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'''Gender neutral language''' is a term for words which do not refer to any particular [[gender]], where gendered words might be expected, or for speaking or writing without assuming particular genders.
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== Gender neutral language in English ==
'''Gender-neutral language''', also called '''gender-inclusive language''', is the practice of using words that don't give an idea of someone being female or male. For example, the word "fireman" gives the idea that a person in that work is male. An offer for a job as a "cleaning lady" gives the idea that only a woman should do the job. The gender-neutral alternatives are to say "fire fighter" and "janitor," respectively. Then it is easier to see that these jobs can be done by a person of any gender. Gender-neutral language is important in [[feminism]], because changing the way that people talk can help make [[sexism|sexist]] ideas less common. For example, the sexist idea that some jobs should only be done by people of certain genders.


Traditional third-person singular [[pronoun]]s for known people ("he/him/his/his/himself" and "she/her/her/hers/herself") are gendered [[male]] or [[female]]. There are many possible gender neutral alternatives to these, e.g. avoiding the pronouns altogether, using "they/them/their/theirs/themself" (which is often seen as being a plural or ambiguous pronoun), using "it/it/its/its/itself" (which is often seen as being only for nonhuman objects), or using [[List of neopronouns|neopronouns]] (some sets of which are created specifically to be gender neutral). Some people prefer being referred to without gendered pronouns, and they may have a preference for which set of pronouns they prefer, or they may prefer being referred to by no pronouns at all.  These preferences are often linked to nonbinary gender identity.
Gender-neutral language is also important to people who have [[Nonbinary gender|non-binary gender identities]]. For one reason, this kind of talk helps fight against [[nonbinary erasure]], which is the common but wrong and sexist idea that there are only two genders. Since gender-neutral language doesn't give the idea that a person is male or female, it can also apply to people who identify as other genders, outside of the [[Gender binary|gender binary]]. Non-binary people can ask to be talked about in this way.


Many jobs have gendered titles, or the possibility of gendered titles.  Gender neutral language here can consist of finding an alternative term for the job or making one of the existing terms neutral by applying it to people of all genders.  An example of the former is how "firefighter" replaces "fireman/firewoman", and an example of the latter is how "actor" is sometimes used for women and people of other genders as well as men.  Some gendered terms, like "author/authress", have multiple alternatives: "author" is now used for people of all genders, and the term "writer" means essentially the same thing but has never been gendered.
==Chinese==


People also have [[Gender neutral title|titles]] which may go with their names, most commonly "Mr" for men and one or several of "Miss", "Ms", and "Mrs" for women.  Depending on the country, people may be able to choose their title freely from those titles, or they may be required to use a particular gendered title.  Some new titles have been created to be neutral in terms of gender, age, and marital status; these include "Mx", "Misc", "Per", and "Ind".  Some people prefer using no title at all.  In countries with a nobility, it can be harder to find or create neutral alternatives to titles like "duke/duchess", "lord/lady", "viscount/viscountess", or "king/queen".
''See also: [[Glossary of Chinese gender and sex terminology]].''


Sometimes, people try to make language gender neutral by referring to both male and female terms, e.g. through writing "s/he" or saying "ladies and gentlemen".  However, this language is not truly gender neutral because it does not include people who do not identify with "she" or "he" or being a lady or a gentleman.
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== Gender neutral language in other languages ==
==Dutch==


Gender in language varies widely across the world.  Some languages use gendered first-person pronouns; some use gendered verbs; some use gendered pronouns for everything, not just for people; and the politics surrounding gender and gender neutrality in language are different in different cultures.
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=== German ===
===Family terms===
German is a language that makes use of three genders: the male/masculine gender, denoted by the article ''das''; the female/feminine gender, denoted by the article ''die''; and the neutral/neuter gender, denoted by the article ''das''<ref name=":0">(H. Rindisbacher, personal communication, 2016-2017).</ref>.
====Parent====
* '''Ouder.''' Neutral, formal.


==== Gender neutral language ====
====Child====
Creating gender neutral language in German is complicated by the fact that there are no gender neutral endings for nouns. The suffix ''in'' is attached to words to make them feminine, but there is no corresponding ending to make a word the neutral gender.
* '''Baby.''' Standard neutral word for very young offspring or very young people.
* '''Jonkie.''' Standard neutral word for young people.
* '''Kind.''' Standard gender neutral word for a young person or an offspring. Implied age isn't adult, but may be.
* '''Kleintje.''' Literally "little one", neutral word for a very young child or young offspring.
* '''Kleuter.''' Neutral word for child that is ~3 to ~6 years old.
* '''Peuter.''' Neutral word for child that is ~1 to ~3 years old.
* '''Tiener.''' Neutral word for a child that is ~10 to ~18 years old.


There is pressure in Germany to be more inclusive when it comes to gender<ref name=":1">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/24/germans-get-tongues-around-gender-neutral-language</ref>.  However, while this inclusivity includes men and women, it tends to ignore nonbinary genders.  There is also still much debate over how to create this inclusivity.  For instance, the words ''der Student'' refers to a student and implies that the student is a man.  ''Die Studentin'' refers to a student who is a woman.  In order to include both men and women, some Germans write ''Studenten/nin'', others choose ''Student_in'', and still others prefer ''Studierende''<ref name=":2">http://genderfork.com/2014/question-german-gender-neutral-language/</ref>''.'' Even beyond that, there are many different, competing standards<ref name=":0" />. 
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Some predict that instead of creating more gender inclusive ways of writing, nouns may just begin to default to the neutral gender.  Angela Merkel is now called ''die Bundeskanzlerin,'' which has the feminine ending.  Eventually, she might just become ''das Bundeskanzler,'' which is neutral and could refer to any gender<ref name=":1" />.
==English==


Others believe that all roles will just begin to default to the feminine article instead of the masculine one. Instead of ''der Polizist,'' people would say ''die Polizist'' to refer to a police-person<ref name=":1" />.
''See also: [[Glossary of English gender and sex terminology]].''


