My pronouns are:
Example usage in sentences:
- I think he is very nice.
- I asked him if I can borrow his pencil.
- He told me that the house is his.
- He said he would rather do it himself.
Table:
| Subject | Object | Possessive determiner | Possessive pronoun | Reflexive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| he | him | his | his | himself |
Examples from cultural texts:
Interchangeable forms (he or they)
Jasmine Aguilera – 'I Am Trans.' Elliot Page, Star of Juno and Umbrella Academy, Announces Transgender Identity (Time), 2020
- “Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page announced on Tuesday that they are transgender and their pronouns are he/they. The 33-year-old known for roles in Juno (2007), Inception (2010) and the ongoing Netflix series The Umbrella Academy shared a letter on Twitter Tuesday afternoon to make the announcement, one that was both celebratory and direct.”
Star Trek: Discovery Introduces First Transgender and Non-Binary Characters (StarTrek.com), 2020
- “Ian Alexander is a 19-year-old actor who uses they/them and he/him pronouns. He is best known for their roles as Buck Vu on the Netflix series “The OA” and Lev in Naughty Dog’s video game “The Last of Us Part II.” They are the first out transgender Asian-American person to act on television. They are also an advocate for transgender equality, racial justice and mental health awareness for LGBTQ+ youth.”
Lovejoy – Perfume (from the EP 'Pebble Brain'), 2021; Throughout the first verse, the singer (William Gold) switches between the pronouns he/him and they/them to refer to an ex-girlfriend's new partner.
- “It's 3:45 (AM)
And I just bite my tongue
Update me on your life
And now you've found the one
But I don't like his eyes
And I distrust their name
And I hate their haircut
They look like a prick (a prick)”
- “It's 3:45 (AM)
Normative “he/him” (he/him)
Canadian actor Elliot Page shares he is transgender (CBC News), 2020
- “Page said he has been inspired by many in the trans community, and thanked them for their courage, generosity and working to make the world a more inclusive and compassionate place.
While Page said his joy is real, it is also "fragile." Despite feeling profoundly happy and acknowledging his privilege, he is also scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the jokes and the violence.”
- “Page said he has been inspired by many in the trans community, and thanked them for their courage, generosity and working to make the world a more inclusive and compassionate place.
Jorge Luis Borges – The Garden of Forking Paths (Original title: El jardín de senderos que se bifurcan" (1941)), 1948
- “He was Governor of Yunnan and gave up temporal power to write a novel with more characters than there are in the Hung Lou Meng, and to create a maze in which all men would lose themselves. ”
Ursula K. Le Guin – The Left Hand of Darkness, 1969
- “He was so feminine in looks and manner that I once asked him how many children he had. He looked glum. He had never borne any. He had, however, sired four. It was one of the little jolts I was always getting. Cultural shock was nothing much compared to the biological shock I suffered as a human male among human beings who were, five-sixths of the time, hermaphroditic neuters.”
- “Seven years we were kemmerings, and had two sons. Being of his flesh born they had his name Foreth rem ir Osboth, and were reared in that Clanhearth. Three years ago he had gone to Orgny Fastness and he wore now the gold chain of a Celibate of the Foretellers. We had not seen each other those three years, yet seeing his face in the twilight under the arch of stone I felt the old habit of our love as if it had been broken yesterday, and knew the faithfulness in him that had sent him to share my ruin. And feeling that unavailing bond close on me anew, I was angry; for Ashe’s love had always forced me to act against my heart.”
Linsey Miller – Mask of Shadows, 2017; a genderfluid character who goes by he, she or they depending on what they’re wearing
Cavetown – This Is Home, 2015; Includes themes of aromanticism, being transgender.
- “Often I am upset that I cannot fall in love but I guess
This avoids the stress of falling out of it” - “Ooh... I'll cut my hair
Ooh... to make you stare
Ooh... I'll hide my chest
And I'll figure out a way to get us out of here” - “Get a load of this monster
He doesn't know how to communicate
His mind is in a different place
Will everybody please give him a little bit of space
Get a load of this train-wreck
Hishair's a mess and he doesn't know who he is yet
But little do we know, the stars
Welcome him with open arms”
- “Often I am upset that I cannot fall in love but I guess
The Spook School – Richard and Judy, 2015
- “You tell your son
That when he's older
You’ll take him out chasing girls ” - “He doesn’t understand
But he'll get there in the end
And the boys, the boys the boys, the boys
Will handle themselves”
- “You tell your son
Eiichiro Oda – Nami shows her Loyalty to the Crew!, 2021
- “[He's] the king of pirates..”
