Feminine and Masculine Words in English

Gender in English can be a subtle concept. While English doesn’t assign grammatical gender to most nouns like some other languages, we still show gender when referring to people or animals. This guide explores how gender works in English, how it compares to other languages, and how to use gender-inclusive language—especially in IELTS contexts.

What Is “Gender” in Language?

• About a quarter of the world’s languages use gender to classify nouns.
• Natural gender refers to biological sex (e.g., male or female humans or animals).
• Grammatical gender classifies nouns into categories (like masculine, feminine, neuter), which may not match the actual biological gender.

Some languages classify even inanimate objects as male or female. For example:

• In German:
  • die Gabel (fork) – feminine
  • das Messer (knife) – neuter
  • der Löffel (spoon) – masculine
  • das Mädchen (girl) – neuter
• In Irish:
  • cailín (girl) – masculine
  • stail (stallion) – feminine

Are There Masculine and Feminine Words in English?

English does not generally assign gender to objects or most nouns, but we do show gender in specific human and animal terms.

Examples:

• Masculine Words:
  • man
  • father
  • boy
  • uncle
  • husband
  • actor
  • prince
  • waiter
  • rooster
  • stallion
• Feminine Words:
  • woman
  • mother
  • girl
  • aunt
  • wife
  • actress
  • princess
  • waitress
  • hen
  • mare
• Gender-Neutral Alternatives:
  • person
  • parent
  • child
  • spouse
  • server
  • chicken
  • horse

Why Are Ships Called “She”?

Though English uses mostly gender-neutral grammar, certain poetic or traditional expressions use “she”:

• Ships, countries, and sometimes vehicles are referred to as “she.”
  • “The Queen Elizabeth is a great ship. She sailed across the Atlantic.”
  • “France and her neighbours…”
  • “My car—she’s my pride and joy.”

This practice is fading and often replaced with neutral pronouns like “it,” especially in formal writing.

What Is Gender-Inclusive Language?

Gender-inclusive language avoids bias by using neutral alternatives. This is important because language shapes perceptions and expectations.

Examples of Gendered vs. Gender-Inclusive Terms:

• man → person, individual
• mankind → people, humanity
• fireman → firefighter
• freshman → first-year student
• man-made → synthetic, artificial
• the common man → the average person
• chairman → chair, chairperson, coordinator
• mailman → mail carrier, postal worker
• policeman → police officer
• steward/stewardess → flight attendant
• actor/actress → actor
• congressman → legislator, congressional representative
• Sir (in “Dear Sir,”) → Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Editor, To Whom it May Concern
• waiter/waitress → server, wait staff
• ladies and gentlemen → folks, everyone
• boyfriend/girlfriend → partner, significant other
• salesman/saleswoman → salesperson, sales representative

Why Use Gender-Inclusive Language?

Using inclusive words shows respect for all genders and avoids reinforcing outdated stereotypes. For example:

• Saying “chairperson” instead of “chairman” shows that the role is open to everyone, not just men.
• Replacing “fireman” with “firefighter” makes the language more inclusive and accurate.

Test Your Bias: A Quick Riddle

“A father and son get in a car crash and are rushed to the hospital. The father dies. The boy is taken to the operating room. The surgeon says, ‘I can’t operate on this boy—he’s my son.’ How is this possible?”

Answer: The surgeon is the boy’s mother.

This riddle highlights how gender bias can shape our assumptions—even unconsciously.

Using Inclusive Language in IELTS Speaking and Writing

Using gender-neutral terms can help you sound more fluent, modern, and thoughtful. For example:

• Use salesperson instead of salesman
• Use they for a person of unknown gender instead of defaulting to he

In the IELTS Speaking test, showing awareness of such vocabulary adds depth to your communication. In Writing Task 2, it can reflect thoughtful, socially aware arguments—valuable for higher band scores.

FAQs – Feminine and Masculine Words in English

1. Does the English language have masculine and feminine nouns?
Generally, English does not assign grammatical gender to nouns. However, gender is sometimes expressed when referring to people (e.g., man/woman) or animals (e.g., rooster/hen).

2. What’s the difference between natural gender and grammatical gender?
Natural gender refers to the actual biological sex of a person or animal. Grammatical gender is a language structure that classifies nouns as masculine, feminine, or neuter—used in languages like German, Spanish, or French.

3. Why are ships and countries sometimes referred to as “she” in English?
This is an old tradition rooted in poetic or literary usage. Ships, countries, and other objects were personified as feminine, although modern English now leans toward using neutral pronouns like “it.”

4. What are some common gender-neutral alternatives to gendered job titles?
Here are a few:

• Fireman → Firefighter
• Policeman → Police officer
• Chairman → Chairperson
• Stewardess → Flight attendant
• Salesman → Salesperson

5. Why is using gender-inclusive language important?
Inclusive language avoids reinforcing gender stereotypes, ensures fairness, and reflects modern values of equality. It’s especially relevant in professional and academic settings like IELTS Writing and Speaking.

6. Can using gender-neutral terms improve my IELTS score?
Yes. In the IELTS Speaking and Writing tests, demonstrating precise and inclusive vocabulary can positively influence your Lexical Resource and Coherence scores, which contribute to a higher overall band.

7. Is it acceptable to use “they” as a singular pronoun?
Yes. Using “they” to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or non-binary is grammatically accepted and widely used in modern English, including academic contexts.

8. What is an example of gender bias in language?
Using terms like “mankind” or “chairman” implies that men are the default or norm. These terms can subtly exclude other genders. Using inclusive terms like “humanity” or “chairperson” avoids this bias.

9. Are words like “actress” and “waitress” still commonly used?
They are still understood but increasingly being replaced with gender-neutral alternatives like “actor” and “server,” especially in professional and inclusive environments.

10. How can I make my language more gender-neutral in daily use?
Use terms like “partner” instead of “boyfriend/girlfriend,” and avoid unnecessary gender references in job roles. Replace “he or she” with “they” when the gender is not specified.