pronoun Uncommon

ze

zee

Ze (pronoun) means a gender-neutral third-person singular pronoun, used as an alternative to "he," "she," or singular "they.". Example: “Ze picked up ze's bag and left.”

pronoun

A gender-neutral third-person singular pronoun, used as an alternative to "he," "she," or singular "they."

"Ze picked up ze's bag and left."

How to use ze

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pronoun some people use instead of he/she to avoid specifying gender.

When to use it

Used mainly within nonbinary and gender-inclusive communities; not yet standard outside that context.

Easily confused with

Word forms

zes plural

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Can you complete this real example?

_____ picked up ze's bag and left.

Etymology

Possibly influenced by the Dutch pronoun zij; coined in English as one of several proposed gender-neutral pronoun systems.

Origin: Dutch

Frequently asked questions

What does “ze” mean?

The word “ze” means a gender-neutral third-person singular pronoun, used as an alternative to "he," "she," or singular "they.". In plain terms, a pronoun some people use instead of he/she to avoid specifying gender.

How do you pronounce “ze”?

“Ze” is pronounced zee (/ziː/ in IPA).

How do you use “ze” in a sentence?

Here is “ze” used in a sentence: “Ze picked up ze's bag and left.”

What part of speech is “ze”?

“Ze” is a pronoun.

Where does the word “ze” come from?

The word “ze” comes from Dutch. Possibly influenced by the Dutch pronoun zij; coined in English as one of several proposed gender-neutral pronoun systems.

Is “ze” a common word?

“Ze” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include ze:

Words with Dutch origins Words that start with Z