co

The word “co” means a gender-neutral pronoun used instead of "he" or "she". In plain terms, a gender-neutral pronoun, an alternative to "he" or "she" used mainly in certain communities.

“Co” is pronounced koh (/koʊ/ in IPA).

Here is “co” used in a sentence: “Co said co would arrive at noon.”

“Co” is a pronoun.

The word “co” dates back to around 1970. Coined in 1970 by the feminist writer Mary Orovan as a gender-neutral alternative to "he" and "she", later adopted by some intentional communities.

“Co” is a very common word in modern English.

"Co" replaces "he" or "she" when gender is unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary. It works in a sentence much like other pronouns, for example, "Co said co would arrive soon." The possessive form is usually "cos," as in "Co brought cos own lunch." It keeps sentences gender-neutral without awkward rewording.

"Co" was coined in the 1970s by writer Mary Orovan and became known through its adoption in some intentional communities in the United States, where it still appears in bylaws and everyday speech. It is one of several gender-neutral pronouns created as alternatives to "he" and "she."

Both avoid specifying gender. Singular "they" is far more common, widely understood, and grammatically familiar. "Co" is a purpose-built neopronoun, less widely recognised but valued for being unambiguously singular, since "they" can also be plural. The choice often comes down to a person's or community's preference.