they

head

they (third-person, nominative case, usually plural, sometimes singular, objective case them, possessive their, possessive noun theirs, reflexive themselves, or reflexive singular themself)

en-pron

them (objective)
their (possessive)
theirs (noun possessive)
themselves (reflexive)
themself (reflexive singular)
They (alternative honorific)
dey (alternative)
thay (alternative archaic)
theye (alternative archaic)
thaay (alternative)
theye (alternative)

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
English they From Middle English þei, borrowed in the 1200s from Old Norse þeir, plural of the demonstrative sá which acted as a plural pronoun. Displaced native Middle English he from Old English hīe — which vowel changes had left indistinct from he (“he”) — by the 1400s, being readily incorporated alongside native words beginning with the same sound (the, that, this). Used as a singular pronoun since 1300, e.g. in the 1325 Cursor Mundi.
The Norse term (whence also Icelandic þeir (“they”), Faroese teir (“they”), Danish de (“they”), Swedish de (“they”), Norwegian Nynorsk dei (“they”)) is from Proto-Germanic *þai (“those”) (from Proto-Indo-European *to- (“that”)), whence also Old English þā (“those”) (whence obsolete English tho), Scots thae, thai, thay (“they; those”).
(American linguist John McWhorter rejects this and suggests that they, them, and their are native English instead, from Old English þā, þām, þāra.)
The origin of the determiner they (“the, those”) is unclear. The OED, English Dialect Dictionary and Middle English Dictionary define it and its Middle English predecessor thei as a demonstrative determiner or adjective meaning "those" or "the". This could be a continuation of the use of the English pronoun they's Old Norse etymon þeir as a demonstrative meaning "those", but the OED and EDD say it is limited to southern, especially southwestern, England, specifically outside the region of Norse contact.

etymon

it doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right

The following table shows a list of English personal pronoun

including archaic and dialectal forms. Dialectal and obsolete

archaic forms are in italics. 1 See Appendix:English third-person singular pronouns for attested neopronoun.

other attested third-person singular pronouns

Somebody requested a seat at Friday's performance but didn't say if they preferred the balcony or the floor.

If someone enters the restricted area, they are required to present identification.

I asked my friend if they wanted to come, but they said no.

One of the boys tripped over, and they hit their head on the door.

Then shalt thou bring forth that man, or that woman (which haue committed that wicked thing) vnto thy gates, euen that man, or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones till they die.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 17:5:

Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione.

1997, J. K. Rowling, chapter 10, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, (quoted edition: London: Bloomsbury, 2000, →ISBN, page 187):

One thing a nominee earns is the right to pick the vice president that they think will best reflect their vision of the country, and I am just glad I will have nothing to do with it.

2008, Michelle Obama, quoted in Lisa Rogak, Michelle Obama in Her Own Words, New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2009. →ISBN, page 18

The boycott, led by Elisha Lim, of a Toronto gay and lesbian newspaper after it refused to use their preferred pronoun ["they"], citing grammar considerations, inspired me.

2014, Ivan E. Coyote, Rae Spoon, Gender Failure, →ISBN:

I'm angry that we're here again, that we have had to tell another mother that their child is dead.

2015 April, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (mayor of Baltimore), commenting on the death of Freddie Gray

(the third-person singular nominative, occasionally proscribed) A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st century) non-binary.

the third-person singular nominative; occasionally proscribed; the third-person singular nominative; occasionally proscribed

not used in Dyirbal (Dyirbal has no third-person pronoun)

(usually indicated by the suffix only) -nak

o

third-person singular, of unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary gender

(usually indicated by the third-person singular zero suffix only) -∅

그 (geu) (literary, poetic, or in translated works only)


ze

But I do know what sex ze is. It used to influence me. But now I talk to hir like a normal person. I mean, without thinking about what ze is.

1996 June, Caitlin Sullivan with Bornstein, Kate, Nearly Roadkill: an Infobahn erotic adventure, New York: Serpent's Tail, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, LCC PS3569.U3449 N43 1996, page 10:

A case in point is Tula, a transgendered woman who for years lived well as a model and actress until ze was outed in both national and international media.

1997 December 18, Kate Bornstein, My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely, London, New York: Routledge, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, LCC HQ1075.B69 1998, page 130:

Ze takes my right hand in hirs and folds it into a fist.

2006 March 22, Leslie Feinberg, Drag King Dreams, New York: Carroll & Graf, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, LCC PS3556.E427 D73 2006, page 205:

Ze changed hir name to one of those New Testament names, and re-fashioned hirself into a soft, puffy, half-finished hermaphrodite nicknamed, The Pop n' Fresh Doe.

2010 October 12, Erika Lopez, The Girl Must Die: A Monster Girl Memoir, Hicken, Jeffrey, San Francisco: Monster Girl Media, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 143:

Hir face was implacable, but ze dashed away in tears.

2011 March 15, M. J. Locke, Up Against It, New York: Tor, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, LCC PS3612.O249 U7 2011, page 361:

(rare, nonstandard) a gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, equivalent to singular they, and coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.


Latine

Wherein to speak strictly, if by this word Grashopper, we understand that animal which is implied by τέττιξ with the Greeks, and by Cicada with the Latines; we may with safety affirm the picture is widely mistaken, and that for ought enquiry can inform, there is no such insect in England.

1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:

But because the letters of every tongue, as we shewed in the first book, have in their number, order, and figure a Celestiall and Divine originall, I shall easily grant this calculation concerning the names of spirits to be made not only by Hebrew letters, but also by Chaldean, and Arabick, Ægyptian, Greek, Latine, and any other...

1651, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Three Books of Occult Philosophy:


Latine

Borrowed from Spanish latine (“Latine; Latino or Latina”). The gender-neutral suffix -e replaces the gendered suffixes -a and -o.

-a-o-x

(gender-neutral, neologism) Someone of Latin American descent; a Latino or Latina.


Latine

(gender-neutral, neologism) Hispanic; Latino or Latina.


Mg

Coined in 2024, at least in part on the mistaken notion that mage is descended from magister, the same as Mr and Ms.

(LGBTQ) Abbreviation of mage A gender-neutral title used instead of Mr (Mister), Mrs (Mistress), etc.


xe

head

xe (third-person singular, gender-neutral, nominative case, oblique xem, reflexive xyrself or xirself or xemself, possessive xyr or xir)

en-pron

xem (oblique)
xyrself (reflexive)
xirself (reflexive)
xemself (reflexive)
xyr (possessive)
xir (possessive)

Apparently independently invented by several people, including Don Rickter. The pronoun appeared in the Unitarian Universalist publication UU World on May 1, 1973, and Mario Pei gave Rickter credit on page 145 of his book Weasel Words (1978).

Anyone I would be interested in would have to be a pretty special person. I wouldn't want to miss out on knowing such a person just because xe happened to be the "wrong" sex.

1992, Jim Sinclair, “If you could choose...”, in Jim Sinclair's Web Site, archived from the original on 2003-11-03:

Telepathy would require that you share the other person's knowledge of xyr own mind, which in turn requires recognizing that xe is actually aware of what xe's thinking, which is incompatible with psychiatry.

1993 September 14, Jim Sinclair, “Re: Jim and Steve's snoring discussion”, in bit.listserv.autism (Usenet), message-ID <AUTISM%93091417074261@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>:

Now full ownership in the modern sense... implies four rights of the owner: 1. The right to decide what xe does with xyr property; 2. the right to decide what others do with xyr property; […]

1999 April 28, Dagmar Alpen, “Re: Think of a small tribe of people...”, in talk.politics.libertarian (Usenet), message-ID <7g74qb$8sq$1@rzsun02.rrz.uni-hamburg.de>:

Since xe went to the trouble of re-posting, I figured it was about something of more than usual importance to hir... I wrote to EmGee privately and xe said yes, that was one of the things xe was talking about.

2000 December 11, Mary Ellen Curtin, “Silencing and ad hominem attacks”, in alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated (Usenet), message-ID <074d01c06393$c1a2fb00$5be9cfcf@default>:

I mean, suppose there's someone who can't leave the house because xe's all tied up with counting tiles in the bathroom all day, and if xe manages to get done with that, there's the stove to check again and again ... you get the idea.

2002 March 3, Ken von Mattell, “Re: Newbie...not quite sure yet...”, in alt.suicide.holiday (Usenet), message-ID <rif48uc0ja9q3km9o2jf167d4u4o3qpk1k@4ax.com>:

The soft blue sky had the feel of a good omen. In Xir old age, the god moved slower every year; lingering in the shallows long after the last fish had been swallowed up by nets. Sometimes Xe stood still for days, in sight of the shore, as if Xe had not quite decided whether to beach Xemself for good. Let Xem only survive long enough to spawn a new god! Else Xir helpless people would be godless ans stranded in the haunted dryland where the dead cities slept. Where less kindly deities roamed.

