Mandkvinde

Mandkvinde is a term found in Danish and Norwegian usage that literally means “man-woman.” Historically, it has appeared in anthropological, medical, and literary contexts to describe a person who does not conform to conventional gender expectations. In several older sources the phrase has been used to refer to individuals who live as a woman despite being assigned male at birth, effectively aligning with what contemporary terminology would call a transgender woman. In other contexts, the term has been used more broadly or ambiguously to describe cross-gender presentations or variations in gender expression, including some intersex contexts. The lack of precise, consistent definition in historical texts means that mandkvinde has encompassed a range of identities and presentations, which can lead to confusion when interpreted today.

In modern usage, mandkvinde is largely obsolete in official language and is rarely used in contemporary discourse. It can be considered outdated or stigmatizing when applied to real people. For clear, respectful communication about gender identity, it is preferable to use contemporary terms such as transgender woman (trans woman) or other precise descriptors based on the individual’s self-identification. The term is mainly of historical interest and is not part of current mainstream vocabulary.