==== Gender neutral pronouns ====
English has grammatical gender, but only a vestige of what it once had. Old English once had grammatical gender for inanimate objects, but this practice started to disappear in the 700s, and vanished in the 1200s. The population of England at that time spoke several languages, and the same inanimate objects had different genders in those different languages. They may have stopped using that part entirely just to make it simpler. English stopped using grammatical gender for inanimate objects, but it still uses grammatical gender for people and personal pronouns.<ref>Dictionary.com. "English used to have gendered nouns?! Yes!" May 16, 2012. ''Dictionary.com'' (blog). [http://blog.dictionary.com/oldenglishgender/ http://blog.dictionary.com/oldenglishgender/]</ref> There is enough to make a challenge for nonbinary people who don't want gendered language to be used for them.
Creating more gender neutral pronouns in German is complicated for a few reasons. First, the English option of using they/them/their/theirs/themself is difficult in German because the word for ''they'' and the word for ''she'' is the same—they are both ''sie''. The difference between ''they'' and ''she'' would only become clear at the verb, which would be conjugated differently depending on the pronoun<ref name=":0" />.


Secondly, while there is a gender neutral article, the accompanying pronouns are the same as the masculine pronouns in all but the nominative and accusative case. In the nominative and accusative, the gender neutral pronoun is ''es,'' which translates to ''it'' in English, although without the negative, inhuman connotations ''it'' sometimes carries in English. In the dative, the gender neutral and masculine pronoun is ''ihm,'' corresponding to ''him'' in English. Finally, in the genitive, the masculine and gender neutral pronoun is ''des,'' corresponding to ''of'' in English<ref name=":0" />.
Gender-neutral language has become common in English today largely thanks to the pioneering work by feminists Casey Miller and Kate Swift. During the 1970s, they began the work of encouraging inclusive language, as an alternative to sexist language that excludes or dehumanizes women. Miller and Swift wrote a manual on gender-neutral language, ''The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing'' (1980). Miller and Swift also proposed a set of gender-neutral pronouns, [[Pronouns#Tey|tey]], although they later favored [[Pronouns#They|singular they]], or [[Pronouns#He or she|he or she]].<ref>Elizabeth Isele, "Casey Miller and Kate Swift: Women who dared to disturb the lexicon." http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/old-WILLA/fall94/h2-isele.html </ref> There are several books on gender-neutral English, such as Rosalie Maggio's book ''The Nonsexist Word Finder: A Dictionary of Gender-Free Usage'' (1989).


There are currently a few different options of gender neutral pronouns in Germany, although none are widely accepted. The most common is xier/sier.<ref name=":2" />
Much of the language that is often called gender-neutral has a problem: it's more than a little bit male. This is the problem that the [[Pronouns#He|gender-neutral he pronoun]], "you guys," and similar kinds of language have in common. "Linguists call male terms used to include females ''androcentric generics.''"<ref>Suzanne Romaine, ''Communicating Gender.'' Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999, p. 104.</ref> Androcentric generics have several problems. It can be arbitrarily seen as either including women or excluding women depending on whims, which has made trouble for women when it happens in legal documents. It can also give the impression that someone is in some way male, which can be unclear or insulting to people of other genders.


== See also ==
Much of other gender-neutral language has a problem: it gives the idea that female and male are the only genders. For example, calling an unspecified person by [[Pronouns#He or she|he or she pronouns]], a speaker addressing "ladies and gentlemen," an invitation saying "both genders welcome," and so on. Much of Western society thinks this is inclusive enough, because it doesn't know there are other genders. This language excludes nonbinary people, who would prefer an unspecified person to be called "they" rather than "he or she," would prefer a speaker to address "the audience," and an invitation saying "all genders welcome."
* [[Pronouns]]
* [[Gender neutral titles]]


== References ==
This is a list of both standard (dictionary) and non-standard (created) terms and pronouns to include [[Nonbinary gender|nonbinary identities]]. It should be noted that while some are [[Agender|genderless]] or [[Third Gender|third gender]], others are multigender. Terms will be marked with the implied gender identity when possible.
<references />
 
[[Category:Language]]
===Pronouns===
[[Category:Gender neutrality]]
 
''See main article at [[Pronouns]].''
 
===Titles===
 
''See main article at [[Gender neutral titles]].''
 
===Family and relationship words===
 
''See also: [[family]] and [[intimacy]].''
 
====Parent====
 
Parents as in the formal words mother or father, or the informal mama or dada. Gender-neutral and gender-inclusive words for a parent of any gender, or non-standard specifically nonbinary, [[queer]], or [[genderqueer]] words. A list in alphabetical order.
 
