Gender of Nouns in English: Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter

The word gender often makes learners think about men and women. In English grammar, however, the gender of nouns also includes nouns that can refer to any person and nouns that name objects, places, or ideas.

English does not give every noun a masculine or feminine form. Most nouns keep the same form, and their gender becomes clear through meaning, context, or pronouns.

Short summary: English nouns are commonly grouped into four gender categories:

• Masculine: names a male person or animal
• Feminine: names a female person or animal
• Common: can name a person of any gender
• Neuter: names a thing, place, idea, or animal whose sex is not relevant

What Is Gender in English Nouns?

Gender tells us what kind of person, animal, object, or idea a noun represents. It can also help us choose the correct pronoun.

Unlike some languages, English does not normally change articles or adjectives according to noun gender.

We say:

• a good man
• a good woman
• a good teacher
• a good idea

The adjective good stays the same in every example.

Masculine Gender Nouns

A masculine gender noun names a male person or animal.

Common examples include:

• man
• boy
• father
• brother
• son
• husband
• uncle
• king
• prince
• rooster

Masculine nouns normally take the pronouns he, him, and his.

• My brother lives in Manchester. He works at a hospital.
• The king entered the hall. Everyone greeted him.
• The boy forgot his schoolbag.

A job title is not automatically masculine. Words such as teacher, doctor, and manager may refer to people of any gender.

Feminine Gender Nouns

A feminine gender noun names a female person or animal.

Examples include:

• woman
• girl
• mother
• sister
• daughter
• wife
• aunt
• queen
• princess
• hen

Feminine nouns usually take the pronouns she, her, and hers.

• My aunt owns a small bakery. She opens it every morning.
• The queen spoke to the guests. They listened to her carefully.
• The girl found her missing notebook.

Some feminine nouns have special endings, such as -ess, but these forms are less common in modern professional language.

Common Gender Nouns

A common gender noun can refer to a male, female, or non-binary person. Its form does not change according to the person’s gender.

Examples include:

• teacher
• student
• doctor
• nurse
• artist
• parent
• child
• cousin
• friend
• neighbour
• manager
• engineer

The correct pronoun depends on the person being discussed.

• My teacher is Mr Harris. He teaches history.
• Our doctor is Dr Patel. She works nearby.
• A student left their notebook on the desk.

Singular they is useful when the person’s gender is unknown, unimportant, or non-binary.

• Every applicant should bring their identification.
• Ask the customer whether they need assistance.

Neuter Gender Nouns

A neuter gender noun usually names something without a natural male or female identity.

Neuter nouns include:

• objects: table, phone, bicycle
• places: school, village, country
• materials: gold, water, wood
• ideas: freedom, patience, happiness
• events: meeting, concert, storm

The pronouns it and its are normally used with neuter nouns.

• The phone is new, but its screen is already damaged.
• London is famous for its historic buildings.
• The storm ended as quickly as it began.

Animals may also be treated as neuter when their sex is unknown or not important.

• A bird landed on the wall. It stayed there for several minutes.

When an animal’s sex is known, especially when it is a pet, he or she is more natural.

• Our cat is called Luna. She sleeps beside the window.

Masculine and Feminine Noun Pairs

Some nouns have separate forms for males and females. These pairs are especially common in family relationships, animals, and traditional titles.

Family Members

Some family nouns are already gender-neutral:

• parent
• child
• sibling
• spouse
• cousin
• grandparent

Related Resources: Masculine and Feminine of Family Members

Professions

Many traditional profession names had separate masculine and feminine forms. Modern English often uses one neutral term for everyone.

Some traditional forms remain grammatically correct, but neutral titles are usually clearer when gender is not relevant.

Here’s a complete guide: Masculine and Feminine of Jobs and Professions

Animals

Certain animals have different names for males and females.

In everyday conversation, speakers often use the general animal name unless the animal’s sex matters.

• We saw three deer in the field.
• The farmer owns several horses.

You May Also Like: Masculine and Feminine of Birds

Royal and Social Titles

Royal and traditional social titles often have separate gender forms.

Some titles, including host and actor, are increasingly used for people of any gender.

Here’s a complete guide: 100 Examples of Masculine and Feminine Words

Gender-Neutral Nouns in Modern English

Gender-neutral nouns do not identify a person as male or female. They are useful when gender is unknown, unnecessary, or unrelated to the message.

Gender-neutral language avoids unnecessary assumptions.

Instead of:

• A doctor should listen to his patients.

Write:

• A doctor should listen to their patients.
• Doctors should listen to their patients.

The plural version is often the simplest solution.

Gendered Nouns vs Natural Gender

English mainly follows natural gender, not grammatical gender.

For example, mother is clearly feminine and father is clearly masculine. The noun teacher has no fixed gender.

• The teacher said he would return tomorrow.
• The teacher said she would return tomorrow.
• The teacher said they would return tomorrow.

Objects such as tables, books, and houses do not receive masculine or feminine gender in standard English.

Pronouns Used with Gender Nouns

Examples:

• The prince thanked the crowd. He waved to them.
• My sister found her keys. The blue bag is hers.
• A passenger left their coat on the train.
• The machine stopped because its motor overheated.

Do not use it for an adult person. Use the person’s known pronoun or singular they.

Common Gender Noun Mistakes

• Assuming every profession is masculine
  Incorrect: Every engineer must bring his equipment.
  Better: Every engineer must bring their equipment.
• Using “it” for a person
  Incorrect: The customer said it needed help.
  Correct: The customer said they needed help.
• Using an outdated gendered job title unnecessarily
  Less inclusive: We need a new salesman.
  Better: We need a new salesperson.
• Confusing common and neuter nouns
  Teacher is common gender because it names a person.
  Classroom is neuter because it names a place.
• Changing pronouns without a reason
  Incorrect: Maria said she had finished their report.
  Correct: Maria said she had finished her report.
• Using “he or she” repeatedly
  Awkward: Each visitor must show his or her ticket.
  Natural: Each visitor must show their ticket.

Practice Exercise

Identify each noun as masculine, feminine, common, or neuter.

1. brother
2. queen
3. pilot
4. river
5. niece
6. child
7. bicycle
8. husband

Complete or correct the following:

9. Write the feminine form of ram.
10. Write the masculine form of mare.
11. Replace policeman with a gender-neutral noun.
12. A doctor should check ___ schedule before leaving.
13. The table has lost ___ leg.
14. Replace chairman with a gender-neutral title.

Answers

1. Masculine
2. Feminine
3. Common
4. Neuter
5. Feminine
6. Common
7. Neuter
8. Masculine
9. Ewe
10. Stallion
11. Police officer
12. Their
13. Its
14. Chair or chairperson

FAQs About Gender of Nouns

Summary on Gender of Nouns

• Masculine nouns refer to males, while feminine nouns refer to females.
• Common gender nouns can describe people of any gender.
• Neuter nouns usually name objects, places, materials, events, and ideas.
• English mostly uses natural gender rather than grammatical gender.
• Singular they is correct when a person’s gender is unknown or irrelevant.
• Modern English often prefers neutral terms such as firefighter, police officer, and salesperson.

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