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

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."

How to use hes

Learner’s notes

In 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.

· First attested 1990

Class of 1990 hes joined the language around 1990.

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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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Vocabulary lists that include hes:

Words that start with H