Nounself pronouns
Nounself pronouns are a wide variety of kinds of gender neutral pronouns. By adapting any noun of one's choosing into a pronoun, one can create a wide variety of very personal and descriptive pronouns. The sets can be themed around concepts that have nothing to do with gender, such as nature, technology, or abstract concepts. This is similar to xenogender, in which a nonbinary person describes their gender by means of metaphorical concepts that have nothing to do with female or male. Nounself pronouns are a creative and often light-hearted experiment in gender expression. Unlike most neologistic pronouns that are in this wiki's list of English neutral pronouns, which are intended to be used for all people regardless of gender, nounself pronouns are intended to be used by only a small number of people who feel that they express what is distinctive about themselves.
Nounself pronouns can be especially difficult to use for people who speak English as a second language, or who are neurodivergent or disabled. For this reason, if you ask others to call you by nounself pronouns, it's good etiquette to offer a secondary set of more standard pronouns, for accessibility.[1]
History
Starting in early 2014, or perhaps late 2013, a community of non-binary gender people on the social blogging site Tumblr.com came up with the idea of "nounself pronouns." (Some call these "otherkin pronouns," but few otherkin use them, and not all using them are otherkin.) Some of the earliest sets of nounself pronouns, which might actually be from earlier than 2014, are the fairy themed set "fae, fae, faer, faers, faeself", and the bunny themed set "bun, bun, buns, buns, bunself". During 2014, the community created about a hundred sets of such pronouns, and many were adopted as the pronouns of particular non-binary people, so they're seeing actual use.
As of 2016, fae pronouns are by far the most represented of any kind of the nounself pronouns, with bun pronouns coming in second, judging by the 2016 Nonbinary Stats survey.[2]Many other nounself pronouns never showed up in any surveys of what pronouns nonbinary people really use.
List of nounself pronouns
An alphabetical list of nounself pronouns, and their origins. More of these sets have been proposed than have been used.
- ai, ain, aire, aires, aiself. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- aqua, ?, aquas, aquas, aquariuself. Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set.
- ari, ?, aires, aires, aireself. Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set (Aries).
- au, aut, auto, autos, autoself. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- bee, bee, beets, beets, beetleself. Created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014.[3] An insect (beetle) themed set.
- boo, boo, boo’s, boo’s, booself. Created by Tumblr user boyghostly in 2014.[3] A monster or ghost themed set.
- bot (bo), bot, bots, bots, botself. Created by Tumblr user plantprincen in 2014, [5] and independently created by Tumblr user birdfae in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- bu, bu, buz, buz, buzzself. Created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014.[3] An insect themed set.
- bud, bud, buds, buds, budself. A plant themed set created by Tumblr user plantprincen in 2014 (or earlier?) [5]
- bug, bug, bugs, bugs, bugself. Created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014.[3] An insect themed set.
- bun, bun, buns, buns, bunself. A bunny themed set created by Tumblr user bonniebelbubblegum in 2014 (or earlier?) [5] In the 2016 Nonbinary Stats survey, just a few people out of 3,000 chose to go by bun pronouns.[2]
- byte, byte, bytes, bytes, byteself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] A robot or technology themed set.
- cancer, ?, cans, ?, canself. Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set (Cancer).[6]
- cap, ?, capris, ?, capriself. Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set (Capricorn).
- compute, compute, computes, computes, computeself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- cub, cub, cubs, cubs, cubself. Origin unknown, please add it if you find it. It was likely created by a Tumblr user in 2014. Animal themed set.[7]
- cy, cyb, cyber, cybers, cyberself. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- dre, droid, droids, droids, droidself. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- ecto, ecto, ects, ects, ectself. Created by Tumblr user chemicalgalaxy in 2014.[3] A horror, ghost, or ectoplasm themed set.
- fae, faer, faer, faers, faerself. A fairy (faery, faerie, fey or Fair Folk) themed set created by Ciel (Tumblr user shadaras) in 2014 (or earlier?).[8] It may also have been independently coined earlier. In the Nonbinary Stats survey in 2016, fae pronouns were the most represented of any nounself pronouns: 4% of people chose fae pronouns.[2]
- faun, faun, fauns, fauns, faunself. Created by Tumblr user faerieli in 2014. [5] [3] A Greek mythology (faun) themed set
- fawn, fawn, fawns, fawns, fawnself. An animal themed set created by Tumblr user genderorb in 2014 (or earlier?).[3]
- fel, fel, felis, felis, feliself. Created by Tumblr user genderviking in 2014. [5] Feline themed set.[9]
- fey, fey, feys, feys, feyself. Origin unknown, please add if you find it. A fairy (faery, faerie, fey, or Fair Folk) themed set.[7]
- file, file, files (file's), files (file's), fileself. Created by wikiuser FractalTetris. To be used only by technological kintypes.
- fin, fin, fins, fins, finsself. Created by Tumblr user boyghostly in 2014.[3] A sea themed set.
- fluff, fluff, fluffs, fluffs, fluffself. A light-hearted and possibly animal-themed set created by Tumblr user subcinere in 2014 (or earlier?) [5]
- gem, ?, gemis, gemis, geminiself. Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set for Gemini.[6]
- gem, gem, gems, gems, gemself. A "magical girl" themed set created by Vivid (Tumblr user dadhomura) in 2014 (or earlier?) [5].
- giga, giga, gigas, gigas, gigaself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- gill, gill, gills, gills, gillself. Created by Tumblr user boyghostly in 2014.[3] A sea themed set.