2023, Aimee Ogden, “A Half-Remembered World”, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, vol. 145, no. 1-2, whole no. 768 (July/August 2023), pages 146-202

(nonstandard) they (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.


-x

From the use of x as a neutral or nonspecific placeholder.

alumnx, Chicanx, Latinx

(neologism) Used to replace a gendered suffix.


xem

1997, Jared Blackburn, in bit.listserv.autism http://groups.google.com/group/bit.listserv.autism/msg/b20545b793ca6c1e?dmode=source&hl=en
Still, most parents have some intuitive understanding that "our child is not like us, maybe someone like xem could help...."


fae

head

fae (oblique fae, possessive adjective faer, possessive pronoun faers, reflexive faerself)

fae (oblique)
faer (adjective possessive)
faers (possessive pronoun without-noun)
faerself (reflexive)

Vandikas' parents, for example, haven't yet fully embraced the concept. Faer mother once asked faer to help her understand how fae would like her to talk about faer. Fae was encouraged, but faer mother's use of the pronouns didn't last – maybe, fae said, because it was such a foreign concept to the older generation, "so I just said to myself, she's my mom, I'll deal with it."

2016 September 22, Kim Zarzour, “Language Matters”, in Parkdale Villager, Parkdale, Toronto, ON, page 15:

Fae had decked faerself in a modest amount of cheap jewelry, faer makeup inexpertly applied.

2022, Novae Caelum, The Truthspoken Heir: The Stars and Green Magics - Season One, unnumbered page:

Soul describes and shares part of the "I AM" poem which fae wrote for faer college application.

2022, Sherry Paris, You Can Make a Difference!: A Creative Workbook and Journal for Young Activists, page 24:

(rare, nonstandard, neologism) A gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, equivalent to singular they, and coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.


genderqueer

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-genderqueer.wav

From gender + queer. First known appearance in print was in 1995 in a newsletter by Riki Wilchins.

(LGBTQ, sometimes offensive) Not exclusively male or female; having or pertaining to a gender identity which is not represented by the gender binary.

genderqueer

having a non-binary gender — see also non-binary


xyr

There's no central authority, and each server administrator owns xyr own server sets xyr own policy. Each server administrator sets xyr own policy for honouring cancel messages, too.

2010 November 5, Kevin G. Rhoads, “Re: Spam in the group.”, in openwatcom.users.fortran (Usenet), message-ID <4CD469A3.3985E10C@alum.mit.edu>:

This is xyr book.

(nonstandard, possessive) Belonging to xe, their (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular possessive adjective, coordinate with his and her.

As far as I'm concerned the constitution should be re-written so that anyone capable of being elected is ushered into a hidden room upon inauguration, where a secret panel of the Illuminati (preferably one chaired by me) beat xyr to death with blunt instruments and replace xyr by a Stepford Politician.

1996 September 12, Thomas Russo, “Re: Intelligent Women are an endangered Species”, in soc.singles (Usenet), message-ID <RUSSO.96Sep12163146@slug.swcp.com>:

Give it to xyr (after preposition)

I wrote xyr an e-mail (indirect object)

I haven't met xyr (direct object)

(nonstandard, personal, chiefly Internet) The form of xe used after a preposition or as the object of a verb; that woman, that ship, etc; similar usage to him/her.


xyrself

xyrself (the third person singular, gender-neutral, personal pronoun, the reflexive form of xe, feminine herself, masculine himself, neuter itself, plural themselves)

en-pron

xe (reflexive-of)
herself (feminine)
himself (masculine)
itself (neuter)
themselves (plural)

Xe accomplished it xyrself.

(emphatic, rare, nonstandard) xe; an intensive repetition of the gender-neutral subject, often used to indicate the exclusiveness of that person as the only satisfier of the predicate


zirself

head

zirself (the third person singular, gender-neutral, personal pronoun)

(emphatic, nonstandard) Ze; an intensive repetition of the gender-neutral subject, often used to indicate the exclusiveness of that person as the only satisfier of the predicate.


-x-

(neologism) Used to replace a gendered element or reduce perceived genderedness, such as in Mixter, mxn, womxn, etc.


faer

Ewan emphasized that thinking about how faer ancestors would have lived gave faer a sense of appreciation for the ease and comfort of modern life.

2019, Barbara Jane Davy, "Wyrd Ecology", thesis submitted to the University of Waterloo, page 134


xir

in the recent past, there was an impeachment trial of a judge where every juror was told to secretly choose xir own standard.

1999 January 3, Matthew Daly, soc.singles.moderated (Usenet):

This causes Cici to hide parts of xir identity to protect from these stereotypes.

2019 October 30, Debbie Luxon, “Myth-busting asexuality: Being asexual in Cambridgeshire”, in Cambridgeshire Live:


xir

An adaptation of sir, warped to resemble the neopronoun xe; check Etymology 1 above.

Xir, you forgot the gigachad image.

Your based tradwife, xir.

(Internet slang) A humorous term of address to someone of equal or higher rank or position, usually when informing them of something.

(Internet slang, dated) A humorous term of address to someone assumed to use or be tolerant to neopronouns, as a form of mockery.


zir

For quotations using this term, see Citations:zir.

A large clay jug for storing water, common in Egypt and the Sudan since ancient times.


zir

zir (third-person singular, gender-neutral, objective case, reflexive hirself)

en-pron

Blend of z (“gender-neutral (as in ze)”) + i (“him/his”) + r (“her”).

blend

gender-neutral (as in <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">ze</i>)

However, it soon became very lonely as none of Alice’s school friends could see zir anymore and they soon forgot all about zir.

2002, Lynsey Calderwood, Cracked: Recovering After Traumatic Brain Injury, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 155:

(rare, nonstandard) Gender-neutral third-person singular accusative (object) pronoun, equivalent to singular them and coordinate with him and her.


zir

… just when it seemed like zie was beginning to get a handle on zir teapot and form normal relationships – although one could hardly call zir twice-weekly sexual encounters with the March Hare ‘normal’ …

(rare, nonstandard) Belonging to zir, gender-neutral third-person singular possessive adjective, equivalent to singular their and coordinate with his and her.


genderfluid

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-genderfluid.wav

Another way that one can be "transgressively gendered" is by identifying as genderqueer or genderfluid—i.e., refusing to identify fully as either woman or man.

2009, Julia Serano, Whipping Girl, page 346:

A slightly newer term, genderqueer […] is also often used by people who believe they are genderfluid, who feel like both genders, who will sometimes feel male, sometimes female, or who may not believe that there are only two genders.

2011, Ellen Greenblatt, Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users, page 29:

For example, "queer" would include self-identified lesbians and gays who also have sex with the "opposite sex," sexual practices and relationships that include kink, s/m, polyamory, and pansexuality, gender play and fuck including femmes and those feminine of center, butches and those masculine of center, queens, femboys, gurls, bois, sissies, tomboys, crossdressers, drag queens and kings, and genderfluid people.

2016, Cindy I-Fen Cheng, The Routledge Handbook of Asian American Studies:

"I'm genderfluid! Sometimes a guy, sometimes a girl. Sometimes, I guess, confused shrug? Anyway, I have a spell that lets me change my default form, so my feminine form is not an enchantment."

2020 October 28, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Wednesday, Oct 28, 2020:

(LGBTQ) Not having a fixed gender; having a gender which changes from time to time.


agender

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-agender.wav

An agender noun includes both the masculine and feminine forms.

All I understand is that G-d is amorphous, agender, etc. so "image" can't be a physical or gender or sexual thing.

2000 July 28, Miriam Wolfe, “Re: The Genealogy of J---s Question”, in alt.messianic (Usenet):

"He" has been used as the default pronoun, and as I said, unfortunately there is no agender equivalent to he/she, as "it" is usually equated with something without life, or at least of a life form considered to be less intelligent (that in itself is negotiable, but this is for a different topic).

2000 November 21, abbycat2 [username], “Re: God and Grammar”, in soc.religion.quaker (Usenet):

But despite this near-universality of gender, cultures can have transgender, agender, and hypergender individuals.

2005 July 20, man_in_black529 [username], “Re: Homosexuality and the Bible”, in alt.politics.democrats (Usenet):

"'Agender'? I'm pretty sure that means not identifying as a particular gender? I'm sorry. That's just what it made me think of. I'm not trying to tell you what to--"

[2020 April 6, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Monday, Apr 6, 2020:

Without an associated gender (in any sense); not having a particular gender.


