Ze Zir Zem Pronouns

Ze/zir/zem pronouns are a set of gender-neutral, third-person pronouns used by some people who identify outside of the gender binary. As one of the most established sets of neopronouns - newly created pronouns - ze/zir serves as an alternative to the singular "they/them" or the binary "she/her" and "he/him". People use ze/zir to refer to a single person whose pronouns they are, finding them to be a more specific or affirming choice.

What are neopronouns?

Neopronouns are any set of third-person personal pronouns that are not officially recognized in a language. In English, this means any pronoun set beyond he/him, she/her, and they/them. These pronouns are created to fill gaps in the language, most often to provide options for non-binary, genderqueer, agender, and other people whose gender identity is not adequately described by "man" or "woman". While ze/zir might seem new, the concept is not. People have been proposing gender-neutral pronouns for English for centuries, and ze/zir is one of the most prominent examples to gain traction, especially within online LGBTQ+ communities.

How to use ze/zir/zem in a sentence

Using ze/zir pronouns involves substituting them into sentences where you would otherwise use he, she, or they. The structure follows the same grammatical rules as other pronoun sets. It may take a little practice to get the hang of it, but the conjugation is consistent. The full set includes forms for subject, object, possessive, and reflexive cases.

• Subject (like he/she/they): Ze is going to the store.
• Object (like him/her/them): I went to the store with zem.
• Possessive Adjective (like his/her/their): Ze forgot zir wallet.
• Possessive Pronoun (like his/hers/theirs): That wallet is zirs.
• Reflexive (like himself/herself/themself): Ze bought something for zemself.

The long history of ze/zir pronouns

The quest for a common gender-neutral pronoun for the third person in English is surprisingly old. While the singular "they" has been in use since the 14th century, many people have tried to invent a more specific, singular alternative. The pronoun "ze" appeared in print as early as 1864. Variants like "ze, hir, hir" were proposed in the early 20th century. The modern form of ze/zir/zem was largely codified and popularized in the 1990s within online transgender and non-binary communities on platforms like Usenet and early mailing lists. It gained further visibility on blogging sites like LiveJournal and Tumblr in the 2000s and 2010s, where it became a staple of pronoun discourse alongside other neopronouns like xe/xem.

Who uses ze/zir pronouns?

Ze/zir pronouns are most commonly used by individuals who identify as non-binary, genderqueer, agender, or otherwise outside the gender binary. For some, the singular "they" can feel impersonal or grammatically ambiguous because it also functions as a plural pronoun. Choosing neopronouns like ze/zir allows for a third-person pronoun that is explicitly singular and gender-neutral. It's a personal preference; some non-binary people use they/them, some use he/she, some use neopronouns like ze/zir, and many use a combination of different sets. The only way to know what pronouns someone uses is to ask them respectfully.

Ze/zir vs. they/them

The main difference between ze/zir and the singular they/them is origin and commonality. "They" is an existing word that has been adapted for widespread use as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. It is recognized by most major style guides and is familiar to most English speakers, even if its singular use is sometimes debated. Ze/zir is a neopronoun, meaning it was created specifically for this purpose. It is less common and may require a brief explanation for people unfamiliar with it. Neither is more "correct" than the other; the choice is up to the individual and what feels most affirming for their identity.