* '''Baba.''' "Neutral, based on mama and dada. (Note, baba means dad in some languages and grandmother in others.)"<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Bibi.''' "Queer, based on the B in NB [nonbinary], similar to mama and papa/dada."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Cenn.''' "Neutral, short for cennend," which see.<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Cennend.''' "Neutral, Old English (Anglo-Saxon) meaning parent."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Dommy.''' "Queer, mixture of mommy and daddy (note: sounds like Dom/me, a BDSM term)."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Mada.''' Queer, mixture of mama and dad.
* '''Maddy.''' "Queer, mixture of mummy/mommy and daddy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Moddy.''' "Queer, mixture of mommy and daddy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Muddy.''' "Queer, mixture of mummy and daddy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Nini.''' "Queer, based on the N in NB, similar to mama and papa/dada."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Non.''' Follows a similar pattern (CvC) to Mom or Dad, could be short for "nonbinary". Variation '''Nonny''' for use with young children, similar to Mommy or Daddy.
* '''Par.''' "Neutral, short for parent."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Parent.''' "Neutral, formal."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Parental Unit (PU).''' Neutral, informal, humorous, possibly disrespectful. Used by the alien family in ''Coneheads,'' and taken up by popular culture.<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Per.''' "Neutral, short for parent."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> (See also: [[Pronouns#Per|per pronouns]] and [[Gender neutral titles#Pr|Pr title]].)
* '''Zaza.''' "Queer, based on mama and papa/dada."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Zither.''' "Queer, based on mother and father. (Note, zither is also the name of a musical instrument.)"<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
====Child====
 
Some of these gender-inclusive or gender-queer words refer only to relationship (as in daughter, son, or offspring), others only to age (girl, boy, or young one), and some to both (children). Alphabetical order.
 
* '''Baby.''' Standard neutral word for very young offspring or very young people.
* '''Bitsy.''' Non-standard [[genderqueer]] term for a very young person.<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Charge.''' Standard gender neutral word for a person in the care of another, often one's child.
* '''Child.''' Standard gender neutral word for a young person or an offspring. Implied age isn't adult, but may be.
* '''Dependent.''' A person who relies on another-- usually a family member who may or may not be their parent-- for financial support; this is most often used as a standard gender-neutral word for a child too young to work. Formal.
* '''Enby.''' From "NB (nonbinary)", a nonbinary equivalent of the words "boy" and "girl." However, some adults call themselves enbies.
* '''Get.''' Poetic language for offspring.
* '''Kid.''' Standard informal gender neutral term for young children or young offspring.
* '''Little one.''' Neutral word for a very young child or young offspring.
* '''Minor.''' Standard gender-neutral word for a person under the legal age of consent.
* '''Nesser.''' Non-standard genderqueer term for "daughter/son".<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Offspring.''' Neutral, standard word, but not usually used for people, except in legal language.
* '''Oldest.''' Neutral, a way of speaking of one's offspring by saying "my oldest," rather than saying "my daughter/son."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Sprog.''' Neutral, crude word for a young person.<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Youth.''' Neutral, poetic word for a young person, but usually implied to be male.
* '''Young.''' Neutral, standard word for offspring, but not usually used for people ("my young.")
* '''Youngest.''' Neutral, a way of speaking of one's offspring by saying "my youngest," rather than saying "my daughter/son."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Young one.''' Neutral, poetic.
* '''Young person.''' Neutral, standard, formal.
* '''Ward.''' Standard gender-neutral word for a person, usually a child, under the care of an adult, who may or may not be their parent. Formal.
 
====Aunt/Uncle====
 
Standard English doesn't have a gender neutral word for one's parent's sibling. People have created some words to fill this lexical gap, but they are still uncommon words. Alphabetical order.
 
* '''Auncle.''' "Queer, combination of aunt and uncle."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Bibi.''' "Queer, based on the B in NB [nonbinary], similar to Titi/Zizi."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Cousin.''' "Neutral, as sometimes people say aunt/uncle for parents’ cousins, or much older cousins."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Nini.''' "Queer, based on the N in NB, similar to Titi/Zizi."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Ommer.''' Non-standard genderqueer term for "aunt/uncle".
* '''Pibling.''' "Neutral, your parent’s sibling."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Titi.''' "Neutral, from the Spanish for Aunt (Tia) and Uncle (Tio). (however, it is often a diminutive of aunt.)"<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Zizi.''' "Neutral, from the Italian for Aunt (Zia) and Uncle (Zio). (Note: zizi is also a French children’s ‘cute’ word for penis.)"<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Untie/Unty.''' "Queer, combination of uncle and auntie/aunty."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
====Niece/Nephew====
 
Standard English doesn't have a gender neutral word for one's sibling's child. People have created some words to fill this lexical gap, but they are still uncommon words. Alphabetical order.
 
* '''Chibling.''' "Neutral, the children of you sibling."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Cousin.''' "Neutral, as sometimes people say niece/nephew for cousins’ children, or much younger cousins."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Nibling.''' Non-standard gender neutral term for "niece/nephew". [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nibling Coined by linguist Samuel E. Martin in 1951 from nephew/niece by analogy with sibling.]
* '''Niecew.''' "Queer, mixture of niece and nephew."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Nieph.''' "Queer, mixture of niece and nephew."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Nephiece.''' "Queer, mixture of nephew and niece."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Sibkid.''' "Neutral, short for sibling’s kid."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
====Grandparent====
 
Gender-neutral or genderqueer words for grandparent. Alphabetical order.
 
* '''Bibi.''' "Queer, based on the B in NB, similar to nana and papa."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Grandparent.''' "Neutral, formal."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Grandwa.''' "Queer, based on grandma and grandpa."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Grandy.'''' "Neutral, short for Grandparent, Grandma or Grandpa."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Nini.''' "Queer, based on the N in NB, similar to nana and papa."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
====Sibling====
 
Gender-neutral or genderqueer words for sibling. Alphabetical order.
 
* '''Emmer.''' Non-standard genderqueer term for sibling.
* '''Sib.''' Short for sibling. Equivalent of bro or sis.
* '''Sibling.''' Standard gender neutral term for sister or brother.
* '''Sibster.''' "Queer, combination of sibling and sister."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Sibter.''' "Queer, combination of sibling and brother."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
====Partner====
 
Gender-inclusive or genderqueer words for tentative romantic and sexual partners (as in girlfriend, boyfriend, or date) as well as permanent ones (as in wife, husband, or spouse).
 
=====Date=====
 
Gender-neutral and genderqueer words for a non-committed relationship, such as boyfriend, girlfriend, or date. Alphabetical order.
 
