Hijzij

Hijzij is a Dutch pronoun used as a gender-inclusive singular third-person referent to a person whose gender is unknown or non-binary. It is formed by combining hij (he) and zij (she) into a single form, and is sometimes written as hijzij or hij-zij. The pronoun functions as a substitute for the phrase hij of zij in contexts where the speaker wishes to avoid specifying gender.

Usage and acceptance of hijzij vary. It appears mainly in contemporary writing and speech among advocates of inclusive language and in some academic or stylistic discussions. It is not universally accepted or standardized, and many style guides continue to prefer the phrases hij of zij or gender-neutral alternatives such as iemand. Critics argue that hijzij can be cumbersome and disrupt fluent sentence structure, while proponents see it as a practical option to acknowledge gender diversity in formal and informal discourse.

Grammatical considerations for hijzij are not as settled as those for traditional gendered pronouns. Because Dutch pronouns have long-standing gendered forms, hijzij does not yet have universally agreed-upon rules for related forms such as possessive or object forms, and in practice writers may still rely on hij of zij or other constructions. Its use is typically guided by the broader aim of inclusive language and the preferences of the writer, editor, or audience.

See also: Gender-neutral language in Dutch; Dutch pronouns; Third-person pronouns.