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'''Pronouns''' are a part of language used to refer to someone or something without using proper nouns. In standard English, some singular third-person pronouns are "[[Pronouns#He|he]]" and "[[Pronouns#She|she]]," which are usually seen as ''gender-specific pronouns'', referring to a man and a woman, respectively. A ''gender-neutral pronoun'' or ''gender-inclusive pronoun'' is one that gives no implications about gender, and could be used for someone of any gender. Some languages only have gender-neutral pronouns, whereas other languages have difficulty establishing any that aren't gender-specific. People with [[Nonbinary gender|non-binary]] gender identities often choose new third-person pronouns for themselves as part of their [[transition]]. They often choose gender-neutral pronouns so that others won't see them as female or male.
==Use for non-binary people==
Although many gender-neutral pronouns were created to speak of no specific person, some non-binary people adopt these pronouns for themselves. They ask that other people call them only by one particular set of gender-neutral pronouns. This can be a part of a non-binary person's social [[transition]].
===Examples of specific nonbinary people's pronouns===
Some non-binary people ask to be called by gender-neutral pronouns. Other non-binary people ask to be called by "he" or "she" pronouns, some of whom see that as a gender-neutral use of those words. The use of binary pronouns doesn't necessarily mean that someone has a binary gender identity. Some non-binary people have more than one set of pronouns that they are okay with people using for them.
'''He.''' Some specific non-binary people who ask to be called by "[[Pronouns#He|he]]" pronouns include comedian [[Nonbinary celebrities#Eddie Izzard|Eddie Izzard]], writer [[Nonbinary celebrities#Richard O'Brien|Richard O'Brien]], songwriter [[Antony Hegarty]], and guitarist [[Nonbinary celebrities#Pete Townshend|Pete Townshend]].
'''She.''' Non-binary gender people who ask people to use "[[Pronouns#She|she]]" pronouns for them include singer-songwriter [[Nonbinary celebrities#Ellie Jackson|Ellie Jackson]], musician [[Nonbinary celebrities#JD Samson|JD Samson]], singer [[Nonbinary celebrities#Kieran Strange|Kieran Strange]], activist [[Nonbinary celebrities#Kate Bornstein|Kate Bornstein]] (who also goes by "they")<ref>Kate Bornstein (@katebornstein), "Thanks for asking, @msmacb. I like they/them. She/her are also okay—makes me smile. xox" 2016-01-26. https://twitter.com/katebornstein/status/692135982716575745</ref> and actor [[Nonbinary celebrities#Tilda Swinton|Tilda Swinton]].
'''They.''' Some nonbinary people ask to be called by "singular they" pronouns, including actor [[Nonbinary celebrities#Rain Dove|Rain Dove]], writer [[Nonbinary celebrities#Ivan E. Coyote|Ivan E. Coyote]], actor [[Nonbinary celebrities#Tom Phelan|Tom Phelan]], actor [[Jiz Lee]], singer-songwriter [[Nonbinary celebrities#Rae Spoon|Rae Spoon]], and rapper [[Nonbinary celebrities#Raeen Roes (Angel Haze)|Raeen Roes]].
'''Other pronouns.''' Nonbinary people who go by other pronouns include singer Mx [[Justin Vivian Bond]], who goes by [[Pronouns#V|v]] pronouns. "[[Pronouns#Ze|Ze]], hir" pronouns are the preferred pronouns of revolutionary communist [[Leslie Feinberg]] (who also went by she)<ref>Minnie Bruce Pratt, "Transgender Pioneer and Stone Butch Blues Author Leslie Feinberg Has Died." ''Advocate.'' November 17, 2014. http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2014/11/17/transgender-pioneer-leslie-feinberg-stone-butch-blues-has-died</ref>.
===Surveys===
There have been a few surveys on gender-neutral pronouns and pronoun preferences.
*[http://anlamasanda.tumblr.com/post/15140114246 This survey by anlamasanda on Tumblr] ran for many months. The results were published at the start of 2012, and showed that of the 800+ people responding, '''singular "they"''' was the most popular pronoun at '''62%'''. [http://anlamasanda.tumblr.com/psurvey Commentary.]
*[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiVvhUyACboSdG56TmczMmtGbFJCOVg1dTdUVFp1enc#gid=1 This survey by Lottelodge (now cassolotl) on Tumblr] ran for two months. The results were published in July 2013, and showed that of over 2,000 respondents '''singular "they"''' was the most popular pronoun at '''63%'''. [http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/54769253277 Commentary.] This rose to 74% in 2015,<ref name="CassolotlNBGQ2015">[http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/111585517125 Nonbinary Stats 2105 (Worldwide) - the results], published 20 Feb 2015</ref> and 77% in 2016.<ref name="CassolotlNBGQ2016">[http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/137953257500 NB/GQ Survey 2016 - the worldwide results], published 20 Feb 2015</ref>
*[http://nonbinarystats.tumblr.com/post/141311159050/nbgq-survey-2016-the-worldwide-results Nonbinary Stats Survey of 2016] ran in January for 8 days, and published its results in March. The most popular pronoun was "they," at 77.5%, followed by she, he, "mix it up," and a preference to not have others pronouns for one at all. The survey recorded 123 different pronoun sets in use among 3055 nonbinary people, of which, 90 pronouns were entered only once.
==How to change your pronouns==