* '''Birlfriend.''' "Queer, mix of boyfriend and girlfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> [[Birl]] is also a particular gender identity.
* '''Boifriend.''' "Queer, [[boi]] is a particular gender identity."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Boo.''' From "beau". Originated as African American slang, but now used more widely.
* '''Bothfriend.''' "Queer, for [[bigender]] or [[androgynous]] people."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Boygirlfriend.''' "Queer, for bigender or androgynous people."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Cuddle Buddy.''' "Neutral, cheesy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Date.''' "Neutral, the person you are dating."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Datefriend.''' "Neutral, the person you are dating, but fitting the boyfriend/girlfriend pattern."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Datemate.''' "Neutral, a rhyming version of datefriend, the person you are dating."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Enbyfriend.''' "Queer, based on boyfriend and girfriend. (note: enby comes from NB, non-binary)."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Feyfriend.''' Queer, due to the implications of "fey."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Genderfriend.''' "Queer, based on boyfriend and girlfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Girlboyfriend.''' "Queer, for bigender or androgynous people."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Lover.''' "Neutral, often implies sexual relationship, but simply refers to someone you love/who loves you."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''[name]friend.''' "Queer, based on girlfriend and boyfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Paramour.''' "Neutral, someone you are having a sexual relationship with."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Personfriend.''' "Neutral, leaning towards queer, based on boyfriend and girlfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Sweetie.''' "Neutral, slightly cheesy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Sweetheart.''' "Neutral, cheesy or old-fashioned."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
=====Significant other=====
 
Gender-neutral and genderqueer words for a girlfriend, boyfriend, or partner in a committed relationship. Alphabetical order.
 
* '''Beloved.''' Neutral, one who one loves.
* '''Birlfriend.''' "Queer, mix of boyfriend and girlfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> [[Birl]] is also a particular gender identity.
* '''Boifriend.''' "Queer, [[boi]] is a particular gender identity."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Bothfriend.''' "Queer, for [[bigender]] or [[androgynous]] people."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Boygirlfriend.''' "Queer, for bigender or androgynous people."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Companion.''' "Neutral, reference to Doctor Who’s companions, or Firefly’s Companions."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Cuddle Buddy.''' "Neutral, cheesy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Enbyfriend.''' "Queer, based on boyfriend and girfriend. (note: enby comes from NB, non-binary)."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Feyfriend.''' Queer, due to the implications of "fey."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Genderfriend.''' "Queer, based on boyfriend and girlfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Girlboyfriend.''' "Queer, for bigender or androgynous people."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Imzadi.''' "Neutral, from Star Trek, a Betazed word similar to beloved."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Loveperson.''' "Neutral, a person that you love."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''[name]friend.''' "Queer, based on girlfriend and boyfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Other Half.''' "Neutral, informal, and implies monogamy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Paramour.''' "Neutral, someone you are having a sexual relationship with."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Partner.''' Neutral, but often queer.
* '''Personfriend.''' "Neutral, leaning towards queer, based on boyfriend and girlfriend."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Significant Other (S.O.).''' "Neutral, quite formal."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> Implies monogamy.
* '''Soul Mate.''' "Neutral, slightly cheesy, implies belief in soul mates."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> Implies monogamy.
* '''Steady.''' "Neutral, as in 'going steady' or 'steady girlfriend/boyfriend'."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> Implies monogamy.
* '''Sweetie.''' "Neutral, slightly cheesy."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Sweetheart.''' "Neutral, cheesy or old-fashioned."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
=====Fiancée/Fiancé=====
 
In addition to the above list of words for significant other.
 
* '''Betrothed.''' "Neutral, formal."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref> Usually means an arranged marriage.
 
=====Spouse=====
 
In addition to the above list of words for significant other.
 
* '''Spouse.''' "Standard, neutral, formal."<ref>"Gender neutral/queer titles." ''Gender Queeries.'' [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
 
====Other family relationships====
 
Gender-neutral and genderqueer words for other kinds of family relationships.
 
* '''Godparent.''' Standard gender neutral term for godfather or godmother.
* '''Grandchild.''' Standard gender neutral term for grandson or granddaughter.
 
===Professions===
 
* '''Bar tender.''' Standard gender neutral term for barman or barmaid.
* '''Business person.''' Standard gender neutral term for businessman or businesswoman.
* '''Clergy member.''' Standard gender neutral term for clergyman, priest, priestess, and many religious titles.
* '''Cowhand.''' Standard gender neutral term for cowboy or cowgirl.
* '''Heroix.''' Proposed nonbinary equivalent to hero or heroine that specifies an individual doing heroic work is nonbinary.
* '''Horse rider.''' Standard gender neutral term for horseman or horsewoman.
* '''Minister.''' Standard gender neutral term for priest or priestess.
* '''Monarch.''' Standard gender neutral term for a king or queen.
* '''Monarch's heir.''' Gender neutral term for a prince or princess.
* '''Prime.''' Derived from Latin. Gender Neutral term for a prince or princess.
* '''Princette.''' Queer, based on the Prince/ess ending. Gender Neutral term for a prince or princess.
* '''Princexx/Princex/Prinx''' Other gender neutral terms for Prince/Princess/Royalty incorporating the letter x; a common indicator of gender neutral language
* '''Royalty.''' Standard. Usually refers to a family but can be used as a Gender Neutral term for a prince/princess or a king/queen.
* '''Noble.''' A nobleman/noblewoman, lord/lady, prince/princess, duke/duchess, or many other noble ranks that lack specific gender neutral titles.
* '''Pilot.''' Standard gender neutral term for aviator or aviatrix.
* '''Police officer''' Standard gender neutral term for policeman or policewoman.
* '''Server.''' Standard gender neutral term for a person who provides items to customers, such as a "waiter/waitress" or "steward/stewardess".
 
