with what is DDLG? or what is DDLG fiction?