If you are nonbinary and want to change your pronouns, this is a purely social part of your transition, rather than one using paperwork. First, you need to put a lot of thought into choosing pronouns that feel satisfactory to you. Research and experiment to find out what feels right. Next, you need to tell other people. As a part of social transition, you need cooperation from other people in order to be called by the pronouns you want, so it's important to keep your composure as well as stay firm. You can help remind people of your pronouns by wearing them on a badge or writing them in your Twitter profile.
===Choosing your pronouns===
First, form your opinions on what you want from your new pronouns. Next, list your favorite pronouns, and compare them to your opinions so that you can list their pros and cons. Meanwhile, test your favorite pronouns out loud and in writing, to see how they feel to you in action.
====Form opinions====
You can use several criteria to help rank and decide between different pronouns. See [[Pronouns criteria]] for a whole list.
====Compare them====
Next, after you decide what criteria you want for your pronouns, browse the alphabetical list of all pronouns below. Write down a list of the ones you like. Put them in a table, with columns for what you see as the good and bad traits of those pronouns. After you finish assessing them all, write down your concluding opinion about each in the last column. Here is a small example of such a table.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Pronoun
!Pros
!Cons
!Conclusion
|-
|ve, verself
|Used in a book I like
|Doesn't sound right to me
|Maybe no
|-
|E, Emself
|Common, easy to say
|Too short?
|Maybe yes
|}
You can use the above table as your template. Create your own table in a word processor, or draw it by hand in your journal. Although the above table only compares two sets of pronouns, you can add rows for as many pronouns that interest you. You don't need to form your conclusions on all pronouns in one sitting. Perhaps over the course of a few days, take your time to form your opinions on each pronoun set, and return periodically to add more notes to your pronoun table.
====Test them====
At the same time as you work on the above table of pros and cons, test the pronouns that you might like. Try them in several ways: in writing, out loud, and in reference to you. If you have friends who understand, test out having them call you by these pronouns for a little while. You can help your friends with this by wearing a pronoun badge (see below). You can also test how your pronouns look in writing by using web-sites that put them into a text. Such sites include [http://www.pronouns.failedslacker.com/ Failedslacker's Pronoun Dressing Room], [https://pronoun.is/ Pronoun Island] and [http://www.practicewithpronouns.com/ PracticeWithPronouns.com]. You may find that you feel differently about the pronouns when they are in action, and when they are in reference to you.
===Announcing your change of pronouns===
When you have settled on your favorite set of pronouns, you need to tell people, so they can start using them for you. Announce it to them by a handwritten letter, e-mail, or blog post. Keep your message polite, and say "please" and "thank you." In order to be complete, and to address the first questions the reader might ask, your announcement should include these parts:
*Opening: Assuming that you have already [[come out]] to these people as nonbinary, your announcement message should open with a reminder of that, as part of the explanation for why you want to change your pronouns.
*List all the grammatical forms of your new pronouns.
*Show people how to use these pronouns by giving an example of them in use in a sentence or several.
*You might tell how to pronounce the pronouns.
*Briefly say why you chose these pronouns rather than others.
*If you use two sets of pronouns, explain which set is more appropriate, under what conditions.
*Conclusion: Request that people use these pronouns for you.
Based on the above, here is a [[template letters|sample letter]] of a fictional person announcing their pronoun change. You can use it as a template for writing your own.<blockquote>Dear Stuart,</blockquote>
<blockquote>As you know, I have a nonbinary gender identity, meaning that I don't think of myself as a woman or a man. I'm transitioning to a gender expression that feels more like the real me. Since being called "he" or "she" doesn't feel right to me, I have decided to change my pronouns to singular they (they, them, their, theirs, themself). For an example of these pronouns in a couple sentences: "They are Morgan, that's them. They will read their book by themself". I like these singular gender-neutral pronouns the best because they were used by Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and other great writers. They have been a part of English for a long time. From now on, please call me by "they" pronouns, instead of "he" or "she".</blockquote>
<blockquote>Thank you,</blockquote>
<blockquote>Mx Morgan Doe</blockquote>
You can also use the above sample letter as a template for writing an e-mail, just by leaving out the signature. Use it as a template for a blog post by leaving out the salutation.
===Pronoun badges===
To help other people remember which pronouns you want to be called by, you can wear a badge, jewelry, accessory, or piece of clothing with your pronouns written on it. Learn more at [[Pronoun badges]]
==Pronoun etiquette==