Mx

Coined based on Mr and Ms, with x chosen as a "wildcard" character. First proposed jokingly in print in 1977.

Mx. Mirage. I am a radically queer trannyboi with a big mouth.

2010, Sassafras Lowrey, editor, Kicked Out, page 216:

It has been proposed that in addition to the honorific Mr. for male and Ms. for female, that the honorific Mx. be used for intersexuals […]

2013, Heinz Duthel, Kathoey Ladyboy: Thailand’s Got Talent, Books on Demand, published 2013, →ISBN, page 84:

One of the most well-known gender nonconforming cabaret artists (who now works primarily in full length cabaret shows) is Mx Justin Vivian Bond.

2014, Laura Erickson-Schroth, editor, Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 559:

“I think the thing that was most surprising was how supportive and gung-ho a lot older alums were,” said Mx. LoSchiavo, who graduated this year (and would have been admitted under the new policy, having identified as a female at the time of application).

2015 June 4, Elizabeth A. Harris, “Barnard College, After Much Discussion, Decides to Accept Transgender Women”, in The New York Times:

In the new Notice, the Court is asking people to state their name, title (sometimes called "salutation"), and pronouns to be used in the proceeding, and for lawyers to provide this information for their clients. For example: "My name is Ms. Jane Lee, spelled L-E-E. I use she/her pronouns. I am the lawyer for Mx. Joe Carter who uses they/them pronouns." ("Mx." is pronounced like the word "mix" and is a gender-neutral title/salutation.)

2020, Provincial Court of British Columbia, "A change in how parties and lawyers should introduce themselves in court," 16 December 2020

(LGBTQ) A gender-neutral title used instead of Mr (Mister), Mrs (Mistress), etc.


Mixter

Blend of mix + Mister or Mister + -x-, probably influenced by the earlier abbreviation Mx.

(uncommon) A gender-neutral title (coordinate with Mr. and Ms.), used especially for genderqueer/non-binary people.


Latinx

en-noun

Latinx (plural Latinxs or Latinx or Latinxes)

Latinxs (plural)
Latinx (plural)
Latinxes (plural)

Spanish: latinx

The gender-neutral suffix -x replaces the gendered suffixes -a and -o. Reinforced by United States Spanish latinx.

-a-o-x

(which see for more)

@nmoon Looks can be deceiving, but I "see" no Latinx, several multi-racials, 3 whites 90% AfrAm. I don't see anyone who looks solely AsAmer

2008 July 26, Elisa Camahort Page, “Elisa Camahort Page on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 2016-11-17:

@metalmujer @soylamar there's also a variant with an x (Latinxs, maestrxs, etc.) but not quite as popular as @

2011 April 20, Karari Kue, “Karari Kue on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 2016-11-17:

@kararikue @metalmujer I would love to read more abt the variations of Latin@ Latinx send me links, working on a presentation on diversity

2011 April 21, Reina Valenzuela, “Reina Valenzuela on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 2016-11-17:

Asian Latinxs … Chicanxs/Latinxs …

2015 Fall, City on a Hill Press-Primer, page 30

Exclusion mainly occurs because Latinxs are conceived by the dominant Euroamerican culture as not belonging, as perpetual “illegals.”

2016, Miguel A. De La Torre, The U.S. Immigration Crisis: Toward an Ethics of Place, page 72:

[And] there is no reason Latinxs shouldn't be the ones to fill them.

Do stars with “hyphenated identities” have a responsibility to their constituencies (for example, a Latinx star to young Latinxes)?

2019, Kristin Lené Hole, Dijana Jelača, Film Feminisms: A Global Introduction, Routledge, →ISBN:

Her [Lucila D. Ek’s] research focuses on the bilingualism, biliteracy, and identities of Latinxes.

2019, “Author Biographies”, in Inmaculada M. García-Sánchez, Marjorie Faulstich Orellana, editors, Language and Cultural Practices in Communities and Schools: Bridging Learning for Students from Non-Dominant Groups, New York, N.Y., London: Routledge, →ISBN, page xiii:

Similarly, White Latinx people, who can pass in the United States as part of the dominant culture, sometimes experience pressure to not identify as Latinx or are told they are not as Latinx as brown-hued Latinxes.

2019, Grisel Y. Acosta, editor, Latina Outsiders Remaking Latina Identity, Routledge, →ISBN:

Dr Pigozzi’s book is essential reading for professionals who want to deliver effective and equitable care for Latinx.

2020, Teddie M. Potter, “Foreword”, in Laura Maria Pigozzi, Caring for and Understanding Latinx Patients in Health Care Settings, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 10:

Seventy percent of Latinxes’ ages 5 and older speak English proficiently, yet English proficiency varies across bilingual communities in the U.S. South Americans have the largest percentage (66.8%) of children who speak English very well, while 43.1% of Mexicans and 41.0% of Central American children (ages 5 – 18 years) speak English less than well.

2020, Sheila Bridges-Bond, “A Bilingual Child Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)”, in Diane M. Scott, editor, Cases on Communication Disorders in Culturally Diverse Populations (Advances in Linguistics and Communication Studies), IGI Global, →ISBN, page 92:

With the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections being decided by the electoral college rather than the popular vote, the distribution of Latinx is of prime political importance. Latinx are learning that the best defenses against xenophobic laws are U.S. citizenship and the right to vote.

2020, Edwin David Aponte, Miguel A. De La Torre, Introducing Latinx Theologies, Orbis Books, →ISBN:

The following section seeks to deepen our understanding of the heterogeneity of Latinxes.

2020, Desiree D. Zerquera, Jasmine Haywood, Martín De Mucha, “More Than Nuance: Recognizing and Serving the Diversity of the Latinx Community”, in Robert T. Teranishi, Bach Mai Dolly Nguyen, Cynthia M. Alcantar, Edward R. Curammeng, editors, Measuring Race: Why Disaggregating Data Matters for Addressing Educational Inequality (James A. Banks, editor, Multicultural Education), Teachers College Press, →ISBN, part II (Unmasking Educational Inequality Through Disaggregated Data), page 157:

Recent national elections launched millions of young people, women, working people, LGBTQIA+ people; those concerned about the environment; Blacks, Latinxes, and immigrants fighting voter suppression; and others into electoral politics, movement building, and community organizing.

2021, Nicholas Freudenberg, “From Now to Next: How to Build a Movement for Another World”, in At What Cost: Modern Capitalism and the Future of Health, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 298:

GARCÍA I think that's such a great way of thinking about some of the critical issues that we're facing today as Latino/Latina/Latinxes, however you identify yourself, in the United States.

2021, Michael M. Chemers, editor, The Theatre of Luis Valdez, Routledge, →ISBN:

While Farrakhan’s body gains its meaning through relationship to the Wheel, his true “mother,” Farrakhan is connected to the meaning of black women’s bodies and to all “black” people’s bodies—black in all the colors and “races” of blackness—historically, Native Americans, Asians, Latinxes, and the people of African descent, among whom African Americans are most significant.

2022, Stephen C. Finley, In and Out of This World: Material and Extraterrestrial Bodies in the Nation of Islam, Duke University Press, →ISBN:

Latinxes often view their achievements as being dependent on the outcome of others.

2022, Bryan Powell, Gareth Dylan Smith, editors, Places and Purposes of Popular Music Education: Perspectives from the Field, Intellect, →ISBN:

The handbook authors draw on their methodological expertise and demonstrate in their individual chapters how Latinx are crafting lived theologies of liberation through their words, actions, and embodied faith. […] Reimagining Christianity and its theological constructs, and proclaiming what it can be for US Latinx, as well as demonstrating what this looks like, is at the heart of all of the chapters.

2022, Kristy Nabhan-Warren, “Introduction: Una Historia de perseverancia y resiliencia pueblo (A People’s History of Perseverance and Resilience)”, in The Oxford Handbook of Latinx Christianities in the United States, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 4:

(chiefly US, see usage notes) A Latin person (of any gender); a Latino or Latina.


Chicanx

Spanish: chicanx

The gender-neutral suffix -x replaces the gendered suffixes -a and -o.

It was seen as negative until Chicanxs took it back.