===Descriptions===
 
* '''Attractive.''' Gender neutral term equally applicable to "handsome" or "beautiful" individuals. Implies the speaker experiences some form of attraction, so might not be suitable for people who are [[aromantic]] or [[asexual]].
* '''Gorgeous.''' Gender neutral alternative to "handsome" or "beautiful," but tends to be feminine.
* '''Youthful.''' Gender neutral alternative to "boyish" or perhaps "girlish," but tends to be masculine.
 
===Deity titles===
 
* '''Absolute Being.''' Standard term for a monotheistic deity, without implied gender.
* '''Almighty.''' Standard term for a monotheistic deity, without implied gender.
* '''Creator.''' Standard term for a deity who created the world and/or humankind.
* '''Deity.''' Standard gender neutral term for a god or goddess.
* '''Divine, the.''' Common gender neutral term for a deity or supernatural forces.
* '''Divine being.''' Common gender neutral term for a deity or supernatural entity.
* '''God.''' Standard gender neutral term for a god or goddess, but tends to be presumed male.
* '''Goddex.''' "Queer, based on the God/dess ending."<ref>[http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Goddette.''' "Queer, based on the God/ess ending."<ref>[http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Goddeq.''' "Queer, based on the God/ess ending."<ref>[http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Heavens, the'''. Common gender neutral term for a deity, deities, or supernatural forces.
* '''Higher Power'''. Standard gender neutral term for a deity, deities, or supernatural forces.
* '''Liege.''' Neutral equivalent of lord or lady.
* '''Powers that be.''' Common gender neutral term for a god, goddess, or similar supernatural beings or forces.
* '''Ruler.''' Neutral equivalent of lord or lady.
* '''Sovereign.''' Neutral equivalent of lord or lady.
* '''Wild Divine, the.''' New Age name for God, Goddess, or primal supernatural forces.
 
===Other terms===
 
* '''Fanenby.''' Queer, using enby after fanboy or fangirl.<ref>[http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles]</ref>
* '''Fankid.''' Neutral, after fanboy or fangirl.
* '''Wedding usher.''' Neutral, alternative to bridesmaid or groomsman.
 
==French==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of French gender and sex terminology]].''
 
<!-- ===Pronouns=== -->
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==German==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of German gender and sex terminology]].''
 
===Nouns, Adjectives etc.===
'''Asterisk, Underscore, Punctuation'''
 
Pronounced as a pause or glottal stop.
In between "feminine" and "masculine" ending, the most common version:
* mein_e beste*r Freund:in
Either after the stem - or more realistically at the next best place that has nothing to do with feminine/masculine forms but makes sense for pronunciation:
* mei:ne bes_ter Freun*din
At random places:
* mei*ne best:er Freundi_n
Can be used consistently or mixed up like in the example above.
 
 
'''X'''<ref>[http://feministisch-sprachhandeln.org/leitfaden/kapitel2/]</ref>
 
Pronounced like ''iks''.<ref>[http://feministisch-sprachhandeln.org/leitfaden/kapitel4/]</ref>
* meinx bestx Freundx
(or e.g. Befreunx to avoid basing it on the masculine form)
Or wite it as -iks.
* meiniks bestiks Freundiks
 
'''Shortened Words and Nonsense Forms'''<ref>[http://nomthecatsaid.tumblr.com/post/124574373381/kennst-du-eine-gute-seite-auf-der-man-sich-%C3%BCber]</ref>
 
Fairly well known -i words:
* der_die Studi, dix Touri
New words by the same pattern:
* dier  Mitbewohni, der*die Kollegi
 
Use the short -i forms or make up new endings and treat the word as neutrum.
* mein bestes Freundi
* mein liebes Mitbewohnsi
 
Use -mensch, -menschi, -person:
* das Postmenschi
* meine Liebhabperson
* der liebe Katzenbetreu-Mensch
Or just random words that you think are cute.
* Ich will Fotografierflausch werden.
 
===Pronouns===
''See main article at [[Pronouns#German_neutral_pronouns]].''
 
===Titles===
'''Instead of Frau/Herr'''
* '''Frann'''<ref>[http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/language]</ref> - nonstandard
* '''Ind.'''<ref>[http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/language]</ref> von "Individuum", nonstandard
* '''Mau'''<ref>[http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/language]</ref> - nonstandard
* '''Per''' - nonstandard
 
'''Professional &amp; Academic Titles'''
* '''Doctorx'''<ref>[http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/language]</ref> - nonstandard
* '''Professorx'''<ref>[http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/language]</ref> - nonstandard
* '''Professx'''<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/unispiegel/wunderbar/gendertheorie-studierx-lann-hornscheidt-ueber-gerechte-sprache-a-965843.html]</ref>, abgekürzt ''Prof.'' oder ''Profx.'' - nonstandard
 
===Family terms===
'''Parent'''
* '''Elter''' - nonstandard, will sound awkward but be recognised
* '''Mapa''' - nonstandard
* '''Pama''' - nonstandard
 
'''Child'''
* '''Enbie, Enby''' - instead of Mädchen/Junge/Bub, nonstandard
* '''Großes''' - standard
* '''Kind''' - standard
* '''Kleines''' - standard
 
'''Aunt/Uncle'''
* '''Tankel''' - nonstandard
 
'''Niece/Nephew'''
* '''Nibling''' - nonstandard
 
'''Grandparent'''
* '''Großelter''' - nonstandard, will sound awkward but be understood
 
'''Sibling'''
* '''Bruderin, Bruder*in''' - nonstandard
* '''Brüderin, Brüder*in''' - nonstandard
* '''das Geschwister''' - nonstandard, will sound awkward but be understood
* '''Geschwisterchen''' - standard, but old fashioned and usually used for very young siblings
* '''der/mein Schwester''' - nonstandard
 
'''Partner'''
* '''Freund*in'''
* '''Herzmensch'''
* '''Liebschaft'''
* '''Partner*in'''
 
 
<!-- ===Professions=== -->
<!-- ===Descriptions=== -->
<!-- ===Other terms=== -->
 
==Hindi==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Hindi gender and sex terminology]].''
 
