Express Gender of People and Animal

Gender nouns are used only for masculine or feminine, meanwhile most of nouns are neuter; here list basic ways to express gender by modifiers, and common gender nouns.

Note Topics:MorphologyThe NounThe ArticleThe Pronoun
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Express Gender of People and Animal
In English, grammatical gender is an attribute of some nouns. Most of English nouns of either people or animals don't specify particular gender, or say, they are neuter, while as a few nouns are only used to masculine or feminine object respectively. So it isn't very difficult to deal with gender of noun comparing with other main Europe Languages.

We may divide nouns of people and animals as two categories:
  1. For neuter nouns, we can add modifiers to express gender. Although there are some rules and fixed combination, noun or adjective plus neuter word is relatively easy to learn and use.
  2. For a few of nouns for specific gender, we have to get them one by one. Fortunately the group isn't large.


1. Add Gender to Neuter Nouns
Because most of people and animal nouns are neuter, we have to add noun or adjective of gender to express male or female if necessary. Such as:
  • man
  • woman
  • boy
  • girl
  • male
  • female
  • he
  • she
  • maid
  • lady
In general these words can be used as common noun/adjective to specify an object a particular gender: masculine or feminine. In a few cases, they act as prefix or suffix in derived word or fixed combination.

Examples of adding gender to neuter nouns.
  • man doctor
  • woman worker
  • sportsman
  • policewoman
  • boyfriend
  • girlfriend
  • male nurse
  • female singer
  • maid servant
  • landlady
  • male monkey
  • female elephant
  • he-goat
  • she-wolf
2. Gender Names for People
godgoddess
emperorempress
kingqueen
princeprincess
actoractress
waiterwaitress
mastermistress
hosthostess
headmasterheadmistress
heirheiress
shepherdshepherdess
dukeduchess
marquismarchioness
viscountviscountess
landlordlandlady
fiancefiancee
wizardwitch
priestpriestess
poetpoetess
managermanageress
widowerwidow
ladlass
heroheroine
gentlemanlady
nephewniece
bridegroombride
monknun
sirmadam
stewardstewardess
usherusherette
masseurmasseuse


3. Gender Names for Animal
lionlioness
tigertigress
bullcow
stallionmare
ramewe
cockhen
drakeduck
leopardleopardess
foxvixen
gandergoose
boarsow
stagdoe