ze

Ze is a gender-neutral pronoun used in English as an alternative to binary pronouns like he or she. It is part of a broader class of neopronouns that some people adopt to reflect nonbinary or gender-nonconforming identities, or to avoid gender specification in reference to a person.

Common variants include ze/zir/zir/zirself and ze/hir/hirs/hirself. In the ze/zir/zir/zirself set, ze is the subject; zir is used as object and as possessive determiner; zirself is the reflexive. In the ze/hir/hirs/hirself set, hir is used as object and possessive determiner, hirs as the possessive pronoun, and hirself as the reflexive. Examples: Ze arrived early. I spoke to zir about the project. That jacket is zir. Ze looked at zirself in the mirror. Alternatively: Ze arrived early. I spoke to hir about the project. That jacket is hir. Ze saw hirself in the mirror.

Origins and usage: The use of ze emerged in feminist and LGBTQIA+ communities in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a way to express gender neutrality beyond he/she. It has appeared in some academic writing, literature, and online discourse, though it is not universally adopted.

Reception and context: Many people and some style guides prefer gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them for singular reference. Neopronouns, including ze, are often clarified at the start of a conversation or in a resume. Respect for an individual’s stated pronouns remains central to their usage.