<!-- ===Pronouns=== -->
<!-- ===Titles=== -->
<!-- ===Family terms=== -->
<!-- ===Professions=== -->
<!-- ===Descriptions=== -->
<!-- ===Other terms=== -->
 
==Japanese==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Japanese gender and sex terminology]].''
 
<!-- ===Pronouns=== -->
<!-- ===Titles=== -->
<!-- ===Family terms=== -->
<!-- ===Professions=== -->
<!-- ===Descriptions=== -->
<!-- ===Other terms=== -->
 
==Korean==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Korean gender and sex terminology]].''
 
<!-- ===Pronouns=== -->
<!-- ===Titles=== -->
<!-- ===Family terms=== -->
<!-- ===Professions=== -->
<!-- ===Descriptions=== -->
<!-- ===Other terms=== -->
 
==Portuguese==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Brazilian Portuguese gender and sex terminology]], and [[Glossary of European Portuguese gender and sex terminology]].''
 
<!-- ===Pronouns=== -->
<!-- ===Titles=== -->
<!-- ===Family terms=== -->
<!-- ===Professions=== -->
<!-- ===Descriptions=== -->
<!-- ===Other terms=== -->
 
 
==Russian==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Russian gender and sex terminology]].''
 
Unlike English, Russian has three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. While neuter allows some non-binary people adjectives to use, this gender is not ideal for non-binary people for grammatical reasons. The first is that most neuter nouns decline like masculine nouns. The second is that neuter animate nouns do not change in the accusative case, while both masculine and feminine nouns do. This implies that people using neuter words are not human.
 
<!-- ===Non-binary word and case endings=== -->
<!-- ===Animate neuter-gender grammar=== -->
<!-- ===Pronouns=== -->
 
===Titles===
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! госпожне
| Plural is "госпожня". Grammatical gender is neutral, and while in the singular it takes endings similar to the masculine.
|-
|}
 
===Family Terms===
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! -евче and -овче
| In Russian, rather than middle names, children have patronyms, or their father's first name with -евич/-ович (for boys) or -евна/-овна (for girls) added to the end. -евче and -овче are [[genderqueer]] endings for one's patronym. Alternatives include -евчен/-овчен (agender), -еви/-ови (multigender) and more.
|-
|}
 
<!-- ===Professions=== -->
<!-- ===Descriptions=== -->
<!-- ===Other terms=== -->
 
==Spanish==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Spanish gender and sex terminology]].''
 
Spanish has two grammatical genders, masculine and feminine. Like other Romance languages, it's very difficult to talk about a person in a gender-neutral way. This is because every adjective, noun, and article are all either masculine or feminine. It's difficult or even impossible to be completely gender-neutral in standard Spanish. However, feminists, LGBT people, and other activists today have made ideas for how to speak Spanish in a gender-neutral way when necessary. For example, it's now common for people to write "Latinx" or "Latin@" as a gender-inclusive version of "Latino" and "Latina". For more information, see [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_neutrality_in_Spanish_and_Portuguese Wikipedia's article: Gender neutrality in Spanish and Portuguese].
 
===Letter substitution===
 
In Spanish, many nouns and adjectives end in either a masculine -o or a feminine -a. These same letters are also used in the grammatical gender of the definite articles. For example, ''niño bueno'' ("good boy") and ''niña buena'' ("good girl"); ''los amigos'' ("the friends," if the group has at least one man, or isn't known to be all women, although this can be used in a gender-neutral sense) and ''las amigas'' ("the friends," but only if the group is all women). Many people who want gender-neutral options for Spanish have had ideas for substituting these letters with something else that would make a word gender-neutral. These non-standard proposed alternatives are:
 
