Humanist Gender Neutral English (Quick Guide)

For the sake of brevity, here is a short overview and guide to Humanist Gender Neutral English. For more details, including which problems are addressed and the general protocol, see the Standard. You’re welcome to skip to the separate giant list of gendered words and their gender-neutral alternatives.

Humanist Gender-Neutral English

Gender-Neutral Pronouns (hu/hum/hus)

Use the pronoun root “hu” as the foundation for all neutral pronouns. This is derived from humans in order to be unifying, non-gendered and humanist:

hu /hyo͞o/ nominative pronoun: used to refer to any human being when gender is unknown, unstated, or non-binary; neutral equivalent of he or she

hum /hyo͞om/ accusative pronoun: neutral equivalent of him or her

hus /hyo͞oz/ possessive pronoun: neutral equivalent of his or hers

The word “hu” is pronounced just like the first part of “human”. For reference, this is how the current English (non-neutral), English augmented by “They / Them”, Swedish (neutral), and new humanist models compare.

Pronoun System	Nominative (Subject)	Accusative (Object)	Possessive Adjective  (Pronoun)	Reflexive
English Today	he worked she worked it worked	I hugged him I hugged her I hugged it	his head (his) her head (hers) its head (its)	himself herself itself
Swedish Neutral	hen worked	I hugged henom	hens head (hens)	henself
Singular They/Them	they worked	I hugged them	their head (theirs)	themself
Humanist Neutral	hu worked	I hugged hum	hus head (hus)	humself
Humanist English	he worked she worked hu worked it worked	I hugged him I hugged her I hugged hum I hugged it	his head (his) her head (hers) hus head (hus) its head (its)	himself herself humself itself

The Swedish neutral is shown here solely for reference to a system that has worked and gained wide adoption overseas. We obviously cannot use hen in English because everyone would want to eat their words, and vegans would object.

Using Hu as a Pronoun

Current English	Humanist English
“What was he or she wearing?”	“What was hu wearing?”
“I love him.”	“I love hum.”
“I have two of her paintings.” “The car is hers.”	“I have two of hus paintings.” “The car is hus.”
“He should take care of himself.“	“Hu should take care of humself.“
“They [singular] should eat more.” “They [plural] could drink less.”	“Hu should eat more.” “They could drink less.”  (No change)

Gender-Neutral Nouns & Affixes

The following examples are meant to cover most but not all cases, and all input on suggestions is always welcome. An affix is just a prefix or suffix.

Nouns & Affixes for Adults (hom/homs)

This refers to the use of man or woman as a noun, prefix or suffix. Use instead “hom” as a neutral alternative for adult man or woman, as both noun and affix where appropriate.

hom /häm/ noun or affix: generic alternative to man or woman

homs /hämz/ noun or affix: plural of hom

Hom is pronounced just like the first part of “hominid.”

Gendered Nouns & Phrases (Man or Woman)

Noun	Current	Humanist
Nouns
Adult Human	Man Woman – Adult or Person	Man Woman Hom Adult or Person
Adult Humans	Man Woman – Adults or People	Men Women Homs Adults or People
Phrases
Common Man	Common Man Common Woman – Average Person	Common Man Common Woman Common Hom Average Person
Odd Man Out	Odd Man Out Odd Woman Out –	Odd Man Out Odd Woman Out Odd Hom Out

Using Hom as a Noun

A few selected examples are provided below. Note that in some cases, even if (when!) hom is adopted for general use, other options such as “one” or “anyone” might be just a viable in some constructions.

Current	Humanist
“The man crept down the dark hall.”	“The hom crept down the dark hall.”
“If any man or woman is subjected to sexual harassment, it is your duty to report your concerns to HR.”	“If any hom is subjected to sexual harassment, it is your duty to report your concerns to HR.” – “If anyone is subjected to sexual harassment, it is your duty to report your concerns to HR.”
“That woman really likes cheese.”	“That hom really likes cheese.”

Nouns Gendered by Suffix (Examples)

This is a partial list (See the full list). The same logic and model apply to these words apply to all words with man as a suffix, or with woman as a suffix, as well as their plural versions. If you find any words that need more detailed treatment, let me know.