2015 December, Hasta Mas alla De Los Gritos, page 4

[…] Chicanxs are aware of past struggles over space and draw on them in contemporary struggles, which focus on gentrification and its alternative, “gentefication” (the uplift of the neighborhood by locals and other Chicanxs and Latinxs)[…]

2023 April 3, Catherine Whittaker, Eveline Dürr, Jonathan Alderman, Carolin Luiprecht, Watchful Lives in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, →ISBN:

(neologism) A Chicano or Chicana (of any gender).


enby

→ German: Enby

The noun is a pronunciation spelling of NB, an initialism of non-binary. The word was coined by the Tumblr user “revolutionator” in 2013 as “an nb equivalent to words like boys and girls”: see the quotation.
The adjective is derived from the noun.

coinage

i wish there was an nb equivalent to words like boys and girls / nb / enby / enbies

[2013 September 10, “revolutionator” [pseudonym], “02348294832908091 [page title]”, in Tumblr, retrieved 2021-05-21:

I doubt most wedding fair vendors would recognise an enby even if you carried an explanatory sign.

2017 October, Will McCreath, “My Non-binary Wedding”, in Carrie Lyell, editor, Diva, London: Twin Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-02-28, page 18, column 3:

So, boys and girls and enbies, if the sex isn't good at or very near the beginning, the passage of time and/or muttering of vows isn't going to fix it.

2018 June 27 – July 3, Dan Savage, “Savage Love”, in Julie Ann Grimm, editor, Santa Fe Reporter, volume 45, number 26, Santa Fe, N.M.: Santa Fe Reporter, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-06-18, page 28, column 1:

'Ladies and enbies,' she said, the five foot three height requirement for pilots continued to mean that nearly all the human fighter pilots she had ever met were women or enbies. She could see no evidence before her that anything had changed. 'You might have heard of me, my call sign is Romeo,' she paused while the pilots giggled and sniggered.

2019, Claire G. Coleman, chapter 8, in The Old Lie, Sydney, N.S.W.: Hachette Australia, →ISBN:

He’d begun the day’s broadcast by rattling off a standard opening monologue: “Folks, we’re live and alive, and I hope all the boys, girls, and enbies”—nonbinary people—“are having a fantastic one.”

2025 March 17, Andrew Marantz, quoting Hasan Piker, “The Battle for the Bros”, in The New Yorker, →ISSN, archived from the original on 2025-03-17:

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(neologism, informal) Pronunciation spelling of NB (“a non-binary person; a person whose gender identity is not strictly female or male; one who is outside of the gender binary”).


enby

For non-binary-identified (or, to use my current favourite term, enby) people, this is magnified by the fact that while most of everyone except Germaine Greer and Donald Trump are prepared to recognise that trans people do exist these days, the enby population is still struggling up that hill with our glitter in the one hand and our neckties in the other.

2017, S. Bear Bergman, Meg-John Barker, “Non-binary Activism”, in Christina Richards, Walter Pierre Bouman, Meg-John Barker, editors, Genderqueer and Non-Binary Genders (Critical and Applied Approaches in Sexuality, Gender and Identity), London: Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature, →DOI, →ISBN, part I (Societies), page 43:

You've campaigned for non-binary and gender non-conforming people at Newcastle for a while now, including winning Campaign of the Year last year for your Beyond The Binary Week when you served as Marginalised Genders Officer, and appearing on BBC3's web shows. Would you consider yourself an enby BNOC [big name on campus]?

2018 May 14, Zoë Godden, “Interview: Saffron Kershaw-Mee”, in James Sproston, editor, The Courier, number 1370, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear: Students’ Union, Newcastle University, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-08-27, page 23, column 2:

"As an enby transgxrl, and an enbie lesbian, the lesbian community needs to show [more] validation towards those who are both non-binary and lesbians. […] I know that I am valid as a lesbian so I just don't let those views affect me, and the enby community needs to be welcoming of nb lesbians a[s] well," says Evee Sams, a lesbian, polyamorous, agender, trans gxrl.

2018 August, Peach Delosreyes-Yu, “A Stream of Consciousness on Self-Acceptance”, in Leif Tobias Gifford, editor, ENBY Magazine, number 2, [Canada]: ENBY Magazine, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-05-15, page 7, column 2:

The Bulls also are welcoming SWISH, a BIPOC basketball meet-up group that provides a space for queer women, trans and enby (non-binary) players to feel held, seen and valued.

2023 August 16, Darnell Mayberry, “Bulls Fest returns to celebrate basketball, culture and Chicago”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 2025-06-30:

(neologism, informal) Pronunciation spelling of NB (“non-binary; having or pertaining to a gender identity that is not strictly female or male, that is, outside of the gender binary”).

muusu-

having or pertaining to a gender identity that is not strictly female or male — see also non-binary


non-binariness

The quality of being non-binary, of not being binary.


enbian

en-adj

enbian (comparative more enbian, superlative most enbian)

more enbian (comparative)
most enbian (superlative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-enbian.wav

(neologism, of a non-binary person) Preferring mostly or exclusively non-binary people as romantic or sexual partners.

(neologism, of a romantic or sexual act or relationship) Between two people who are non-binary.


enbian

(neologism) A non-binary person who is sexually or romantically attracted to other non-binary people.


enbyfriend

From enby + friend, modeled after girlfriend and boyfriend.

She felt a surge of hope, of warmth, that her beautiful enbyfriend could still pull this off, even compromised by Cryos.

2017, Irene Wendy Wode, How to Train Your Mafia, page 62:

While many of the interviewees mentioned having a boyfriend, girlfriend, or enbyfriend (nonbinary significant other), we heard over and over again that romantic relationships had to be approached with caution, given their potential to interfere with life and work.

2021, Roberta Katz, Sarah Ogilvie, Jane Shaw, Gen Z, Explained: The Art of Living in a Digital Age, page 138:

A person who's on good terms with their exes is probably a better human being and a better potential boyfriend/girlfriend/enbyfriend than someone who hates all their exes.

2021, Dan Savage, Savage Love from A to Z: Advice on Sex and Relationships, Dating and Mating, Exes and Extras, page 139:

(slang, neologism) A non-binary partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.


neopronoun

neopronouns (plural)
neo-pronoun (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-neopronoun.wav

Only—Ashraf didn't know any Italian neopronouns. He'd left Italy when he was barely out himself, and far too upset and raw to mix with other trans people. He'd never met an Italian speaker who used neutral or neopronouns, […]

2018, Matthew J. Metzger, Life Underwater, NineStar Press, LLC, →ISBN:

However, neopronouns also come with a disadvantage: they unavoidably stand out whenever they're used because relatively few people have ever heard these words before.

2018, Lee Airton, Gender: Your Guide: A Gender-Friendly Primer on What to Know, What to Say, and What to Do in the New Gender Culture, Adams Media, →ISBN, page 103:

NEOPRONOUNS — “New” pronouns, as opposed to the more traditional he/him, she/her, and they/them. In this book I've included several neopronouns in the entry on PRONOUNS, but that list is not exhaustive. […]

2019, Morgan Lev Edward Holleb, The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality: From Ace to Ze, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 184:

(grammar) A pronoun used in place of he, she, one, it, or singular they, especially one of the modern coinages used by some non-binary people.


zirs

What about just a context of events, like "A___ is rich and has just fallen off zir horse. B____ is poor and is still mounted on zirs.

2003 August 22, R. L., “Experiment (was: A problem example, female written males...(long))”, in rec.arts.sf.composition (Usenet):

(rare, nonstandard) That which belongs to zir, the possessive case of ze.


Xicanx

From Xicano. The gender-neutral suffix -x replaces the gendered suffixes -a and -o..

(neologism) Chicano or Chicana (and of any gender).


demiboy

Polk also identifies as a genderqueer demiboy and uses the pronouns ze/hir (in place of he or she one would use “ze” and in place of him or her one would use “hir”).

2015, Kerri McNair, "A Broader Definition of Gender", InfUSion (University of Georgia), Volume 12, Issue 2, Spring 2015, page 52

“A member of our family is a Demiboy,” I murmur.

2017, Live Love Laugh Ranting, Come As Yourself: Volume One, →ISBN, page 62:

Jinokimijin had chosen an androgynous male form tonight: not a demiboy, which would typically blend neuter with male, but a femboy, a masculine shape with some feminine elements.

2017, L. Rowyn, The Sun Etherium: An Etherium Novel, #2, →ISBN, page 139:

(neologism) A person who identifies as partially, but not completely, male.


Filipinx

The gender-neutral suffix -x replaces the gendered suffixes -a and -o of Filipina and Filipino, which are from Spanish filipina and Spanish filipino, both from Spanish Filipinas (“Philippines”), from Felipe II de España (“Philip II of Spain”), from Felipe (“Philip”).

-a-o-x

(US, neologism) A Filipina or Filipino (of any gender).