* '''@'''. In this use, the "at" symbol is meant to look like a mix of a masculine o and a feminine a letters.<ref>Sikian. ''Reddit''. Forum comment. 2015. https://www.reddit.com/r/genderqueer/comments/2ymn25/gender_in_language_to_all_you_nonbinary_redditors/cpdjdhi</ref><ref>Sophia Gubb. "Construyendo Un Género Neutro En Español – Para Una Lengua Feminista, Igualitaria E Inclusiva." February 10, 2013. ''Sophia Gubb's Blog.'' Personal blog entry.  http://www.sophiagubb.com/construyendo-un-genero-neutro-en-espanol-para-una-lengua-feminista-igualitaria-e-inclusiva/</ref><ref>http://www.spanishforsocialchange.com/2015/05/living-as-non-binary-or-gender-neutral.html</ref> For example: ''niñ@ buen@'' ("good child"), ''l@s amig@s'' ("the friends" with no assumptions about their genders), ''Latin@'' ("Latino/Latina"). It can be pronounced as "ao".<ref>http://genderfork.com/2013/question-gender-neutral-honorifics-in-spanish/</ref> It's one of the most commonly used in this list. It would go with the proposed neutral pronoun [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|ell@]].<ref>rabbitglitter, "Multilingual pronouns list." ''Nonbinary Resource'' (blog). [http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list]</ref>
* '''æ'''. The "AE" character stands for an alternative to the O and A. For example: ''niñæ buenæ'', ''læs amigæs'', ''Latinæ''. It can go with the proposed neutral pronoun [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|ellæ]].<ref>rabbitglitter, "Multilingual pronouns list." ''Nonbinary Resource'' (blog). [http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list]</ref>
* '''Ⓐ'''. The anarchy symbol happens to look like a mix of an O and A, and some radical political writings use it in their place, in the sense of rebellion against gender roles and other oppressive aspects of society.<ref>Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref> For example: ''niñⒶ buenⒶ'', ''lⒶs amigⒶs'', ''LatinⒶ''. Like the more common @, this would also be pronounced "ao".
* '''e'''. The letter E represents an alternative to the O and A.<ref>http://www.spanishforsocialchange.com/2015/05/living-as-non-binary-or-gender-neutral.html</ref> For example: ''niñe buene'', ''les amigues'', ''Latine''. Many nouns and adjectives already end in -e, so it can sound natural to create new -e versions. A few words would need spelling changes to keep the pronunciation the same: if the E comes after a C, the C becomes "qu" (''chico – chique''); after G, it becomes "gu" (''gallego – gallegue'').<ref>Sophia Gubb. "Construyendo Un Género Neutro En Español – Para Una Lengua Feminista, Igualitaria E Inclusiva." February 10, 2013. ''Sophia Gubb's Blog.'' Personal blog entry.  http://www.sophiagubb.com/construyendo-un-genero-neutro-en-espanol-para-una-lengua-feminista-igualitaria-e-inclusiva/</ref> The neutral E would go with with the proposed neutral pronouns [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|elle]] or [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|ele]].<ref>rabbitglitter, "Multilingual pronouns list." ''Nonbinary Resource'' (blog). [http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list]</ref><ref>Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>
* '''i'''. The letter I is a substitute for O and A. For example: ''niñi bueni'', ''lis amigi'', ''Latini''. This would go with the proposed neutral pronoun [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|elli]].<ref>rabbitglitter, "Multilingual pronouns list." ''Nonbinary Resource'' (blog). [http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list]</ref>
* '''u'''. The letter U is a substitute for O and A.<ref>http://genderfork.com/2013/question-gender-neutral-honorifics-in-spanish/</ref> For example: ''niñu buenu'', ''lus amigus'', ''Latinu''. This would go with the proposed neutral pronoun [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|ellu]].<ref>rabbitglitter, "Multilingual pronouns list." ''Nonbinary Resource'' (blog). [http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list]</ref>
* '''x'''. The letter X represents the absence of either O or A.<ref>Sikian. ''Reddit''. Forum comment. 2015. https://www.reddit.com/r/genderqueer/comments/2ymn25/gender_in_language_to_all_you_nonbinary_redditors/cpdjdhi</ref><ref>http://genderfork.com/2013/question-gender-neutral-honorifics-in-spanish/</ref><ref>http://www.spanishforsocialchange.com/2015/05/living-as-non-binary-or-gender-neutral.html</ref> It's one of the most commonly used in this list, and is intuitive in writing, but can't be pronounced. For example: ''niñx buenx'', ''lxs amigxs'', ''Latinx''. This would go with the proposed neutral pronoun [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|ellx]]. 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>rabbitglitter, "Multilingual pronouns list." ''Nonbinary Resource'' (blog). [http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list http://nonbinaryresource.tumblr.com/post/102614223062/multilingual-pronouns-list]</ref>
 
===Articles===
 
Standard Spanish articles have binary gender as well as number. The indefinite articles are ''un'', ''unos'', ''una'', ''unas''. The definite articles are ''el'', ''los'', ''la'', ''las''. People have come up with some gender-neutral alternatives to these.
 
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"
! Standard Spanish
! singular indefinite articles: un, una
! plural definite articles: unos, unas
! singular definite articles: el, la
! plural definite articles: los, las
|-
| @ letter substitution
| ?
| ?
| l@
| l@s
|-
| e letter substitution
| une<ref>Sophia Gubb. "Construyendo Un Género Neutro En Español – Para Una Lengua Feminista, Igualitaria E Inclusiva." February 10, 2013. ''Sophia Gubb's Blog.'' Personal blog entry.  http://www.sophiagubb.com/construyendo-un-genero-neutro-en-espanol-para-una-lengua-feminista-igualitaria-e-inclusiva/</ref>
| unes<ref>Sophia Gubb. "Construyendo Un Género Neutro En Español – Para Una Lengua Feminista, Igualitaria E Inclusiva." February 10, 2013. ''Sophia Gubb's Blog.'' Personal blog entry.  http://www.sophiagubb.com/construyendo-un-genero-neutro-en-espanol-para-una-lengua-feminista-igualitaria-e-inclusiva/</ref>
| le. This creates a homonym for the masculine indirect object pronoun, ''le''.<ref>Sophia Gubb. "Construyendo Un Género Neutro En Español – Para Una Lengua Feminista, Igualitaria E Inclusiva." February 10, 2013. ''Sophia Gubb's Blog.'' Personal blog entry.  http://www.sophiagubb.com/construyendo-un-genero-neutro-en-espanol-para-una-lengua-feminista-igualitaria-e-inclusiva/</ref><ref>Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>
| les. Also a homonym for the plural masculine indirect object pronoun, ''les''.<ref>Sophia Gubb. "Construyendo Un Género Neutro En Español – Para Una Lengua Feminista, Igualitaria E Inclusiva." February 10, 2013. ''Sophia Gubb's Blog.'' Personal blog entry.  http://www.sophiagubb.com/construyendo-un-genero-neutro-en-espanol-para-una-lengua-feminista-igualitaria-e-inclusiva/</ref><ref>Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>
|-
| i letter substitution
| uni?
| unis?
| li
| lis
|-
| x letter substitution
| ?
| ?
| lx?
| lxs
|-
| miscellaneous other alternatives
|
|
| ol<ref>Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>
| oles<ref>Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>
|}
 
===Personal pronouns===
 
''See main article: [[Pronouns#Spanish neutral pronouns|Spanish neutral pronouns]].''
 