Many [[gender binary|binary]] and [[nonbinary]] [[transgender]] folk experience [[gender dysphoria]] when people refer to them using the wrong pronouns. For those who don't [[Practical_resources#Presentation|pass]] as well as they'd like, being called by the wrong gender (''misgendered'') with the wrong pronouns is a common problem with a lot of work involved. An individual, upon being misgendered, is forced to either do the [[coming out]] spiel or grin and bear it, making the coming out later more awkward. If someone corrects you on their pronouns, the best way you can help is to start using their preferred pronouns right away without argument.
If your pronouns are unusual, or aren't what people think of as matching your gender expression, you may have to get used to reminding people to use them, and explaining them to people a lot. Learn people's common questions and objections to your pronouns, and rehearse your responses to them, so that you can keep your composure.
A person can have more than one set of pronouns that they want people to use for them. For example, suppose that your favorite set of pronouns might be "ze, hir." However, you don't want these to make an accessibility problem for people who have trouble with English, or maybe there are some situations where you don't feel safe using them, or don't feel up to the challenge of getting people to use them. In that case, you have decided to let people also call you by a second set of pronouns (''auxiliary pronouns'') that you like almost but not quite as much: "she, her." For another example, some genderfluid people feel comfortable or uncomfortable with certain pronouns depending on their current feelings about their gender identity. As a result, they feel the need to alternate pronouns, and ask to be called by different pronouns at different times.
Unusual pronouns can make trouble for people who speak English as a second language, or who have disabilities that make it harder for them to speak and understand English. Unusual pronouns are difficult to understand for people who lipread.<ref>"Pronouns." ''Footnotes.'' 2003. Retrieved 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20090414130833/http://footnotes.jinkies.org.uk/pronouns.html</ref> If you and another person have difficulty using unusual pronouns for people for these reasons, then it is acceptable and appropriate to ask a person if they have another set of pronouns that you can use in that case.<ref>otherkinlogic, vulpinekin, and roborenard. "Nounself pronouns and how to use them." http://otherkinlogic.tumblr.com/post/92382457520 </ref>
==Arabic neutral pronouns==
Gender-neutral pronouns in Modern Standard Arabic (اللغة العربية) include:
هما means "they, originally dual, can work as a neutral singular third person."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns">.</ref>
انتما means "second person dual."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
==Bulgarian neutral pronouns==
Gender-neutral pronouns in Bulgarian language (български език) include:
те/тях/техен/им "generally used for a group of people, could be used as singular as in 'they'"<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
о/него/негово/му "means 'it', informal"<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
==Chinese neutral pronouns==
Gender-neutral pronouns in Mandarin Chinese (普通话) include:
'''tā/ta1''' is the standard pronoun for people, which when pronounced aloud is gender-neutral. Before the language was influenced by Europeans, "他" was the proper way of rendering "tā" (regardless of gender); with the radical "亻" (a variant of "人") meaning "person" and "也" meaning "other" (i.e. "another person, neither me nor you"). Under European influence, the character "她" was invented, to mean "she" ("女"=female + "也"=other). Therefore, "他" more and more acquired the gender-specific meaning "he", with the consequence that nowadays neither "他" nor "她" are perceived as gender-neutral. Another written form of tā is "它" meaning "it," but this can be derogatory, so only use it for a person with their permission. Similarly, tā 牠 is a pronoun "used for non-human animals", <ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref> and tā 祂 is usually used for gods.
As the logical gender-neutral character is "他" ("亻" meaning "person"), one solution would be to use a character composed of "男"("male") and "也" to mean "he", which would make it evident that "他" used in the same text can only be meant in a gender-neutral way.  However, as Unicode does not provide "男"+"也" as a single character, this is currently only possible in handwriting.
Some people simply write "TA" with Latin letters ("TA是我的朋友。").  The same can be done in Bopomofo ("ㄊㄚ是我的朋友。").
Gender-neutral pronouns in Cantonese (广州话) include:
'''keúih/keoi5 佢''' meaning "them/him/her/it"
Ancient Chinese texts use more pronouns that are not gender specific to refer to other people, for example '''bǐ/bi3 彼''' , '''qí/qi2 其''' , and '''zhī/zhi1 之'''. Among the less used are the pronouns '''qú/qu2 渠''' and  '''jué/jue2 厥''', which are not gender specific either. Despite the word 她 being reappropriated as a feminine pronoun by Liu Bannong in his poems, Ancient Chinese people also used a pronoun that is feminine called '''yī/yi1 伊''', exemplified in Lu Xun's works. However, some Ancient Chinese scholars argue that due to the difference of modern and ancient Chinese grammar, the use of these words as pronouns might not be the same as contemporary pronouns.