Mestizx

(neologism) Mestizo or Mestiza (and of any gender).


Mestizx

(neologism) A Mestizo or Mestiza (of any gender).


xirself

head

xirself (the third person singular, gender-neutral, personal pronoun, the reflexive form of xe, feminine herself, masculine himself, neuter itself, plural themselves)


demigirl

Me: male-bodied demigirl with big black headphones and pink bow-headband in front of you on the bus to Ballard.

2015, anonymous, "I Saw U", The Stranger, Volume 24, Number 25, 18 February 2015 - 24 February 2015, page 51

Among the students planning to attend Lavender Graduation is senior Julia Heath, who identifies as an asexual non-binary demigirl.

2018 April 26, Rachel Fechter, “Lavender Graduation Ceremony to offer inclusive space for LGBTQ students”, in The Index, Truman State University, page 7:

Hamlet identifies as a demigirl, although the term is used here by her best friend, Rachel Yorick, […]

2019, Ariane M. Balizet, Shakespeare and Girls’ Studies, unnumbered page:

(neologism) A person who identifies as partially, but not completely, female.


alumnx

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The gender-neutral suffix -x replaces the gendered Latinate suffixes -us and -a. Compare Latinx, Mx.

-a-us-x

Since re-booting the Alumnx Council last fall, we've embarked on a fresh direction that we're very excited about. Through projects and initiatives aimed at you, our mission is to provide support, encourage connection, and strengthen the ties of our alumnx community.

2018 Winter/Spring, John Schwerbel, “Alumnx HQ: A Note From the Chair”, in The Pool, number 2, California Institute of the Arts, page 63:

vsc & vcfa alumnx exhibition: “It went like this: the skyline was beautiful on fire,” works by 24 alumnx created in response to contemporary political upheaval, juried by Meg Onli.

2018 May 9, “Art: New This Week”, in Seven Days, volume 23, number 34, Burlington, VT: Da Capo Publishing Inc., page 76:

This study examines the relationship between undergraduate experience and alumnx factors on perceptions of campus climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, and queer (LGBTQ) graduates of four-year higher education institutions in the U.S. […] Findings from the step-wise regression explained 45% of the variance in perceptions of campus climate for LGBTQ alumnx.

2018 Fall, Jason C. Garvey, Maureen A. Flint, Laura A. Sanders, “Perceptions of Campus Climate among LGBTQ Alumnx”, in Philanthropy & Education, volume 2, number 1, →DOI, page 97:

A typical process entails bringing together staff responsible for designing these interactions: admissions, new student orientation, housing, academic advising, student affairs, LGBT+ resource center (if a campus has one), registrar, health providers and health educators, development and alumnx relations, and so forth.

2020, Kristen A. Renn, “Success for LGBT College and University Students”, in Gail Crimmins, editor, Strategies for Supporting Inclusion and Diversity in the Academy: Higher Education, Aspiration and Inequality, Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, →DOI, →ISBN, page 191:

(neologism, often proscribed) An alumnus or alumna (of any gender).


xenogender

From xeno- (“strange”) + gender. Coined by American Tumblr user baaphomett on June 24, 2014, at age 19 or 20, along with other gender-related terms.

coinage

(LGBTQ) A non-binary gender that is defined not in relation to male or female but by characteristics connected to a thing or concept.


non-binarity

From non-binary + -ity or non- + binarity.

Beyond Ladefoged's arguments for non-binarity (1970), I feel that the human nervous system is not constructed in a way that it could use binarity easily, either in perception or production.

Through his use of ellipsis, understatement, unspecified agency, and non-binarity, Johnson is thus attempting to bring about a change in the status of the Negro without explicitly acknowledging or processing conflict and dispossession.

1990, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Reading Black, Reading Feminist: A Critical Anthology, Plume:

As regards its particular mass and age, and probably its non-binarity, "anthropic" explanations may seem in place. The possible tendency for the Sun, as compared with similar stars, to be somewhat rich in iron relative to other elements […]

1998, Claus Fröhlich, M. Huber, S.K. Solanki, Rudolf von Steiger, Solar Composition and its Evolution — from Core to Corona: Proceedings of an Issi Workshop 26-30 January 1998, Bern, Switzerland, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 419:

On the non-binarity of the null subject parameter

2003, Josep Quer i Carbonell, Romance Languages and Linguistic Theory 2001: Selected Papers from 'Going Romance,' Amsterdam, 6-8 December 2001, John Benjamins Publishing, →ISBN, page 32:

Nor can we maintain the converse position that a defining property of parameters is non-binarity, as there appear to be some, most notably the directionality parameters, which by their very nature are binary.

2019, I. M. Roca, Logical Issues in Language Acquisition, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, →ISBN, page 13:

The quality of being non-binary (not binary); absence of binarity.


nonbinarity

Assimilation : optionality versus nonbinarity, and natural classes

1992, Heinz J. Giegerich, English Phonology: An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 213:

The namer's power to authorize the pairing of word and thing underscores the nonbinarity of the sign even as it insures that pairing.

1992, Susan Derwin, Professor Susan Derwin, The Ambivalence of Form: Lukács, Freud, and the Novel, Johns Hopkins University Press:

"Innocence" here takes the form of a nonbinarity between binarity (day and night divided by the punctual moment of sunset) and nonbinarity (the fading light in which the moment is embedded, making the boundary negotiable).

1997, Ira Livingston, Arrow of Chaos: Romanticism and Postmodernity, U of Minnesota Press, →ISBN, page 2:

None of the norms of identification for sex need change much for someone who is clearly male or clearly female when they discover the nonbinarity of biological sex.

2007, Jorge J. E. Gracia, Race Or Ethnicity?: On Black and Latino Identity:

Nonbinarity can also enter into MV-optimal GGDDs with s>1, as demonstrated next. Though neither binarity nor equal replication is required, Theorem 3.8(i) does imply binarity when p = 0.

2015, Angela Dean, Max Morris, John Stufken, Derek Bingham, Handbook of Design and Analysis of Experiments, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 122:


enbyphobia

From enby + -phobia, patterned on homophobia, transphobia, etc.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:enbyphobia.

(neologism) Fear, dislike, or hatred of non-binary people and/or of non-binariness.

embyphobie

Fear, dislike or hatred of non-binary people


theyfriend

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-theyfriend.wav

From they + friend, modeled after girlfriend and boyfriend.

She'd never had a boyfriend or girlfriend or theyfriend, not in her entire life.

2019 May 28, Talia Hibbert, The Roommate Risk, Tantor Media, Incorporated, →ISBN:

2021 October 21, Skeeter, “Janithor is my non-binary theyfriend”, in alt.slack (Usenet):

'Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a theyfriend?'

2022 January 18, Laura Silverman, Game On: 15 Stories of Wins, Losses, and Everything in Between, Penguin Young Readers Group, →ISBN, page 196:

(neologism) A non-binary partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.


enbyphobic

en-adj

enbyphobic (comparative more enbyphobic, superlative most enbyphobic)

more enbyphobic (comparative)
most enbyphobic (superlative)

Chris had to deal with enbyphobic comments at the workplace ever since coming out as non-binary.

So, here are some enbyphobic misconceptions about enby people that I’ve witnessed in queer/trans communities, and why they are wrong.

2016, Bad Apple Pie, Enbyphobia (in cis/trans spaces):

Someone might be clearly enbyphobic without being so clearly transphobic.

Even some trans people are being enbyphobic.

2021, Sophie Labelle, The Best of Assigned Male:


thussy

en-noun

thussy (countable and uncountable, plural thussies)

Blend of they + pussy, or from þussy, which resembles both the word bussy and pussy.

where can i get some thussy this monday afternoon

2020 December 21, @purportedfruit, Twitter, archived from the original on 2022-07-06:

Asking my non-binary shorty for some thussy

2021 June 26, @excuseforhate, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-06-25:

I be going to Brooklyn like we ain't got perfectly good they/them thussy in Manhattan

2022 June 25, @JayJurden, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-06-24:

(LGBTQ, slang, humorous) The vulva or vagina, or anus of a non-binary person.


thembo

Blend of them + bimbo, by analogy with himbo.

2020, “Bimbos, himbos, thembos, and topping the almighty eggplant”, in Verse Magazine, 33rd edition, University of South Australia, published 2020, page 40:

Anyone who wishes to embrace their femininity and sexuality is welcome on the bimbos' glittery island, regardless of gender expression — Chlapecka address^([sic]) her audience as “bimbos, thembos, himbos, bimboys, or any 'bo' you wanna be” in a "get ready with me" video on her profile.

