A basic feature of many languages, including English, is the gender of nouns. For language learners in particular, understanding the gender of nouns can be very difficult, although it is essential for effective communication. It is important to know the gender of nouns. In the English language, gender has a significant impact on how nouns are categorized.
What are Gender-specific Nouns?
Many languages contain gender-specific nouns, which expressly refer to male or female entities. Nouns are categorized as masculine, feminine, or neuter in several languages, such as Spanish and French. This classification affects the form of related words, including articles, adjectives, and even verbs. However, most nouns in English are gender-neutral and do not always suggest a particular gender; hence, the language does not have a strong gender construction.
In spite of this, English contains gender-specific words that clearly designate a male or female entity. Nouns that can only be applied to men include “man,” “father,” and “son,” whereas nouns that can only be applied to women are “woman,” “mother,” and “daughter.” Gender-neutral phrases are becoming more and more preferred in many contexts; these nouns, on the other hand, are used to refer to individuals of the corresponding gender.
List of Masculine and Feminine Words in English
In this table, we’ve compiled the masculine and feminine forms of words.
| MASCULINE | FEMININE |
|---|---|
| Actor | Actress |
| Archduke | Archduchess |
| Bachelor | Bachelorette |
| Barber | Hairdresser |
| Baron | Baroness |
| Benefactor | Benefactress |
| Boy | Girl |
| Buck | Doe |
| Bull | Cow |
| Cock | Hen |
| Colt | Filly |
| Count | Countess |
| Czar | Czarina |
| Duke | Duchess |
| Emperor | Empress |
| Father | Mother |
| Father-in-law | Mother-in-law |
| Fiancé | Fiancée |
| Fox | Vixen |
| Gander | Goose |
| Gentleman | Lady |
| Giant | Giantess |
| God | Goddess |
| Grand duke | Grand duchess |
| Grandfather | Grandmother |
| Groom | Bride |
| He | She |
| Headmaster | Headmistress |
| Heir | Heiress |
| Hero | Heroine |
| Host | Hostess |
| Hunter | Hunteress |
| Husband | Wife |
| Instructor | Instructress |
| King | Queen |
| Lad | Lass |
| Landlord | Landlady |
| Lion | Lioness |
| Lord | Lady |
| Man | Woman |
| Marquis | Marchioness |
| Monk | Nun |
| Nephew | Niece |
| Nobleman | Noblewoman |
| Patron | Patroness |
| Peacock | Peahen |
| Policeman | Policewoman |
| Priest | Priestess |
| Prince | Princess |
| Ram | Ewe |
| Salesman | Saleswoman |
| Sir | Madam |
| Son | Daughter |
| Stag | Hind |
| Stallion | Mare |
| Stepfather | Stepmother |
| Sultan | Sultana |
| Uncle | Aunt |
| Villain | Villainess |
| Viscount | Viscountess |
Gender-Inclusive Nouns
Nouns that are inclusive of all genders do not suggest a particular gender. They are employed to describe people, irrespective of their gender identity. These inclusive terms try to steer clear of gender-based presumptions or exclusions. In this table, you see the words masculine, feminine, and gender-inclusive nouns.
| MASCULINE | FEMININE | GENDER INCLUSIVE |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Authoress | Writer |
| Aviator | Aviatrix | Aviator |
| Bachelor | Spinster | Unmarried person |
| Barman | Barmaid | Bartender |
| Boy | Girl | Child |
| Brother | Sister | Sibling |
| Baron | Baroness | Aristocrat |
| Buck | Doe | Deer |
| Businessman | Businesswoman | Business person |
| Boyfriend | Girlfriend | Partner |
| Bull | Cow | Cattle |
| Chairman | Chairwoman | Chairperson |
| Duke | Duchess | Aristocrat |
| Emperor | Empress | Sovereign |
| Fiance | Fiancee | Engaged person |
| Fireman | Firewoman | Firefighter |
| Groom | Bride | Spouse |
| He | She | They |
| Headmaster | Headmistress | Headteacher |
| Heir | Heiress | Inheritor |
| Instructor | Instructress | Teacher |
| King | Queen | Monarch |
| Lad | Lass | Youth |
| Landlord | Landlady | Property owner |
| Lord | Lady | Noble |
| Mailman | Mailwoman | Mail Carrier |
| Prince | Princess | Royalty |
| Policeman | Policewoman | Police officer |
| Salesman | Saleswoman | Salesperson |
| Steward | Stewardess | Flight attendant |
| Stuntman | Stuntwoman | Stunt person |
| Waiter | Waitress | Server |
Frequently Asked Questions About Gender Of Nouns in English
What are the three genders of nouns?
There are four genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter.
Do all nouns have a gender?
Most English nouns do not have a grammatical gender.
What are the rules for determining noun gender in English?
Nouns in the English language have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The gender of a noun does not necessarily correspond to the biological gender of the subject or object it describes.
How do you identify the gender of a noun?
Nouns in the English language can be neuter, feminine, or masculine. Generally speaking, nouns that are masculine refer to men, nouns that are feminine pertain to women, and nouns that are neuter refer to objects or ideas.
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