Word or Phrase	Singular	Plural
Anchor (News)	Anchorman Anchorwoman Anchorhom Anchor	-men -women -homs Anchors
Common Man	Common Man Common Woman Common Hom Common Person	– Men – Women – Homs -Persons, -People
Clergyman	Clergyman Clergywoman Clergyhom Minister Pastor	-men -women -homs Ministers Pastors

And so on. See the full list.

Using Hom as a Suffix

These are just a few examples. In general, while “hom” can sound a bit awkward at first, it is far more efficient and cogent in general usage.

Current	Humanist
“All members of Congress must attend.”	“All congresshoms must addend.”
“The chairman or chairwoman will call role.”	“The chairhom will call role.”
“Given that meteorologist is a different profession, please refer to the weather person as a weatherman or weatherwoman going forward.”	“Given that meteorologist is a different profession, please refer to the weather person as a weatherhom going forward.”

Nouns Gendered by Prefix (Examples)

This is arguable a more awkward and lower category of words where change will difficult if not impossible. See the full list.

Word or Phrase	Singular	Plural
History	History (D) Herstory Hustory Hxstory	Histories (D) Herstories Hustories Hxstories
Manhandle	Manhandle – Homhandle (D)	NA
Man-hour	Man-hour Woman-hour Hom-hour (D)	Man-hours Woman-hours Hom-hours (D)
Womankind	Mankind Womankind Homkind Humankind	NA

Using Hom as a Prefix

A few examples:

Current	Humanist
“A manhunt is underway for a woman named J. Tarley.”	“A homhunt is underway for a woman named J. Tarley.”
“She committed manslaughter.”	“She committed homslaughter.”
“That will take a lot of manpower.”	“That will take a lot of hompower.” – “That will take a lot of labor.”

Nouns & Affixes for Children (Hem/Hems)

Use “hem” as a neutral alternative for children or adolescents as noun or affix instead of boy or girl, where appropriate.

hem /hem/ noun: neutral alternative to boy or girl

hems /hemz/ noun: plural of hem

Hem is pronounced just like the edge of a piece of clothing (i.e., the hem on a dress). See the full list.

Word or Phrase	Singular	Plural
Boy Toy	Boy Toy Girl Toy Hem Toy Plaything	Boy Toys Girl Toys Hem Toys Playthings
Girl Boss	Boss (D) Girl Boss	Bosses (D) Girl Bosses
Cabin Boy	Cabin Boy Cabin Girl Cabin Hem	-Boys -Girls – Hems
Romantic Partner	Boyfriend Girlfriend Hemfriend + Partner, Significant Other	Boyfriends Girlfriends Hemfriends + Partners. Significant Others, etc.

Using Hem in Practice

A few examples:

Current	Humanist
“Whose boys and girls are these?”	“Whose hems are these?”
“I wish I had a boyfriend or girlfriend.”	“I wish I had a hemfriend…or two.”
“My partner’s late. They’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.”	“My hemfriend’s late. Hu’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight”

Alternative Suffixes (-Um)

This covers all cases where man, woman, boy or girl is not the gendering suffix. Use “-um” for any such words (e.g., -ess, -ette, -or) to create a non-gendered alternative. Or, if easier, just eliminate unnecessary gender distinction.

-um /əm/ suffix: generic alternative for any gendered suffix other than “-man” or “-woman”

ums- /əmz/ suffix: plural of -um  

Word	Singular	Plural
Alum	Alumnus Alumna Alumnum	Alumni (D) Alumni (Alumnae) Alumni
Actor	Actor (D) Actress Actrum	Actors (D) Actresses Actrums
Comedian	Comedian (D) Comedienne Comedium	Comedians (D) Comediennes Comediums

See the full list.