2021, Elena Plumb, “Rise of the Bimbo”, in The Avenue, Northeastern University, published Spring 2021, page 41:

Miller and Hanson hired nonbinary people and trans and cisgender men to staff their cart—describing the workforce as “himbos, thembos and flirts” on the cart's social media pages.

2021 November 3, Andrew Jankowski, “Hot Coffee Cart”, in Williamette Week, published 2021, page 24:

(slang, sometimes derogatory) A physically attractive non-binary person who lacks intelligence; the non-binary equivalent of a bimbo.


goddex

First off: to anyone feeling an iota of guilt for indulging your plant-loving inner green goddex during the pandemic—you stop that right now.

2020 November, Cheryl Rafuse, “Why You Should Quarantine (Your Plants)”, in Boston Compass, page 6:

These days, a Witch or pagan might welcome a warm summer wind as an inherently feminine blessing from a femme goddex, […]

2021, Elliot Director, "The Gender Evolution of Air", in Astraea Taylor, Air Magic, page 56

Thank God, or Goddess, or Goddex we failed and found each other.

2022, Monique Jenkinson, Faux Queen: A Life in Drag, unnumbered page:

(neologism) A genderless or non-binary deity; a deity whose gender is unknown.


Tejanx

He also understood reciprocal paternalistic obligation as more important than the impersonal alienations of contract or law—something an older generation of Texans, or Tejanxs, might have appreciated.

2021, Ethan Blue, The Deportation Express: A History of America Through Forced Removal, Oakland: University of California Press, →ISBN, page 244:

A Texan of Mexican descent (of any gender); a Tejano or Tejana.


bachelorx party

bachelorx party (plural bachelorx parties)

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"Replacing 'bachelor/ette' with 'bachelorx' welcomes the growing number of straight folks who aren't into the outdated idea surrounding these get togethers as their 'last night of freedom,'" Blattel says. "With that attitude, it's no shock that gendered bachelorx parties are seen as the last chance for fun."

2019 August 29, Louis Baragona, “What's a Bachelorx Party? The Binary-Breaking Way to Celebrate”, in The Knot:

(neologism) A party held for a couple about to be married; a bachelorette party or bachelor party open to all guests, rather than those of a specific gender.


bachelorx

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-bachelorx.wav

From bachelor + -x (“used to replace a gendered suffix”).

suffix

One of my personal fave sex educators, Stella Harris, is your guide for this hilarious live, interactive game show, where contestants complete challenges to win a date with an eligible "bachelorx," and audience members are encouraged to forge love connections on their own!

2019 September 12, Steven Humphrey, “Where to See Portland's Best Sex Shows”, in Portland Mercury:

Nevertheless, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate bi folks. Let’s start with a list of very eligible bachelors, bachelorettes, and bachelorxes.

2022 September 24, “50 of The Most Eligible Single Bi+ Celebrities”, in Gayety:

(neologism) Someone who has not yet married; a bachelor or bachelorette of any gender identity, especially one identifying as non-binary.


faerself

Solomon faerself is ambiguous about the term, suggesting of The Deep that: […]

2021, Megan de Bruin-Molé, "Salvaging Utopia: Lessons for (and from) the Left in Rivers Solomon’s An Unkindness of Ghosts (2017), The Deep (2019), and Sorrowland (2021)", Humanities, Volume 10, Issue 4 (link)

Fae had decked faerself in a modest amount of cheap jewelry, faer makeup inexpertly applied.

2022, Novae Caelum, The Truthspoken Heir: The Stars and Green Magics - Season One, unnumbered page:

For Sara, growing up in a Baptist home and being involved in the Baptist church faerself is not in contradiction to the usage of southern folk magic common in the south.

2022, Gina Snooks, "Between Words: Artful Auto/Biography and/as Pagan Healing", thesis submitted to Western University, page 90

(rare, nonstandard) Reflexive case of fae.


faers

But familiarity with Solomon (fae/faer/faers)’s previous work led me to believe this would not be simply (for lack of a better phrase) torture porn.

2021 July 24, Christina Orlando, “Monstrosity: On Rivers Solomon’s 'Sorrowland'”, in Los Angeles Review of Books:

Once we see Soul's gorgeous glass work, we immediately recognize the piece as theirs/faers because the because the bouquets are arranged in the shape of their/faer scars, which is a stylemark of Soul's art.

2022, Sherry Paris, You Can Make a Difference!: A Creative Workbook and Journal for Young Activists, page 117 (bolding in original altered for emphasis)

They paused at a door halfway down the corridor and waved their key at the lock pad. “Here—press your hand here to add your biometrics, please.”
Ari did so, and then stepped aside to let Bettea press faers, too.

2022, Novae Caelum, The Truthspoken Heir: The Stars and Green Magics - Season One:

(rare, nonstandard) Possessive case of fae.


nounself pronoun

en-noun

nounself pronoun (plural nounself pronouns)

nounself pronouns (plural)
noun-self pronoun (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-nounself pronoun.wav

According to [Judith] Butler, identity is tied to gender, and we perceive each other through the lens of gender (1999:22). This makes the gender binary with only its two choices very limiting. Nounself pronouns can be seen as an attempt to break free from this.

2016, Ehm Hjorth Miltersen, “Nounself pronouns: 3rd person personal pronouns as identity expression”, in Journal of Language Works, volume 1, number 1, page 48:

Nounself pronouns are when you adapt a noun of your choosing into a pronoun to create a wide variety of very personal and descriptive pronouns.

2021, Erin Ekins, Queerly Autistic The Ultimate Guide For LGBTQIA+ Teens On The Spectrum, page 105:

This suggests that neopronouns in general and nounself pronouns in particular are used to express something very individual about the selector.

2022, Katrina Callaway, "From Ey to Ze: Gender-Neutral Pronouns as Pronominal Change", dissertation submitted the University of Georgia, page 67

third-person singular
third-person singular

(linguistics) A type of third-person singular neopronoun constructed (often as an in-group identifier or nonce word) from a referent noun.


theyfab

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-theyfab.wav

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
English they
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd
Proto-Italic *ad
Proto-Italic *ad-
Latin ad-
Latin signō
Latin assignōlbor.
Old French assignerbor.
Middle English assignen
English assign
English assigned
Proto-Italic *fēmanā
Latin fēmina
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -lus
Latin -la
Latin fēmella
Latin fēminader.
Old French femelebor.
Middle English femele
Middle English female
English female
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd
Proto-Germanic *at
Old English æt
Middle English at
English at
Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-
Proto-Indo-European *-tis
Proto-Indo-European *bʰértisder.
Proto-Germanic *burþiz
Old Norse burðrbor.
Middle English birthe
English birth
English AFAB
English theyfab
Blend of they + AFAB (“assigned female at birth”). First known use is from December 2016; the earlier-cited tafab ("trans assigned female at birth") is a probable influence. See Citations:theyfab for additional context.

blend

Coordinate term: theymab

if you call people theymabs or theyfabs then you're transphobic.

2022 August 8, @gwencystic, Twitter, archived from the original on 2022-08-08:

(LGBTQ slang, derogatory, offensive) A non-binary person who was assigned female at birth, often one that does not change their physical appearance.


theymab

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-theymab.wav

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tóy
Proto-Germanic *þai
Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᛁᛉ (*þaiʀ)
Old Norse þeirbor.
Middle English þei
English they
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd
Proto-Italic *ad
Proto-Italic *ad-
Latin ad-
Latin signō
Latin assignōlbor.
Old French assignerbor.
Middle English assignen
English assign
English assigned
Latin mās
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -ulus
Latin -culus
Latin masculus
Vulgar Latin masclus
Old French maslebor.
Middle English male
English male
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd
Proto-Germanic *at
Old English æt
Middle English at
English at
Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-
Proto-Indo-European *-tis
Proto-Indo-European *bʰértisder.
Proto-Germanic *burþiz
Old Norse burðrbor.
Middle English birthe
English birth
English AMAB
English theymab
Blend of they + AMAB (“assigned male at birth”), probably by analogy with earlier theyfab (2016). First uses date to 2019; TAMAB was used slightly earlier, though possibly in an unrelated sense. See Citations:theymab for additional context.

blend

Coordinate term: theyfab

*holding your newborn baby* so are they theymab or theyfab

2022 May 18, @CartaMonir, Twitter, archived from the original on 2022-05-18:

Thinking about how she had a theymab signed to her label to be all inclusive and cool but he turned out to be a predator

2022 July 7, @reignarain, Twitter, archived from the original on 2022-11-25:

(LGBTQ slang, derogatory, offensive) A non-binary person who was assigned male at birth, often one that does not change their physical appearance.


priestx

I’ve been ordained as a pagan priestx!

