Background In this study, the authors sought to describe the cytologic features of primary gynecologic germ cell tumors and carcinomas exhibiting germ cell differentiation because little information currently exists. Methods An institutional database search was performed to identify histologically confirmed gynecologic germ cell tumors and carcinomas with germ cell tumor differentiation. Available cytologic material was reviewed by three observers, and morphologic features were recorded in addition to patient age at original diagnosis, primary tumor site, site(s) from which the examined cytologic material was obtained, and the type of examined cytologic preparations. Results In total, 15 cytologic specimens from 12 women (aged 19–82 years) were identified and included touch preparations of core biopsies from various sites (n = 6), fine‐needle biopsies (n = 2), pelvic washings (n = 1), ascitic fluids (n = 4), pelvic cyst fluid (n = 1), and endometrial aspirate (n = 1). Of the 12 patients, seven had primary gynecologic germ cell tumors, four had gynecologic (ovarian and endometrial) tumors exhibiting somatic yolk sac tumor‐like differentiation, and the remaining patient had an intestinal‐type adenocarcinoma arising within an ovarian teratoma. There was morphologic overlap among many of the cases, although cytoplasmic vacuolation/granular cytoplasm was seen in 75% of primary yolk sac tumors or carcinomas with yolk sac tumor differentiation, and dense/squamoid cytoplasm was seen in 100% of teratomatous elements that were sampled. Conclusions Germ cell tumors and somatic neoplasms exhibiting germ cell tumor differentiation occurring in adult women share some cytologic features and may be difficult to distinguish from one another, although some tumor types showed characteristic cytomorphologic findings. Primary gynecologic germ cell tumors and gynecologic carcinomas exhibiting germ cell tumor differentiation occurring in adult women shared overlapping cytologic features. Cytoplasmic vacuolation/granular cytoplasm was seen in the majority of samples involved by primary yolk sac tumor or carcinoma with yolk sac tumor differentiation (six of eight tumors, 75%) and dense/squamoid cytoplasm was seen in both cases with teratomatous elements (two of two tumors, 100%).