Hijzijhet

Hijzijhet is a proposed gender-neutral singular third-person pronoun in Dutch. It is intended to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or to someone who prefers not to be identified by gender. The term combines the three traditional third-person pronouns hij (he), zij (she), and het (it) and is sometimes written as hij-zij-het or, less commonly, as a single word hijzijhet. It is not standardized and remains experimental, appearing mainly in discussions of inclusive language and in advocacy for broader pronoun options.

Usage varies. When adopted, hijzijhet is typically treated as the subject of a sentence in the third person singular, with verbs conjugated accordingly, and with syntactic position similar to other pronouns. Possessive and object forms lack broad consensus; examples of how they should be formed are debated among users. In written form, hijzijhet appears most often in explanatory or advocacy texts rather than in everyday speech, where many people continue to use hij, zij, and het as separate pronouns.

The term arose in contemporary debates on gender-inclusive language in Dutch-speaking regions. It has found limited uptake in schools, media guidelines, and some organizations, but it has not achieved official status in grammar guides or dictionaries. Individuals who prefer it usually indicate their choice explicitly in introductions or in written pronouns lists.

Critics argue that hijzijhet adds complexity to grammar and can cause confusion. Proponents see it as a practical step toward acknowledging non-binary identities and reducing gendered assumptions. Alternatives in use include relying on hij/zij/het when appropriate, using the person's chosen name, or adopting other inclusive pronoun practices depending on context.