2019, Maia Kobabe, Gender Queer: A Memoir, The Lion Forge, LLC, →ISBN, page 189:

It turns out that across cultures and through recorded history, creating culture and recording history are among the most essential functions of the priestx.

2019 October 15, Kristian Wilson Colyard, quoting Mya Spalter, “Let These 9 Witches Tell You How You Can Be A Witch, Too”, in Bustle, archived from the original on 2019-10-22:

There will always be another teacher, leader, priestx, organizer, etc.

2020 July 29, Sidney Eileen, “Words Have Power – We Need Acceptance Instead of Tolerance”, in The Balancing Path (Patheos), archived from the original on 2020-09-24:

The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel (ASW) issued a press release announcing an amendment to their charter to be more inclusive and affirmative to non-binary leadership, and have added the gender-neutral term, “Priestx” as an option for leaders.

[2020 August 17, “Pagan Community News: Unauthorized ritual at Istrehågan in Norway, Assembly of the Sacred Wheel amends its charter, and more!”, in The Wild Hunt, archived from the original on 2020-09-21:

To be honest, I didn’t even know Hekate that well when I began, but within weeks I had gone from a sideline observer to a dedicated priestx.

2021, Rowan “Briar” Rivers, “Foreword by Rowan “Briar” Rivers: Coming to the Crossroads”, in Jennifer Teixeira, Hekate: Temple of the Bones, Moon Books, John Hunt Publishing, →ISBN:

I CAN FINALLY COMPLETE OUR TRIAD WITH A REAL FREAK PRIEST/PRIESTESS/PRIESTX.

2022, John Allison, Steeple, volume 3 (That’s the Spirit), Dark Horse Books, →ISBN:

(neologism, rare) Non-binary or gender-neutral equivalent of priest.


noun-self pronoun

en-noun

noun-self pronoun (plural noun-self pronouns)

Fae is an example of a “noun-self'” pronoun. […] Noun-self pronouns are often common amongst people who identify with xenogenders (see definition above, under X terms), but can be used by anyone.

2021, MSU Pride Community Centre 2STLGBQIA+ Handbook, page 15:

Noun-self pronouns can refer to animals—so your pronouns can be “bun/bunself” and “kitten/kittenself.”

2021 May 1, Ezra Marcus, “A guide to neopronouns”, in Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 140th year, number 90, page 8:

Other neopronouns are “noun self-pronouns,” where a word that already exists is adapted as a pronoun.

2022, Robyn Ryle, She/He/They/Me: An Interactive Guide to the Gender Binary, →ISBN, page 76:

Noun-self pronouns can reflect a person’s connection to nature, fandom, or other interests, and are highly individualized.

2022, Laura Erickson-Schroth, editor, Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource by and for Transgender Communities, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 194:

You may be used to hearing and using sentences like, “I love the new album by Sam Smith; they’re my favourite artiste,” but there are others such as ze, per, ey, e… as well as a system of noun-self pronoun which uses an existing word of the individual’s choice.

2022 January 25, Rafael Nadal, “The way we talk now”, in StarLifestyle (The Star):

Another section explains how noun-self pronouns are used by “xenic” individuals whose gender does not fit within “the Western human binary of gender alignments”.

2022 February 6, Ewan Somerville, “Male, female, feline … Bristol University guide lectures staff about emoji pronouns and ‘catgender’ awareness”, in The Sunday Telegraph:

nounself pronoun
nounself pronoun#English


princex

Do you want to be a Princess, Prince, or Princex of Pride?

2019, Rayceen Pendarvis, "Empress of Pride", The Unleashed Voice Magazine, July/August 2019, page 19

The Disney Princex Drag Brunch is today from noon-3.p.m. […]

2020 February 21, “Calendar”, in Washington Blade, page 29:

Another pair of feet treads the stairs - a striking Goblin Princex. The glittering green gems that stud their tiara contrast with their raven hair and coffee complexion. They possess a sultry allure, and my breath catches in the back of my throat.
"I am the Princex Kyler," they say.

2022, J. Scott Coatsworth, Clarity, unnumbered page:

(neologism, rare) A genderless or non-binary prince; a prince whose gender is unknown.


femby

Blend of femme + enby, possibly influenced by femboy.

(LGBTQ slang) A feminine non-binary person.


gentlethem

gentlethem (plural gentlethems or gentlethem)

gentlethems (plural)
gentlethem (plural)

“We’re conducting biowarfare 101 today, boys and girls and gentlethem.”

2018, Ada Harper, A Treason of Truths, Carina Press, Harlequin, →ISBN:

“My queen, ladies, gentlemen, and gentlethems,” Dallas said.

2019, Claire Kann, If It Makes You Happy, Square Fish, Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, →ISBN:

Shopping for jeans can be a terribly gendered experience. I hear you, fellow gremlins and gentlethems, asking why should I wear jeans ever again?

2021 March 1, Mel Compo, “How to Shop for Jeans as a Non-Binary Person”, in Vice, archived from the original on 2021-03-01:

So both she/her and he/him have been used in relation to me. Though, I have to admit that my absolute favourites have been ‘m'theydy’ and ‘gentlethem’ from a couple of cheeky supporters. Even if they didn't realise just how right they were, their general joking ease with non-binary names was one that had me thoroughly entertained and pleased.

2021 June 10, Laura Kate Dale, “The Gender of Language: Finding a Pronoun for My Identity”, in Gender Euphoria: Stories of joy from trans, non-binary and intersex writers, Unbound Publishing, →ISBN:

in a TV show where people dress up as drag queens contestants are asked to name their inner saboteur / ladies & gentlethem, please welcome to the stage Sid

2022, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, “my body is a window”, in David Stavanger, Radhiah Chowdhury, Mohammad Awad, editors, Admissions: Voices within Mental Health, Upswell Publishing, →ISBN:

Gaydies and gentlethems! The MerseyPride Icon Award goes to . . . Cherry Brandy!

2022, Jonathan Larkin, Cherry Jezebel, Methuen Drama, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, →ISBN, page 4:

The gentlethems at the booth here were just telling me about the Butterworth Cemetery excursion and—

2022, Meredith Spies, In the Spirit (Medium at Large; 4):

“Ladies, gentlethems, and my fellow incorrigible assholes!” William shouted.

2022, Rachel Swirsky, January Fifteenth, Tor.com, Tom Doherty Associates, →ISBN:

And … did you kiss? [Bella:] A gentle-them always kisses and tells. (No, we didn’t.)

2022 September 10, “Around the world in 80 dates…”, in Saturday (The Guardian), number 50, page 28:

“Ladies and gentlethems,” Charlotte said, raising her arms like a preacher. “We are saved.”

2023, Camille Kellogg, Just as You Are, The Dial Press, →ISBN, page 13:

Now it’s the ladies and gentlethem of the jury

(neologism) Polite term of address for a non-binary person.


theydy

“[…] I’m what you might call a theydy.” […] “Theydy?” I am absolutely sure I would never call anyone that without being prompted. “Nonbinary lady. They pronouns, very lesbian.”

2021, H.E. Edgmon, The Witch King, Inkyard Press, Harlequin, →ISBN:

13 Going On 30 (2004) / This movie showed an entire generation of theydies that you can be thirty, flirty and thriving—meaning that it’s possible to be a successful career woman and a self-obsessed girly girl at the same time.

2021 January 20, Julia Sachs, “The Bimbo Movement Is Here – Movies To Spark Your Bimbofication In 2021 and Beyond”, in Grit Daily, archived from the original on 2021-01-20:

Ladies, theydies, gentlemen, and queers -- start your engines! Vin Diesel, a.k.a. Dom Toretto, has just announced that the title for the upcoming tenth Fast and Furious movie is fittingly Fast X.

2022 April 21, Mey Rude, “16 LGBTQ+ Celebs We Want to See Join the 'Fast & Furious' Franchise”, in Out, archived from the original on 2022-04-21:

OK, we've got a STAR STAR STAR here, theydies and thents! After Princess Diaries, she starred in Grey's Anatomy as THE Dr. Cristina Yang, nabbed a Critics' Choice Award for the film Sideways, and crushed it in like a million other movies and TV shows.

2022 July 20, Jake Farrington, ““The Princess Diaries” Turns 21 This Week — Here’s What The Cast Is Up To Now”, in BuzzFeed, archived from the original on 2022-07-29:

I also heard everything about that theydy-friend you were dizzy with, that they were the rat all along.