Gender-neutral ways of referring to others in Chinese language (中文) include:
'''na4ge4ren2 (traditional: 那個人) (simplified: 那个人)''' means "that person."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" />
'''zhe4ge4ren2 (traditional: 這個人) (simplified: 这个人)''' means "this person."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" />
==Czech neutral pronouns==
Gender-neutral pronouns in Czech language (čeština) include:
'''onikání''', "which was used in the past as gender-neutral pronoun when refering to someone of lesser status. it’s oni/je/jejich/se they/them/their/themself and the use is: Oni jsou moc milým člověkem. - They are a very nice person."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
==Danish neutral pronouns==
Gender-neutral pronouns in Danish language (Dansk) include:
'''de, dem, deres'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
'''hen, hen, hens'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref> (neopronoun - the variants hæn and høn are equally proposed.)<ref>https://sproget.dk/raad-og-regler/artikler-mv/svarbase/SV00016738</ref> <ref>https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/han-hun-eller-hoen/13013a26-ec3f-4c10-9833-d80a0fd6ea7e</ref>
==Dutch neutral pronouns==
Gender-neutral pronouns in Dutch language (Nederlands) include:
'''ze, hun, ze''' "note: literal translation of they, but ze is often used as 'she'"<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
'''zij, hen, hun'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
Dutch has three grammatical genders, masculine, feminine and neuter, but most forms are identical for masculine and feminine (while often opposed to neuter).  This makes avoidance strategies attractive. E.g. while the third person singular personal pronoun is differentiated between feminine ("zij") and masculine ("hij"), the demonstrative pronoun is identical for these two genders ("die") and can often be used instead.
==English neutral pronouns==
''See also: [[gender neutral language#English|gender neutral language - English]], and [[glossary of English gender and sex terminology]]''
This section has its own page: [[English neutral pronouns]].
==Esperanto neutral pronouns==
Normally, Esperanto doesn't have any neutral pronouns for people, only female or male. Some proposed grammatical reforms suggest adding a neutral pronoun. The problem with reforms is that the mean that, since you're not speaking dictionary Esperanto, many speakers won't understand you. Esperanto is supposed to be so uniform that everyone speaks it the same and can understand it. For more information about this issue, see Wikipedia's article [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_reform_in_Esperanto gender reform in Esperanto].
Some proposed gender-neutral pronouns in non-standard Esperanto include:
'''gi'''. "A popular proposal because it is iconic: in writing, it resembles ''ĝi'', which it also resembles in meaning, and it is similar to the occasionally epicene prefix ''ge-''. This makes it readily recognizable. Also along these lines is the use of the epicene prefix itself, ''geli''."<ref name="esperanto wikipedia">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_reform_in_Esperanto Wikipedia page on gender reform in Esperanto]</ref>
'''hi'''. Proposed "so that the gendered pronouns ''hi'' and ''ŝi'' both derive from English."<ref name="esperanto wikipedia"></ref>
'''li'''. A common proposed neutral pronoun that is "related to the epicene plural ''ili'' 'they'".<ref name="esperanto wikipedia"></ref>
'''ri'''. "Riist Esperanto," or "Riisim," is a grammatical reform to Esperanto that makes the language more gender-neutral in several ways. One of these changes is to replace the gendered pronouns entirely with the neutral pronoun ''ri''. This was popular for some time for the Esperanto community on the Internet in the 1990s.<ref name="esperanto wikipedia"></ref>
'''ŝli (sxli)'''. "Instantly recognizable to most Esperantists ... This is just the reading pronunciation of the abbreviation ''ŝ/li'', the equivalent of English "s/he", and is not infrequently seen in informal writing."<ref name="esperanto wikipedia"></ref>
==Estonian neutral pronouns==
Some neutral pronouns in Estonian language (eesti keel) include:
'''tema, teda, tema'''. Formal.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
'''ta, teda, tema'''.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
==Finnish neutral pronouns==
The Finnish language (suomen kieli) doesn't have grammatical gender. There are no pronouns that specifically mean "she" or "he". Everyone is called by the genderless pronoun ''hän''.
'''hän, hänen'''. Formal.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
'''se, sen'''. Means "it." Informal but used a lot in slang.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
==French neutral pronouns==
In French, talking about one's self or another person in a gender-neutral way requires using created pronouns since the language only have two genders (feminine and masculine). These pronouns are not used officially, but are more and more used in gender-inclusive texts and spaces, along with gender-inclusive grammar rules for adjectives.