===Non-binary articles and pronouns===
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! -le or ele and les, elles
| While "le" and "les" are already used as indirect object pronouns, in these cases they cover all genders. The use of "le" as a direct object pronoun or "ele" as a pronoun match the -e ending. "Ele" could turn into "elles" just as "él" becomes "ellos" and "ella" becomes "ellas".
|-
! -ol and oles (articles, objects), ól and olles (pronouns)
| Agender indicators.
|-
|}
 
===Nouns===
 
In Spanish, every noun is either female or male. None have a truly "neuter" grammatical gender. There are some kinds of nouns that come close to being gender-neutral in some ways: epicene nouns, common gender nouns, ambiguous gender nouns, and newly-made neutral or genderqueer nouns.
 
====Epicene nouns====
 
Some words, regardless of their own grammatical gender, are used for men and women alike, without changing the word's ending. Its article stays the same, too. (However, when these nouns are used for women, it's now acceptable in standard Spanish to optionally change to the feminine article.) These words are epicene (''epiceno''). This is the closest that standard Spanish gets to gender neutral language.
 
Some signs that a word is epicene:
* Some words that end in -o or -a are epicene, you can't tell by looking at them. Also, be warned that some nouns ending in -a are only for men, such as ''cura'', "priest".
* Words with the epicene ''-ista'' ending, which is used for occupations and people who do things. This is with the exception of ''modisto'', "male fashion designer".
 
A list of some epicene nouns in conventional Spanish:
* ''ciclista'' = cyclist
* ''el cliente'' = client, but a female client can be ''la clienta''.
* ''el dentista'' = dentist of any gender, but a female dentist can be ''la dentista''.
* ''el especialista'' = specialist
* ''el estudiante'' = student of any gender, but a female student can be ''la estudiante''.
* ''el esposo'' = spouse. This is masculine and can mean husband, but it can also mean a spouse of any gender.
* ''la jefe'' = chef of any gender, but a female chef is ''la jefa''.
* ''el padre'' = parent. This is masculine and can mean father, but it can also mean a parent of any gender. "''Tengo dos padres''" can mean "I have two parents" or "I have two fathers."
* ''la persona'' = person
* ''el personaje'' = personage
* ''turista'' = tourist
* ''la víctima'' = victim.
 
====Common gender nouns====
 
There are also words with a "common gender" (''común''), meaning that the word itself stays the same whether it's applied to a man or woman, but its article changes gender to match the binary gender of the person to whom it is applied.
 
Some signs a noun is common gender:
* Many end in -e, in standard Spanish.
* Some end in -o or -a, so they look masculine or feminine.
 
A list of some common gender nouns in conventional Spanish:
* ''el/la atacante'' = attacker
* ''el/la espía'' = spy
* ''el/la estudiante'' = student
* ''el/la mártir'' = martyr
* ''el/la presidente'' = president
* ''el/la testigo'' = witness
* ''el/la violinista'' = violinist
 
====Ambiguous gender nouns====
 
Some words in Spanish aren't consistent in what grammatical gender they have. They've been used as feminine or masculine words depending on the place and time period. They may have one conventional version, plus an alternative gender that is used poetically or in archaic language. These words are rare. There are only about a hundred of them. They still mean the same thing even when their gender changes. (Unlike, say, ''la cometa'' "kite" and ''el cometa'' "comet.") They're called ambiguous nouns (''nombres ambíguos en cuanto al género'').
 
====New nouns====
 
People have created new, non-standard nouns. Some are gender-inclusive (can be used for men, women, and nonbinary people). Some are only for people who identify as nonbinary or genderqueer.
 
One non-standard method for forming gender-inclusive and nonbinary nouns is by letter substitution, which is described above. This creates words such as:
* ''abuel@'' or ''abuele'' = grandfather/grandmother/grandparent
* ''espos@, espose'' = husband/wife/spouse
* ''herman@, hermane'' = brother/sister/sibling
* ''niñ@, niñe'' = boy/girl/child
* ''novi@, novie'' = boyfriend/girlfriend/datemate
 
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==Swedish==
 
[[File:Hen - Swedish pronoun.jpg|thumb|A symbol of Swedish female, male, and neutral pronouns.]]
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Swedish gender and sex terminology]].''
 
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 comparable to an inanimate object. Since the 1960s, the person pronoun ''hen'' has become increasingly popular and will, in 2015, 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 contraversial and is vigorously opposed by some.
 
===Pronouns===
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! hen
| Standard gender neutral / third gender personal pronoun
|-
! hens
| Possive form of hen
|-
! henom
| Object form of hen
|-
|}
 
The object form of hen is sometimes just hens. It is very individual.
 
<!-- ===Titles=== -->
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==Thai==
 
''See also: [[Glossary of Thai gender and sex terminology]].''
 
<!-- ===Pronouns=== -->
<!-- ===Titles=== -->
<!-- ===Family terms=== -->
<!-- ===Professions=== -->
<!-- ===Descriptions=== -->
<!-- ===Other terms=== -->
 
==External links==
 
* [http://genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles Gender-neutral/Queer Titles]. A long, continually updated list of gender-neutral or genderqueer words for family members and relationships in English.
* [https://collectanealinguistica.wordpress.com/2016/06/28/language-learning-beyond-the-gender-binary/ Language learning beyond the gender binary], by linguist Timothy McKeon, on how to be gender-neutral or gender-variant in many different languages.
 
==References==
<references/>
 
[[Category:Practical resources]] [[Category:Language]] [[Category:Gender neutral language]]
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