Kohei Horikoshi – My Hero Academia (Translator: Caleb Cook), 2016; Chapter: "Shoto Todoroki: Origin"
- “That Midoriya kid kept prodding at him and got beaten because of it.”
- “Wasn't his plan to just keep provoking him, though?”
- “Gotta admire his vigor.”
Singular “they” (they/them)
ALOK – Bio on personal website, 2017
- “ALOK (they/them) is a gender non-conforming writer and performance artist. Their distinctive style and poetic challenge to the gender binary have been internationally renowned. As a mixed-media artist Alok uses poetry, prose, comedy, performance, fashion design, and portraiture to explore themes of gender, race, trauma, belonging, and the human condition. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017) and Beyond the Gender Binary (2020). In 2019 they were honored as one of NBC’s Pride 50 and Out Magazine’s OUT 100. They have presented their work in more than 40 countries.”
William Shakespeare – The Comedy of Terrors (Act 4, Scene 3), 1595
- “There's not a man I meet but doth salute me
As if I were their well-acquainted friend”
- “There's not a man I meet but doth salute me
Dana Terrace – The Owl House (Season 2, Episode 7), 2021; Raine Whispers is the first non-binary character of Disney and they're voiced by the also non-binary voice artist, Avi Roque
- “"So the Head Witch of the Bard Coven likes pretending to be a rebel. Too bad they're not very good at it!"”
Dana Terrace – The Owl House (Season 2, Episode 8), 2021; Raine Whispers is the first non-binary character of Disney and they're voiced by the also non-binary voice artist, Avi Roque
- “"Just tell them! Let them help!"”
- “"Stop pushing them away!"”
Hamish Steele – Dead End - Paramormal Parl, 2022
- “"[...]Anway, hello, I'm Jules.
My pronouns are they, them, and the late.
[laughs] A little, uh, ghost jokes for you there."”
- “"[...]Anway, hello, I'm Jules.
Matt Braly – Amphibia, ; Darcy is referred to with a variety of pronouns, including it/its and they/them.
Rebecca Sugar – Steven Universe Future (Episode: Litte Graduation ), 2019
- “"Great. They're so cool. I can't believe we've been dating for almost two months, now."
” - “"Say "Hi" to them for me"”
- “"Shep is Sadie's new partner. They met while she was on tour with the Suspects."”
- “"Great. They're so cool. I can't believe we've been dating for almost two months, now."
AJ and the Queen (Season 1, Episode 2: Pittsburgh), 2020
- “Or, actually, I'm not sure where he or she or they is on the gender non-binary scale.”
Billions (Season 2, Episode 2), 2017
- “Hello, I'm Taylor. My pronouns are they, theirs, and them.”
- “– She spotted that from outer space?
– Not she. They.”
Blockbuster (S01 E05), 2022
- “Left, left, left. I hate Quinn. I don't even know if they like movies. They come in here all the time and make everything about themselves.”
- “[...] and Quinn, who never stops talking about themself, no offense.”
City of Ghosts (Season 1, Episode 2: Venice), 2021
- “My name is Thomas. I use "they" and "them" for my pronouns.”
DeGrassi: Next Class (Season 4, Episode 6 “#FactsOnly”), 2017
- “My favorite vlogger did a thing about this. They identify as genderqueer. Or, I think there’s another name for it. Um... Genderfluid. They feel like they’re between a boy or a girl. Or both. Or neither.”
Glow Up (Season 3, Episode 3), 2021
- “My look is based on Claude Cahun. They were a non-binary, queer artist that played with gender and image and reclaiming the way you're perceived.”
Glow Up (Season 3, Episode 7), 2021
- “One hour has passed and Jack has decided to play their Val card.”
Lucifer (S6:E7: My Best Fiend's Wedding), 2021
- “My tailor would be personally offended if I didn't allow them to help you out in this time of need. They're a total genius. Saved me after the short-suiting debacle.”
Metal Shop Masters (Season 1, Episode 1; Netflix), 2021
- “Rae just has to take hers apart. Seven has to throw theirs away.”
- “Things were already made. They just stuck them together.”
New Amsterdam (season 6, episode 6), 2019
- “Miss Verdene, well, I am Dr. Bloom, and this here is Nurse Brunstetter. And they're gonna take care of your lacerations.”
One Day at a Time (Season 2, Episode 3: "To Zir, With Love"), 2018
- “</
