pronoun
Common
hes
hehs
Hes (pronoun) means a gender-neutral pronoun blending "he" and "she," used for a person of unspecified or non-binary gender. Example: “The form asked for a name and let you pick hes, he, or she as the pronoun.”
pronoun
1
A gender-neutral pronoun blending "he" and "she," used for a person of unspecified or non-binary gender.
"The form asked for a name and let you pick hes, he, or she as the pronoun."
"Some online communities adopted hes as a shorthand years before singular "they" became common."
"The author used hes in the story for a character who was neither he nor she."
How to use hes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA made-up pronoun that combines he and she.
Memory tip
You will rarely see this outside of niche gender-neutral language discussions; "they" is the far more common choice today.
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The form asked for a name and let you pick _____, he, or she as the pronoun.
Etymology
A blend of "he" and "she," coined in the 1990s as part of a push for gender-neutral pronouns.
Frequently asked questions
What does “hes” mean?
The word “hes” means a gender-neutral pronoun blending "he" and "she," used for a person of unspecified or non-binary gender. In plain terms, a made-up pronoun that combines he and she.
How do you pronounce “hes”?
“Hes” is pronounced hehs (/hɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “hes” in a sentence?
Here is “hes” used in a sentence: “The form asked for a name and let you pick hes, he, or she as the pronoun.”
What part of speech is “hes”?
“Hes” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “hes” come from?
The word “hes” dates back to around 1990. A blend of "he" and "she," coined in the 1990s as part of a push for gender-neutral pronouns.
Is “hes” a common word?
“Hes” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between hes and he's?
They are not the same. "Hes," with no apostrophe, is a gender-neutral pronoun blending "he" and "she" for a person of unspecified or non-binary gender, while "he's," with an apostrophe, is a contraction of "he is" or "he has."
What is the difference between hes and singular they?
Both can refer to a person of unspecified or non-binary gender, but singular "they" is the far more widely used and grammatically established option in English. "Hes" is a rare, non-standard blend of "he" and "she."
What is the difference between hes and s/he?
"Hes" is written and spoken as a single blended pronoun, while "s/he" is a written shorthand combining "she" and "he" that is not usually pronounced aloud. Both are attempts to cover any gender.
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