'''ile'''. A mix of the French words "il" ("he") and "elle" ("she"). Some nonbinary people in France go by this pronoun. In 2015, an intersex adult in Tours won the right to change their birth certificate to say "gender neutral". The news mentioned that this person went by "ile" pronouns.<ref>Joseph Patrick McCormick. "France legally recognises person as ‘gender neutral’ for the first time." ''Pink News''. October 15, 2015. [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/10/15/france-legally-recognises-person-as-gender-neutral-for-the-first-timehttp://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/10/15/france-legally-recognises-person-as-gender-neutral-for-the-first-time]</ref>
'''ille, illes''' A mix between "il" ("he") and "elle" ("she") that can be used in a written text but that can not be easily said out loud.<ref name="atelier queer 1">Alice Coutant, Luca Greco, Noémie Marignier. [http://www.slideshare.net/noemiemarignier/queer-week "Le chantier linguistique : éléments pour une grammaire non-binaire".] Atelier Queer Week 6 mars 2015.</ref>
'''iel, iels'''. A mix between "il" ("he") and "elle" ("she") that can be easily said out loud;<ref name="atelier queer 1"></ref> "li" is proposed as singular direct object form (the plural object forms and the indirect object forms are neutral anyhow).
'''yel'''. A mix between "il" ("he") and "elle" ("she") that can be easily said out loud (for object forms, see "iel, iels").<ref name="atelier queer 1"></ref>
'''el, els'''. A mix between "il" ("he") and "elle" ("she") but that can't be used out loud since it would sound exactly like the feminine pronoun "elle".<ref name="atelier queer 1"></ref>
'''yol'''. <ref name="atelier queer 1"></ref>
'''ol, ols'''. <ref name="atelier queer 1"></ref>
'''ul, uls'''. <ref name="atelier queer 1"></ref>
'''oulle, oulles''' Based on "ou" and ille/elle (Source unknown, unfortunately)
==German neutral pronouns==
People have proposed and are using these neutral pronouns in the German language (Deutsch):
===Solutions without neopronouns===
'''er*'''.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> he*.
'''er + feminine noun endings.'''<ref name=":0">Pronomen. ''Nichtbinär-Wiki.'' Accessed August 15, 2017. [https://nibi.space/pronomen#Vorname]</ref>
'''es'''. This means "it," and isn't usually used for people. Only use this pronoun for people who ask to be called by it. Some nonbinary people do reclaim it for themselves.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /><ref>''Transgender teen survival guide'' (blog). http://transgenderteensurvivalguide.tumblr.com/post/109131545635/are-there-any-gender-neutral-pronouns-in-german</ref>
'''sie'''. When this pronoun is used for a single person, it usually means "she." However, it also means "plural they," so some people use it as a neutral pronoun.<ref>''Transgender teen survival guide'' (blog). http://transgenderteensurvivalguide.tumblr.com/post/109131545635/are-there-any-gender-neutral-pronouns-in-german</ref>
'''sie*'''.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> she*.
'''sie + masculine noun endings.'''<ref name=":0" />
'''Using only the name instead of a pronoun.'''<ref name=":0" />
'''Alternating between he and she.'''
===Neopronouns===
'''A.'''<ref>Die Sache mit den Pronomen. ''Hirngefickt.'' January 3, 2016.https://hirngefickt.wordpress.com/2016/01/03/die-sache-mit-den-pronomen-2/</ref> First mention by a person who's name starts with A.
'''as.'''<ref name=":0" /> Based on ''es'' (it), vowel changed to mark difference between things and people.
'''dey.'''<ref>Anonymous ask on ''Nonbinary Trans Germany: Trans in Deutschland''. August 10, 2016. http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/post/148742824641/ein-befreundeter-mensch-von-mir-hat-sich-mal</ref> Based on they, changed to be more easily pronounceable in German.
'''em'''.
'''er_sie'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" />''', ersie, er:sie, er*sie.'''<ref name=":0" /> From ''er'' (he) and ''sie'' (she).
'''hän'''.<ref>''High on Clichés'' [https://highoncliches.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/glossar/]</ref> used as a replacement for ''er/sie''
'''hen.'''<ref name=":0" /><ref>About. ''Fliederfuchs.'' Accessed August 15, 2017.http://fliederfuchs.tumblr.com/about</ref> borrowed from Swedish/Norwegian <ref>From this tumblr page description explaining where it came from [https://taehdenveri.tumblr.com/about]</ref>
'''iks.'''<ref name=":0" /> Version of ''x''.
'''k.'''<ref>Comment by Pennyroyal Tea on a post by Ash B. https://www.facebook.com/hirngefickt/posts/1689898591228038?comment_id=1689923207892243&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R4%22}</ref> inplace of she/he said you say k said ''"k hat gesagt"''
'''nin'''.<ref>Cabala de Sylvain &amp; Carsten Balzer, "Die SYLVAIN-Konventionen – Versuch einer „geschlechtergerechten“
Grammatik-Transformation der deutschen Sprache." ''Liminalis''.
The PDF is now only accessable through the wayback machine.[http://www.liminalis.de/2008_02/Liminalis-2008-Sylvain-Balzer.pdf]</ref>
'''per'''.<ref>"Namensgebung? Pronomen? Nicht-binärer Name!" ''nibiTrans*ich'' (blog). http://nibitransich.blogspot.de/2015/06/namensgebung-non-binarer-name.html</ref> used the same as ''er/sie''
'''sier,''' '''sie_er, sie_r, si_er'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" />, '''si*er, si:er,'''<ref name="annaheger zine">https://annaheger.wordpress.com/pronomen/zine/
Only Wayback Machine accessable</ref> '''sier*'''<ref name=":0" />'''.''' From ''sie'' (she) and ''er'' (he).
'''sif'''.<ref name="annaheger zine" /> a compound pronoun used like ''er/sie''