2023, Aubrey Wood, Bang Bang Bodhisattva, Solaris, →ISBN:

‘Sorry ladies, theydies and gaydies!’

2023, Amara Sage, Influential, Faber & Faber Limited, →ISBN:

Even out of drag, she looks like a storybook witch, dressed in all black with big Gucci sunglasses and unkempt orange hair. It’s cold near the river, and we’re both bundled up in scarves and furry coats, looking like babushkas — “little theydies by the water,” she cackles, an expert read.

2023 January 20, Brock Colyar, “The Name on Everybody’s Lips Is Jinkxie”, in Vulture, archived from the original on 2023-01-20:

Oh, and while you’re scrolling through these Amazon finds, be sure to give these TikTok girlies and theydies mentioned a follow to keep up with more epic plus-size fashion hauls.

2023 February 27, Alexis Gaskin, “TikTok Fashion Influencers Are Obsessed With These Plus-Size Clothing Finds at Amazon”, in Stylecaster, archived from the original on 2023-03-01:

Attention ladies, theydies, and honestly anyone fabulous looking to treat yourself to a classic movie makeover montage!

2023 April 24, Colton Clifford, “The Ladies and Theydies Guide to Self-Care in New Orleans”, in New Orleans, archived from the original on 2023-04-26:

(neologism) Polite term of address for a non-binary person, especially a feminine one, or used as a general inclusive term.


theydies and gentlethems

theydies and gentlethems pl (plural only)

Blend of they/them (“nonbinary person”) + ladies and gentlemen (“used to address an audience”).

blend

ladies and gentlemen<t:used to address an audience>

I am fully convinced, theydies and gentlethems, that Lana Del Rey is the Antichrist.

2019 February 15, Cameron Tipton, “Summertime Sataness: Lana Del Rey as the Antichrist”, in The Student Life, volume CXXI, number 12, Claremont, Calif., page 9, column 1:

Iconic quote: “Theydies and gentlethems, I give you my new designer nipples.”

17 “Theydies and ___” (gender-neutral address)

[2020 March 31, “Three per eleven”, in USA Today:

“Theydies and Gentlethems, there’s just one more thing before we go,” she announced over the mic.

2020 May 13, Hypatia Sorunke, Brownscale, TC660H, Plan II Honors Program, The University of Texas at Austin, page 23:

Well theydies and gentlethems, it's that time again. With the introduction of any new iteration of RuPaul's Drag Race, we get the introduction of another group of performers: the Pit Crew.

2020 June 17, Mikelle Street, “Meet the Men of 'Canada's Drag Race's Hunky Pit Crew”, in Out, archived from the original on 2020-06-17:

Step right up, theydies and gentlethems, to the animation and comics battle of the century.

2020 July 20, S.W. Sondheimer, “Aang vs. Korra: Avatar Battle”, in Book Riot, Riot New Media Group, Inc., archived from the original on 2020-10-28:

Theydies and Gentlethems, please welcome to the stage, Trylon Error!

2020 winter, Val Qaeda, “Dragony Aunt”, in Gaylife:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEYDIES AND GENTLETHEMS… I GIVE YOU…

2021, Simon Hanselmann, Crisis Zone, Fantagraphics Books Inc., →ISBN, page 256:

They'''dies and Gentlethems! Welcome.

2021, Sara Fujimura, Faking Reality, Tor Teen, Tom Doherty Associates, →ISBN:

Hi everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, theydies and gentlethems, and all people of the human species, and all the ancestors watching. I’m super excited to be speaking with Jayda Shuavarnnasri today.

2021 May 13, Xoai Pham, “The Complicated Nature of Sex for Asian Women”, in Autostraddle, archived from the original on 2021-05-13:

Theydies and gentlethems, please witness the “one time I read a tweet saying” format, and weep.

2021 July 23, Michael Di Iorio, “Does Avocado Actually Taste Like Clean Dick? An Investigation Into Twitter’s Weirdest Theory”, in Pedestrian, archived from the original on 2021-07-23:

This isn’t just an issue for theydies and gentlethems – it’s not just for us queer folk.

2022, Petra Shotwell, “F**k Gender, I’m Tired”, in Debate, number 4:

Ladies and gentlemen / Boys and girls / Theydies and gentlethems / Babies / Cats dogs horses and bats / Twats / Are you excited to see the show?

2022, Tom Ratcliffe, Evelyn, Methuen Drama, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, →ISBN:

In classrooms, teachers have moved away from addressing their students as “boys and girls” and say "scholars," "friends," "learners," or my favorite, “theydies and gentlethems."

[2022 July 15, Elizabeth J. Meyer, “Non-Binary Microaggressions: Everyday Interactions That Harm”, in Psychology Today, archived from the original on 2023-04-26:

Theydies and gentlethems, I present to you another entry for song of the summer: Saucy Santana’s “Booty.”

2022 July 22, Mathew Rodriguez, “The White House Defends Rachel Levine, Women’s Baseball Was Super Gay, and Dave Chappelle Gets Ousted: This Week in Queer News”, in Them, archived from the original on 2022-07-22:

Comedian Molly Kearney is making history as the first nonbinary cast member on Saturday Night Live, […] The next season is set to start in October, when we'll be tuning in with the hopes that the opening monologue will welcome "Theydies and Gentlethems."

2022 September 19, Kenna McCafferty, “Molly Kearney Becomes First Nonbinary Cast Member on 'SNL'”, in Paper, archived from the original on 2022-09-19:

There are many gender-neutral terms to address a group: folks, you all, people, team, friends, scholars, buds, epic humans—take your pick. Personally, I like theydies and gentlethems, because it’s punny. Whatever your preference, it’s a step toward gender equity that you can take right now, while modeling gender-inclusive practices for your students.

[2022 November/December, Regie Marie Plana-Alcuaz, “Catch your language”, in Teacher, British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, page 9, column 2:

A touchdown happens when the offensive team moves the ball into the opposing team’s end zone and scores –they get six points! Yes, that’s right theydies and gentlethems, if you can successfully move a ball across a huge field full of people trying to stop you then what could be better than scoring points?

2023 February 11, Editors, “10 football terms every LGBTQ+ person should know”, in Queerty, archived from the original on 2023-02-12:

(neologism) Used to address an audience gender-neutrally.


goddexx

You can also ask the moon, like any goddexx, god, or goddess, what it wants or what it would like.

2020, Sarah Faith Gottesdiener, The Moon Book: Lunar Magic to Change Your Life, unnumbered page:

Whether you pray to a god, goddess, goddexx, or not, spirituality can play a significant role in your vaginal and pelvic well-being.

2020, Taq Kaur Bhandal, Self-Care Down There: From Menstrual Cups and Moisturizers to Body Positivity and Brazilian Wax, a Guide to Your Vagina's Well-Being, page 78:

And instead of bringing shame to it, we should be bringing compassion and—goddexx forbid!—some humor to our erotic lives.

2021, Lucie Field, Trans Sex: Clinical Approaches to Trans Sexualities and Erotic Embodiments, unnumbered page:

(neologism) Alternative spelling of goddex.


demiguy

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-demiguy.wav

For quotations using this term, see Citations:demiguy.


they/them

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-they-them.wav

From a common format for specifying gender-neutral pronouns in online profiles.

I've long used videogames as a means to cope with both my disability and my dysphoria, but Baldur's Gate 3 is the first time I've been able to really get into roleplaying a they/them causing mayhem.

2023 September 10, Nova Smith, “Baldur's Gate 3 is the first game that met me halfway in roleplaying a they/them causing mayhem, and that feels like the future of RPGs”, in PC Gamer:

The individual straight cises whom I work with are pretty nice for the most part. Still, people (mostly my boomer coworkers) often misgender other people (mostly the younger they/thems) at my office and bristle when corrected.

2024 May 1, Emily Gould, quoting Mx. Vanilla, “‘Help! Our DEI Trainer Won’t Stop Talking About Kink’”, in The Cut:

In case you were wondering, "Shakespeare's They/Thems" turned out to be Rosalind and Viola. The Folger talk summons these "cross-dressed female protagonists" as evidence that Shakespeare was "comfortable" with "non-binary" and "transgender identity"

2024, Colby Gordon, quoting Folger Shakespeare Library, Glorious Bodies: Trans Theology and Renaissance Literature, University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 18:

(Internet slang, sometimes derogatory, sometimes offensive) A non-binary person; one who uses gender-neutral pronouns.


nyan-binary

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nyan-binary.wav

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-nyan-binary.wav

(Internet slang) Non-binary, in contexts relating to cats.


transfemby

(LGBTQ slang) A transfeminine nonbinary person.