Neopronouns: A New Way of Expressing Your Gender

Neopronouns: A New Way of Expressing Your Gender

A gender-neutral or gender-inclusive pronoun is a pronoun that does not associate a gender with the individual who is being discussed.

Some languages, such as English, do not have a gender-neutral or third-gender pronoun available, and this has been criticized, since, in many instances, writers, speakers, etc. use “he/his” when referring to a generic individual in the third person. Also, the dichotomy of “he” and “she” in English does not leave room for other gender identities, which is a source of frustration to the transgender and genderqueer communities.

People who are limited by languages that do not include gender-neutral pronouns have attempted to create them, in the interest of greater equality.

Languages that lack gender-neutral pronouns have been challenged by those who, in the name of equality, have attempted to develop neopronouns.

Neopronouns are substitutes for the traditional “he/she/they” pronouns. They were first made for people who didn’t identify with the above pronouns because of neurological or psychological special traits that made them confused about their gender. So, it makes sense to use they or them, which isn’t perfect English but reasonable enough. But, since this kind of thing usually happens when it gets a lot of attention from the public at large, it’s gotten out of hand lately, with social media sites giving you the option to add your pronouns. People who give a lot of weight to these new pronouns include so-called “trans-activists,” “politically correct” people, and parents who try to teach their children to be gender-neutral.

In place of traditional pronouns like “she,” “he,” and “they,” neopronouns have emerged as a popular alternative. They are simply substitutes for the traditional he/she/they pronouns. Common ones include xe/xem/xyr, ze/hir/hirs, and ey/em/eir. They can be used by anyone, but transgender, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming people use them most often.

Don’t panic over pronunciation! While there are common ways to pronounce these pronouns, there are many variations, so it is best to ask. If someone trusts you enough to share their pronouns with you, you should feel comfortable asking for clarification if you need it! For example, “Hey there, Taylor, I noticed the pronoun “x-e” on your nametag and I want to make sure I am pronouncing that right. Can you tell me how you pronounce it?”. You also might find yourself in a situation where you hear a pronoun you aren’t familiar with and don’t know how to use.

1. xe/xem/xyr – pronounced “zee/zem/zeer”

Used in a sentence: “Xe doesn’t want ketchup with xyr fries.”

2. ze/hir/hirs – pronounced “zee/heer/heers”

Used in a sentence: “Ze doesn’t want ketchup with hir fries.”

3. fae/faer/faers – pronounced “fay/fair/fairs”

Used in a sentence: “Fae doesn’t want ketchup with faer fries.”

4. ey/em/eir – pronounced “ay/em/heir”

Used in a sentence: “Ey doesn’t want ketchup with eir fries.”

Some common neopronouns include:

Ze/hir: Pronounced “zee” and “here,” these pronouns are used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” and “she.”

They/them: These pronouns are commonly used as gender-neutral singular pronouns, although they can also be used as plural pronouns.

Xe/xem: Pronounced “zee” and “zem,” these pronouns are used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” and “she.”

Ve/ver: Pronounced “vay” and “vur,” these pronouns are used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” and “she.”

E/em: Pronounced “ee” and “em,” these pronouns are used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” and “she.”

Per/pers: Pronounced “pur” and “purrs,” these pronouns are used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” and “she.”

They/themself: These pronouns are used as a gender-neutral singular pronoun, with “themself” serving as a gender-neutral singular reflexive pronoun.

Zie/zim: Pronounced “zee” and “zim,” these pronouns are used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” and “she.”

Ey/em: Pronounced “ay” and “em,” these pronouns are used as a gender-neutral alternative to “he” and “she.”