'''they.'''<ref>Geschlechtsneutrale Sprache | Gender-neutral language. ''Nonbinary Trans Germany: Trans in Deutschland.'' http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/language</ref> Used just like in English.
'''x'''.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> Has been criticised for being racist when used by white people.<ref>"Warum das x-Pronomen mir Bauchschmerzen bereitet" ''Tea-Riffic'' (blog). [http://teariffic.de/2015/02/18/warum-das-x-pronomen-mir-bauchschmerzen-bereitet/]</ref>
'''xier/xies/xiem/xien/dier'''. For a person of any gender. Xier, instead of she, he or it, pronounced [ksi:ɐ̯]; xies/xiese/xieser…, a possessive pronoun instead of ''ihr'' and ''sein''; and dier, an article and relative pronoun, instead of ''die'' and ''der'', pronounced [ksi:zɐ], and [di:ɐ̯]. <ref name="annaheger zine" /> <ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> <ref name="annaheger zine" /> <ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" />
'''z, zet.'''<ref>@pandanouk. September 5, 2016. https://twitter.com/pandanouk/status/772895165551874049</ref> replacement for er/sie
For examples of how to use many of these, go [https://nibi.space/pronomen here].
==Icelandic neutral pronouns==
Icelandic has three grammatical genders, feminine, masculine and neuter. In the plural, it is colloquial to use the neuter for a mixed-gender group of people or for people of unknown gender.
For the singular, the third-person pronoun "hán" has been proposed, (genitive "háns", dative "háni", accusative "hán").<ref>Hann, hún og það... eða hvað? https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/24447/1/Selma%20Sverris.pdf</ref>
==Italian neutral pronouns==
Italian is a very binary language, with two grammatical genders, masculine and feminine. In writing, signs like * or @ or the letter x are sometimes used where the feminine has "a" and the masculine has "o", although no specific pronunciation is linked to them. Some people use "u" when speaking in these cases, others the dialectal ending "ə" (as there is no standard spelling linked to this sound, "@" might sometimes be used to represent this pronunciation). This applies to a lot of words, such as nouns, adjectives and to a lesser degree articles. There seems to be no clear solution for plural forms.<ref>http://pasionaria.it/genere-non-binario-tutte-le-risposte-alle-tue-domande/</ref> <ref>https://nonbinary.noblogs.org/sample-page/</ref>
This usage can be applied to some third person pronouns, e.g. the object forms "lo" and "la" may in this way be replaced by "lu" or "l@".  The subject forms "egli" and "ella" are already less evident, but "elu"/"el@" is thinkable. The third person plural "loro" is gender-neutral and can be used as subject and as direct object (It is sometimes proposed to use this as singular as well, a translation of the English singular they). However, there is as yet no full table of proposed neo-pronouns.
==Portuguese neutral pronouns==
''See also: and [[glossary of Portuguese gender and sex terminology]]''.
The Portuguese language (português) doesn't normally have neutral pronouns and indicates gender by letters in pronouns, ''el'''a''' (she)'' and ''el'''e''' (he)''. However, people have created some new, neutral pronouns, which are used in some groups. These include:
'''el@, del@, nel@'''. This uses an @ (at symbol) to show ambiguity of the letter. This only works in writing. It can't be said out loud. It can't be read by blind people and it can confuse dislexic people.
'''elx, delx, nelx'''. This uses an x to show ambiguity of the letter. It can't be pronounced as well and can't be read by blind and confuses dislexic people as well.<ref name=":1">[https://orientando.org/listas/tipos-de-linguagem/]''Orientando, um espaço de aprendizagem.'' Tipos de linguagem.</ref>
'''elu, delu, nelu.''' This uses an u to show ambiguity of the letter. It's the most recommended to be used to include visually disabled people. This pronoun has some variations in its writing and pronunciation: '''''êlu, dêlu, nêlu; élu, délu, nélu.''''' <ref name=":1" />
'''el, del, nel.''' This isn't gender specific as it doesn't indicate any gender by the absence of a gendered letter.<ref name=":1" />
'''éli, déli, néli.''' This has a similar pronunciation as the male pronoun ''ele'', but shows ambiguity by the use of '''''i'''''. And as the above, it also has variations: '''''eli, deli, neli.'''''<ref name=":1" />
'''''íli, díli, níli.''''' This shows ambiguity by the letter ''i.'' Some variations can be found: '''''ílu, dílu, nílu; ílo, dílo, nílo; ile, dile, nile; ilo, dilo, nilo.'''''<ref name=":1" />
'''''ély, dély, nély.''''' As the pronoun '''''éli, déli''''', its pronunciation is very simillar to ''ele.'' Some variations are: '''''ely, dely, nely; élw, délw, nélw''''' (this last one being unpronounceable as well).<ref name=":1" />
'''''els, dels, nels.''''' This shows ambiguity by the usage of ''s'' instead of a gendered letter. Also unpronounceable.<ref name=":1" />
'''''el', del', nel'.''''' Demonstrates neutrality by the usage of ''<nowiki/>'.'' Also unpronounceable.<ref name=":1" />
'''''eld, deld, neld.''''' This show ambiguity by the usage of ''d.'' Also unpronounceable.<ref name=":1" />
'''''yn, dyn, nyn.''''' This pronoun is very different and doesn't follow the structure of '''''"el_, del_, nel_".''''' <ref name=":1" />
<br />
<br />
 
