themwhat

Themwhat is a coined term encountered in online discussions of pronouns and identity. It functions as a neutral, gender-agnostic placeholder for a person whose identity or pronouns are not specified. Because it is not a standard word, its use is informal and limited primarily to speculative or illustrative contexts.

Origin and etymology: The coinage appears in contemporary internet discourse and seems to combine the pronoun them with an interrogative/placeholder element, creating a stand-in reference. There is no widely accepted etymology, and the spelling is not standardized.

Usage: The term is used to discuss pronoun choice, inclusivity, and linguistic representation without naming a specific individual. It helps isolate issues around pronouns from real-world identities. In hypothetical or analytic writing, one might say: "If themwhat has a preferred pronoun, we should respect it," or "Policies should apply to themwhat just as to others." The term remains uncommon outside specialized discussions.

Reception and status: Themwhat has limited recognition in mainstream language resources and is largely confined to niche online communities, blogs, and commentary on language use. It is not included in major dictionaries, and its acceptability varies by community.

See also: Pronouns, gender-neutral language, placeholder names, linguistic pragmatics.