Changing the gender in English is an important skill to understand. It helps you use the correct terms when referring to people, animals, or things. In this article, we will explore how to Change the Gender of words, focusing on the simple rules and examples to help beginners master this concept.
Types of Gender
There are mainly three types of gender in English:
- Masculine Gender: This refers to male beings. Example: man, boy, father, king.
- Feminine Gender: This refers to female beings. Example: woman, girl, mother, queen.
- Common Gender: This refers to nouns that can be used for both males and females. Example: teacher, doctor, student.
- Neuter Gender: This refers to non-living things or objects that have no gender. Example: book, chair, car.
Important rules for changing gender in English
. By Adding the Suffix -ess
- Many masculine nouns change to their feminine form by adding the suffix -ess.
- Example: actor → actress, waiter → waitress.
- By Adding the Suffix -ine
- Some masculine nouns change to feminine nouns by adding the suffix -ine.
- Example: hero → heroine, prince → princess.
- By Changing the Entire Word
- Some nouns change entirely when referring to the opposite gender.
- Example: husband → wife, father → mother, son → daughter.
- By Using Different Words for Animals
- In some cases, the gender change involves using entirely different words.
- Example: bull → cow, rooster → hen, stallion → mare.
- by Changing Vowel Sounds
- Some nouns change gender by changing part of the word or the vowel sounds.
- Example: man → woman, sir → madam, uncle → aunt.
- By Adding the Suffix -ess for Some Animals
- For animals, the -ess suffix can indicate the feminine form.
- Example: lion → lioness, tiger → tigress.
- Using Gender-Specific Terms for Family Members
- Family member terms often have distinct masculine and feminine forms.
- Example: brother → sister, nephew → niece, son → daughter.
- By Using the Common Gender Form
- Some nouns can refer to both males and females without changing.
- Example: teacher, doctor, parent, friend.
- By Using Gender-Neutral Job Titles
- Many professions now use gender-neutral titles instead of gendered ones.
- Example: firefighter instead of fireman, police officer instead of policeman.
- By Using Gender-Neutral Terms for Animals
- Some animals have neutral terms that apply to both genders.
- Example: cat, dog, sheep (for both male and female).
- By Changing the Title for Royalty
- Royal titles change based on gender.
- Example: king → queen, prince → princess, duke → duchess.
- By Using Different Terms for Male and Female Animals
- Some animal species have completely different terms for males and females.
- Example: ram (male sheep) → ewe (female sheep), cock (male chicken) → hen (female chicken).
- By Adding Gender-Specific Prefixes (Rare)
- In some cases, a prefix may be used to indicate gender.
- Example: manservant (male servant) → maidservant (female servant).
- No Gender Change for Certain Nouns
- Some nouns do not change gender and can refer to both males and females.
- Example: child, parent, cousin.
- By Changing the Gender of Animals in Specific Contexts
- Certain animals change gendered terms depending on context or role.
- Example: stag (male deer) → hind (female deer), bull (male cow) → cow (female).
50 masculine to feminine words
| Masculine | Feminine |
| actor | actress |
| waiter | waitress |
| king | queen |
| prince | princess |
| husband | wife |
| father | mother |
| son | daughter |
| brother | sister |
| uncle | aunt |
| man | woman |
| boy | girl |
| grandfather | grandmother |
| nephew | niece |
| master | mistress |
| lord | lady |
| male | female |
| duke | duchess |
| emperor | empress |
| lion | lioness |
| tiger | tigress |
| rooster | hen |
| bull | cow |
| stallion | mare |
| cock | hen |
| wizard | witch |
| shepherd | shepherdess |
| poet | poetess |
| bachelor | spinster |
| gentleman | lady |
| fox | vixen |
| master | mistress |
| hero | heroine |
| waiter | waitress |
| steward | stewardess |
| manservant | maidservant |
| emperor | empress |
| wizard | witch |
| host | hostess |
| lion | lioness |
| bull | cow |
| rooster | hen |
| doctor | doctoress |
| salesman | saleswoman |
| landlord | landlady |
| shepherd | shepherdess |
| baker | bakeress |
| author | authoress |
| manager | manageress |
Frequently Asked Questions about changing the gender of words in English
- What does “changing the gender” mean in English?
In English, “changing the gender” refers to modifying a word to represent either a masculine or feminine version. This often applies to nouns that denote people or animals, with some words having distinct male or female forms, such as “actor” (masculine) becoming “actress” (feminine).
- How can we convert masculine words into feminine ones in English?
Some masculine words can be converted into feminine ones by adding specific suffixes, like “-ess,” as seen with “waiter” turning into “waitress.” In other cases, a more complete transformation occurs, such as changing “prince” to “princess.” However, not all words have clear-cut gender variations in modern English.
- Are gender-neutral terms possible in English?
English has a variety of gender-neutral terms that don’t specify whether they refer to males or females. For example, terms like “doctor,” “teacher,” and “engineer” can refer to both genders without modification. There’s also a movement to replace outdated gendered terms with neutral alternatives, such as using “server” instead of “waiter” or “waitress.”
- Why do some words have both masculine and feminine forms, and others do not?
The existence of both masculine and feminine forms in English often stems from historical social roles where particular occupations or titles were tied to a specific gender. Over time, the language has evolved to embrace more gender-neutral language, reflecting changes in societal roles and gender equality.
- How can gendered language in English be made more inclusive?
To make English more inclusive, many people opt for gender-neutral terms. This includes using “firefighter” instead of “fireman,” “police officer” instead of “policeman,” and choosing “chairperson” over “chairman” to avoid unnecessary gender distinctions.