Special Cases: Other Words & Phrases

These are gendered words that are do not include boy, girl, man, woman or other common affixes. Or their different in some other way; hence, exceptions. This is by no means a complete list, but hopefully covers enough to get the conversation going:

Word or Phrase	Singular	Plural
Gendered Relationships
Child	Son Daughter Child	Sons Daughters Children
Grandparent	Grandfather Grandmother Grandparent	Grandfather Grandmother Grandparent
Marital Partner	Husband Wife Spouse + (Life) Partner, Significant Other	Husbands Wives Spouses + (Life) Partners, Significant Others
Parent	Father / Dad Mother / Mom Parent	Fathers / Dads Mothers / Moms Parents
Parental	Paternal Maternal Parental	Paternal Maternal Parental
Parental Sibling	Uncle Aunt / Auncle Pibling + Zizi, Bibi, Nini, Titi Not Solved	Uncles Aunts / Auncles + Pibling Not Solved
Sibling	Brother Sister Sibling	Brothers Sisters Siblings
Sibling-hood	Brotherhood Sisterhood Siblinghood	Brotherhoods Sisterhoods Siblinghoods
Sibling Child	Nephew Niece – + Nibling, Niephling, Chibling, Sibkid, etc.	Nephews Nieces – Niblings
Gendered Job Roles & Titles
Bride	Bride Groom TBD + Marrier, Celebrant	Brides Brooms TBD + Marriers, Celebrants
King	King Queen TBD + Quing, Majesty?	Kings Queens TBD + Quings, Majesties?
Lord	Lord Lady Lodum + Liege	Lords Ladies Lodums + Lieges
Midwife	TBD Midwife TBD	TBD Midwives TBD
Master	Master Mistress Maistrum + Mastress	Masters Mistresses Maistrums + Mastresses
Nurse	Murse? Nurse Nurse / TBD	Murses? Nurses Nurses / TBD
Wizard	Warlock, Wizard Witch, Wizard Witch, Wizard + Sorcerer, Magician, etc.	Warlocks, Wizards Witches, Wizards Witches, Wizards + Sorcerers, Magicians, etc.
Gendered Groups
Dude / Guy	Dude / Guy Chick / Gals Homie	Dudes / Guys Chicks / Gals Homies
	+ Thude	+ Thudes, Folks, People, Humans, Everyone / Everybody, Y’all, Peeps, etc.
Ladies & Gentlemen	Gentleman Lady Adhom + Guest, Distinguished Guest, etc.	Gentlemen Ladies Adhoms + Everyone, Guests, Distinguished Guests, etc.

See the full list.

Using Special Case Suggestions

Current	Humanist
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.”	“Welcome, adhoms.”
“What up, dudes?” (to group of men) “What up, guys?” (to mixed group) “What up, ladies?” (to group of women)	“What up, homies?”

Humanist Honorifics

This honorific seems to be handled in that Mr. can mean any male, Ms. any female and Mx. any person of any gender (pronounced “mix” or “mux”), but this has not been widely adopted.

Word	Singular	Plural
Mr. / Ms.	Mr. Ms. (Mrs. / Miss) Mu. Mx.	NA
Sir / Madam	Sir Ma’am / Madam Adhom	Sirs Ma’ams / Madams Adhoms

Using Honorifics

Current	Humanist
“Dear Mr. Johnson:” (male customer) “Dear Ms. Johnson:” (female customer) “Dear Customer:” (unknown)	“Dear Mu. Johnson:” (any)
“Dear Sir or Ma’am:”	“Dear Adhom:” – “To whom it may concern:”
“Excuse me, Sir. Where’s the restroom?”	“Excuse me, Adhom. Where’s the restroom?”

Gender-Neutral English Resources

This is a work in progress, but for now, this is what’s available on this site:

• Humanist Gender-Neutral Language (The Standard)
• Gender-Neutral English Words and their Alternatives
• Humanist Gender-Neutral English (Quick Guide
• Gender-Neutral Glossary & Discussion (Coming eventually)

What’s Next?

First, if you have any questions, comments or criticisms, please let me know in the comments below. All civilized input welcome. Second, if you agree this new humanist (gender neutral and inclusive English) can be useful, promote it. Put it in practice. Send others here to learn and engage. And thank you.

Peace