she
shee
She (pronoun) means used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned. Example: “My sister called earlier; she wants to meet for lunch.”
pronoun
1
Used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned.
"My sister called earlier; she wants to meet for lunch."
"The cat hid under the sofa because she was scared of the storm."
"My aunt has a garden, and she grows tomatoes every summer."
2
Used, especially in older or poetic usage, to refer to a ship, country, or machine.
"Our old tractor is slow, but she never lets us down."
"The old sailors always said of their boat, "She sails beautifully in a strong wind.""
"Look at the ship in the harbour; she is a fine old vessel."
noun
1
A female person or animal.
"Is the new puppy a he or a she?"
"The vet said the kitten was a she, not a he."
"The zookeeper checked whether the newborn was a she before choosing a name."
How to use she
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe word English speakers use to talk about a female person, animal, or (traditionally) a ship or vehicle, without repeating their name.
Common pairings
she said
she went
as she saw it
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Word forms
- Plural
- shes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My sister called earlier; _____ wants to meet for lunch.
Etymology
Traces back through Middle English "sche/scho" to an Old English root, likely "hēo," with a sound shift that eventually produced the modern "she" — the exact path is debated among linguists.
Frequently asked questions
What does “she” mean?
The word “she” means used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned. In plain terms, the word English speakers use to talk about a female person, animal, or (traditionally) a ship or vehicle, without repeating their name.
How do you pronounce “she”?
“She” is pronounced shee (/ʃi/ in IPA).
How do you use “she” in a sentence?
Here is “she” used in a sentence: “My sister called earlier; she wants to meet for lunch.”
What part of speech is “she”?
Depending on how it is used, “she” can be a pronoun and a noun.
Where does the word “she” come from?
The word “she” comes from Old English. Traces back through Middle English "sche/scho" to an Old English root, likely "hēo," with a sound shift that eventually produced the modern "she" — the exact path is debated among linguists.
Is “she” a common word?
“She” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “she” have?
“She” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned.
What is the difference between she and her?
"She" is the subject form, used before the verb ("she arrived early"), while "her" is the object form, used after a verb or preposition ("I saw her," "for her"). "Her" also works as a possessive before a noun ("her coat"), a job "she" never does.
Why are ships and countries sometimes called she?
In older and poetic English, ships, countries, and machines have traditionally been referred to as "she" ("the ship lost her mast"). The convention survives mainly in nautical contexts, though many modern publications now prefer "it."
Is it "she and I" or "her and me"?
Use "she and I" when the pair is the subject ("she and I agree") and "her and me" when it is the object ("they invited her and me"). Test by removing the other person: "she agrees" and "they invited her" show which form fits.
Can she refer to an animal?
Yes. "She" is regularly used for a female animal, especially a pet or any animal whose sex is known ("the cat licked her paws — she seemed content"). For animals of unknown sex, English typically defaults to "it."
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