My pronouns are:
they/them/themselves
(Singular “they”)
Example usage in sentences:
Singular “they” has been used in English to describe an unspecified person since the late 1300s (it's even older than singular “you”!). Nowadays, it's the most popular choice among people who prefer gender neutral forms. It starts being accepted by dictionaries too.
It is also common to use “themself” as a reflexive form.
Table:
| Subject | Object | Possessive determiner | Possessive pronoun | Reflexive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| they | them | their | theirs | themselves |
Normative-ish forms
Those pronouns have been in common use in normative English already, but recently they got a slightly different new usage: describing a single, specific person. If you want to link to plural “they”, use this link.- they/them/themselves – Singular “they” Normative
- they/them/themself – Singular “they” Normative
- it/its – Personal “it” Normative
- one/one's – Specific “one” Normative
Examples from cultural texts:
Singular “they” (they/them)
This list of sources includes both the version with “themselves” and “themself”, as well as those that don't happen to use reflexive.
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.”
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
- “– Anyway, I started talking to Syd and I found out we have so much in common. And I know you're not crazy about me dating, but I was just wondering if I could get ice cream with them.
– And by "them" you mean just Syd?
– Yes!”
- “– Anyway, I started talking to Syd and I found out we have so much in common. And I know you're not crazy about me dating, but I was just wondering if I could get ice cream with them.
Our Flag Means Death (Season 1, Episode 7), 2022
- “But Jim's the kind of person where if they stabbed me, I'd be like, “Yeah, I probably deserved it.””
Sex Education (Season 3, Episode 2; Netflix), 2021
- “– I know her. Well, I mean, she bumped into me the other day.
– My pronouns are they/them but no worries. I'm Cal.”
- “– I know her. Well, I mean, she bumped into me the other day.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, 2019
- “Lord Hordak, I’d like to introduce you to Double Trouble. They’re our newest asset in taking down the Rebellion. (Season 4, Episode 3)”
- “We captured Double Trouble! They’re refusing to talk to us, but... still! (Season 4, Episode 8)”
Star Trek: Discovery (Season 3 Episode 8, “The Sanctuary”), 2020
- “– But even so, their work has been nothing short of stellar. They're... really something.
– They're also awake.”
- “– But even so, their work has been nothing short of stellar. They're... really something.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Season 1 Episode 7, "The Serene Squall"), 2022
Avinash Chak – Beyond 'he' and 'she': The rise of non-binary pronouns (BBC News), 2015
- “kat baus, a non-binary student who graduated from Harvard this year - and who also writes their name without capital letters - regrets that the university's computer system was not introduced earlier. "It would have been a lot easier and less awkward," baus says.
baus sent emails or visited professors during office hours to explain their gender identity and pronouns. In smaller classes they (baus) brought it up when introducing themself.”
- “kat baus, a non-binary student who graduated from Harvard this year - and who also writes their name without capital letters - regrets that the university's computer system was not introduced earlier. "It would have been a lot easier and less awkward," baus says.
Jamie Feldman – How Being The First Non-Binary Person Vying For Miss Colorado USA Changed Their Life (HuffPost), 2019
- “Their friends and family were wary but supportive ― so much so that Stecina quickly collected enough money to cover the application fee through fundraising on social media ― and after publicly announcing their intention to compete, they found themself in a particularly vulnerable place.”
Alison Flood – Marieke Lucas Rijneveld wins International Booker for The Discomfort of Evening (The Guardian), 2020
- “In their acceptance speech, Rijneveld said they wrote the words “be relentless” on the wall above their desk while writing their novel.
“Today, when the world has been turned upside down and is showing its dark side, I often remember those words. So, write, read, win, lose, love each other, but be relentless in this,” they said.”
- “In their acceptance speech, Rijneveld said they wrote the words “be relentless” on the wall above their desk while writing their novel.
Ben Kesslen – Nonbinary 'Billions' star Asia Kate Dillon won't be 'made precious' (NBC News), 2019
- “As Dillon explains it, when they started as a recurring character in Season 2, Taylor was ”sort of introduced as this moral and ethical center in a very unethical world.” A young, queer and nonbinary person entering the male-dominated hedge fund world, their character acted as an antidote to the hedge fund’s money-hungry male employees. But, as Dillon said, power and money “corrupt” and their character wasn’t immune.”
Mordechai Laub – Kacen Callender shares the importance of queer novels (Young Entertainment), 2020
- “Kacen Callender is a bestselling and award-winning author. They have written novels for middle school readers, young adult readers, and adults. Kacen Callender born and raised in St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands. Some of Kacen Callender’s novels include This Is Kind of an