</div>'''elle'''. A neutral pronoun that can be easily said out loud. This is non-standard, but one of the most common of these.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns">.</ref> It's used by nonbinary people in Chile.<ref>http://linguaphiles.livejournal.com/5990300.html</ref>
==Spanish neutral pronouns==
 
''See also: [[Gender neutral language#Spanish|gender neutral language - Spanish]] and [[glossary of Spanish gender and sex terminology]]''.
 
The Spanish language (español) doesn't normally have neutral pronouns. However, people have created some new, neutral pronouns, which are used in some groups that are sensitive about LGBT, feminist, and social justice issues. Most of these neutral pronouns work by taking the feminine pronoun, ''ella'', and the standard abstract neuter pronoun ''ello'' (which can't be used for people), and substituting a different letter or symbol for the masculine "o" or feminine "a" ending. This approach of substituting a letter is shared by creating other parts of gender neutral language in Spanish, such as neutral-gender endings for adjectives. See [[Gender neutral language#Spanish|gender neutral language - Spanish]] for information about that. These new, neutral pronouns include:
 
'''ele'''. A neutral pronoun that is a mix of the masculine pronoun ''él'' ("he") and a proposed gender-neutral ending letter, -e. This is less common. The plural would be '''elles'''.<ref name="tawnyflower spanish">Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>
 