- glit, glitter, glitter, glitters, glitterself. A "magical girl" themed set created by Vivid (Tumblr user dadhomura) in 2014 (or earlier?) [5]
- gro, ?, gross, gross, goreself. A horror themed set created by Tumblr user disinfoagent in 2014. [5]
- hart, hart, harts, hart’s, hartself. A deer themed set created by genderviking in 2014. [5] [10]
- haun, ?, haunts, haunts, hauntself. Created by Tumblr user chemicalgalaxy in 2014.[3] A horror (haunt) themed set.
- hy, hy, hydras, hydras, hydraself. Created by Tumblr user faerieli in 2014. [5][3] Greek mythological being (hydra) themed set.[11]
- inter, inter, inters, inters, interself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] A technology themed set.
- jöt, jöt, jöts, jöts, jötself. Created by Tumblr user v1kingirishman in 2019. A Norse myth themed set.
- kelp, kelp, kelps, kelps, kelpself. A nature themed set created by Tumblr user acedragons in 2014, [5] and independently created by Tumblr user boyghostly in 2014.[3]
- kit, kit, kits, kits, kitself. Origin unknown, please add if you find it. An animal themed set.[7]
- leo, leo, leos, leos, leoself. An animal (lion) or Zodiac (Leo) themed set created by Tumblr user genderviking in 2014, [5] and independently created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4]
- lib, ?, libras, ?, libraself. Created by Tumblr user nakedmolerat in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set (Libra).
- lun, lun, luns, luns, lunself. Created by Tumblr user baramages in 2014.[3] A space themed set.
- lynx, lynx, ?, ?, lynxself. An animal (feline) themed set created by Tumblr user genderviking in 2014. [5][9]
- mechie, mechien, mechs, mechs, mechself. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- meow, mew, mews, mews, meowself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] An animal (cat) themed set.
- mer, mer, mers, mers (mermai), merself. Created by Tumblr user boyghostly in 2014.[12] Independently created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014, but with the "mermai" variation.[3] Sea or mermaid themed pronouns.[13]
- neb, neb, ?, ?, nebself. Created by Tumblr user baramages in 2014.[3] A space themed (nebula) set.
- nov, nov, novs, novs, novself. Created by Tumblr user baramages in 2014.[3] A space themed (nova) set.
- paw, paw, paws, paws, pawself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] An animal themed set.
- purr, purr, purrs, purrs, purrself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3]
- ram, ram, rams, rams, ramself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- sagit, sagit, sagits, sagits, sagittself. Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set (Sagittarius).
- scor, scor, scorpios (scorps), scorpios (scorps), scorpioself (scorpself). Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Independently created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014.[12] Zodiac themed set (Scorpio) or animal (scorpion) themed set.
- spide, spide, spides, spides, spiderself. Created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014.[3] An animal (spider) themed set.
- spiri, ?, spirs, spirs, spirself. Created by Tumblr user chemicalgalaxy in 2014.[3] A horror (spirit) themed set.
- squeak, squeak, squeaks, squeaks, squeakself. Created by Tumblr user faerieli in 2014.[3] An animal themed set.
- squid, ?, squids, squids, squidself. Created by Tumblr user enbyprincen in 2014.[3] An animal (squid) themed set.
- stag, stag, stags, stags, stagself. An animal themed set created by Tumblr user genderviking in 2014. [5] [10]
- star, star, stars, stars, starself. A nature themed set created by Tumblr user bonnibelbubblegum in 2014. [5] Independently created by Tumblr user baramages in 2014.[3]
- taur, taur, taurus, taurus, tauruself. Created by Tumblr user nakedmolerat in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set (Taurus).
- tech, techne, techan, techans, techself. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- tik, tik, tiks, tiks, tikself. Created by Tumblr user lysanderandco in 2014.[3] Clock or time themed set.
- tok, tok, toks, toks, tokself. Created by Tumblr user lysanderandco in 2014.[3] Clock or time themed set.
- vam, vamp, vamps, vamps, vampself. Origin unknown, please add if you find it. A vampire themed set.[11]
- vir, vir, virgos, virgos, virgoself. Created by Tumblr user togamiscontinentaltie in 2014.[4] Zodiac themed set (Virgo).
- voi, void, voids, voids, voidself. Created by Tumblr user baramages in 2014.[3] A space themed set.
- ware, ware, wares, wares, wareself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014. [5] [3] A robot or technology themed set.
- whisker, whisker, whiskers, whiskers, whiskerself. Created by Tumblr user huntersgotellis in 2014.[3] A cat or animal themed set.
- whomp, whizz, whirr, whirrs, whizelf. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
- wer, wer, weres, weres, wereself. Created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014.[3] A monster (werewolf) themed set.
- wit, witch, ?, ?, witchself. Created by Tumblr user princenstolas in 2014.[3] Tumblr user bigendeer then pointed out that these should only be used by people who identify as witches, out of respect for people with those spiritual beliefs.[3]
- wy, wir, wire, wires, wirself. Created by Tumblr user trashqan in 2014.[3] A robot themed set.
See also
References
- ↑ otherkinlogic, vulpinekin, and roborenard. "Nounself pronouns and how to use them." http://otherkinlogic.tumblr.com/post/92382457520
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 NB/GQ Survey 2016 - the worldwide results, March 2016.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 3.42 3.43 3.44 3.45 Themed pronouns reblogged on frameacloud's Tumblr, captured March 2016.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 YAY PRONOUNS!: Zodiac pronouns, captured March 2016.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 ask a non-binary. "Credit." http://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/credit
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/ungrouped
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 ask a non-binary. "general (unthemed pronouns)." http://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/general
- ↑ http://quasiboi.co.vu/post/74445593229/list-of-pronouns
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://yaypronouns.tumblr.com/post/75461460005/feline-pronouns
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/animal
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/creature
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://supergodtierlevelmuse.tumblr.com/post/75449290675/i-need-to-compile-this-omgggggggg
- ↑ http://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/nature
