pronounvous

Pronounvous is a proposed gender-neutral neopronoun intended for use as a universal second-person pronoun in English. The name blends "pronoun" with the French vous, signaling formality and inclusive address to one or more people. The system is designed to function as a single referent for both singular and plural addressees, avoiding gendered language while maintaining clarity in direct address and reference.

Grammatical forms commonly described for pronounvous include: nominative/subjective pronoun: pronounvous; accusative/object pronoun: pronounvous; possessive determiner: pronounvous's; independent possessive pronoun: pronounvous's; reflexive: pronounvousself.

Usage examples: Pronounvous is invited to the workshop. The facilitator spoke with pronounvous. That notebook is pronounvous's. Pronounvousself will handle the task.

Reception and status: Pronounvous has appeared in online discussions and language-reform communities since the early 2020s. It remains uncommon and not widely adopted, with supporters emphasizing inclusivity and straightforward direct address, and critics warning of potential confusion, inconsistency with English pronoun systems, and the burden of learning new forms. As with other neopronouns, usage is typically guided by consent and context, and individuals may declare their preferred pronouns in social and professional settings.

See also: neopronouns, gender-neutral language.