'''ell_'''. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud. This is less common. The _ (underscore) means that the "a" or "o" is left out.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
 
'''ell*'''. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud. This is less common. The * (asterisk) means that the "a" or "o" is left out. Compare the [[Pronouns#*E|splat *e pronouns]] in English, which work by the same idea.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
 
'''ellæ'''. A neutral pronoun. This is less common.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
 
'''ell@'''. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud, or else is pronounced like "ellao". This is non-standard, but one of the most common of these. The @ (at symbol) is meant to be seen as a mix between an "a" and an "o".<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
 
'''elle'''. A neutral pronoun that can be easily said out loud. This is non-standard, but one of the most common of these.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref> It's used by nonbinary people in Chile.<ref>http://linguaphiles.livejournal.com/5990300.html</ref>


'''elli'''. A neutral pronoun that can be said out loud. It's uncommonly used.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
'''elli'''. A neutral pronoun that can be said out loud. It's uncommonly used.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
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'''ellx'''. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud. This non-standard, but one of the more common of these. Note that, unlike English coinages such as "princex," which is only for people of color, a neutral x in Spanish is not only for people of color. "Ellx" can be used by white people as well.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>
'''ellx'''. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud. This non-standard, but one of the more common of these. Note that, unlike English coinages such as "princex," which is only for people of color, a neutral x in Spanish is not only for people of color. "Ellx" can be used by white people as well.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns"></ref>


'''ol'''. A neutral pronoun. Non-standard and uncommon. The plural would be '''olles'''. This would go with the non-standard definite article that is also ''ol''.<ref name="tawnyflower spanish"></ref>
'''ol'''. A neutral pronoun. Non-standard and uncommon. The plural would be '''olles'''. This would go with the non-standard definite article that is also ''ol''.<ref name="tawnyflower spanish">Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>


==Swedish neutral pronouns==
==Swedish neutral pronouns==

Revision as of 00:49, 2 April 2020

« I traded off they/them/their pronouns for he/him/his pronouns. I made this switch because I realized just how much I truly enjoy being acknowledged as a guy. »
— Zayden, 26[1]


elle. A neutral pronoun that can be easily said out loud. This is non-standard, but one of the most common of these.[2] It's used by nonbinary people in Chile.[3]

elli. A neutral pronoun that can be said out loud. It's uncommonly used.[2]

ellu. A neutral pronoun that can be said out loud. It's uncommonly used.[2]

ellx. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud. This non-standard, but one of the more common of these. Note that, unlike English coinages such as "princex," which is only for people of color, a neutral x in Spanish is not only for people of color. "Ellx" can be used by white people as well.[2]

ol. A neutral pronoun. Non-standard and uncommon. The plural would be olles. This would go with the non-standard definite article that is also ol.[4]

Swedish neutral pronouns

Visual illustration of the two gendered personal pronouns in Swedish, hon ("she") and han ("he"), alongside the gender-neutral hen.

In 2014, the Swedish language (Svenska) officially added a new gender-neutral pronoun, hen, which is popular among Swedish-speaking nonbinary people.

de, dem (dom), deras.[2]

den, den, dens (dess). Means 'it'. This isn't usually used for humans.[2] Traditionally, the word den has been used as a gender neutral pronoun and remains widely used today. However, depending on the context, the word den can also mean "it," leaving it unsatisfactory as a gender neutral pronoun for many who do not wish to be seen as like an inanimate object.

hen, hen (henom), hens (henoms). This neutral pronoun was first proposed in 1966. Since the 1960s, the person pronoun hen has become increasingly popular. It was proposed independently in 1994, based on the Finnish neutral pronoun hän. It came to be used in magazines and books during the 2000s and 2010s. In 2014, it was officially added to the language. In 2015, it will be added for the first time to Svenska Akademiens Ordlista (the Swedish equivalent to France's Dictionnaire de l'Académie française). It usage, however, remains somewhat controversial and is vigorously opposed by some. Hen is used for people whose gender is not known, as well as for nonbinary people who ask to be called by this pronoun. It's not meant to replace the gendered pronouns hon ("she") and han ("he"), but to exist together with them. For more information, see the Wikipedia entry on hen.

Standard gender neutral / third gender personal pronoun: hen

Possessive form of hen: hens

Object form of hen: henom. The object form of hen is sometimes just hen. It is very individual.

West Frisian neutral pronouns

Some neutral pronouns in West Frisian language (Frysk) include:

je, jin, jins.[5] These pronouns do exist as indefinite pronouns, though their use for referring to a specific person isn't very common.

See also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ This quote is a snippet from an answer to the survey conducted in the year 2018. Note for editors: the text of the quote, as well as the name, age and gender identity of its author shouldn't be changed.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 .
  3. ↑ http://linguaphiles.livejournal.com/5990300.html
  4. ↑ Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. Reflections of a Queer Artist (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html
  5. ↑ http://www.erfgoed-fundaasje.nl/de-stichtingen-frysk-en-frij-en-erfgoed-fundaasje-opereare-genderneutraal/
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