Language is a powerful tool for communication and expression, and one of its intriguing aspects is gender. In many languages, nouns are categorized into masculine, feminine, or neuter genders. This classification is not necessarily tied to biological gender but rather serves as a grammatical construct. In this article, we will explore the concept of gender in language and provide a list of common masculine and feminine genders.
What is gender in simple words?
‘Gender’ is a Latin word derived from ‘genus’ which means kind or sort. On the basis of gender, the noun is classified into four classes.
What are Masculine and Feminine?
The gender of a noun indicates the sex or the absence of it. Masculine are male and feminine are female in English. Masculine and feminine in English is a concept to differentiating females from male in respect of gender. Below are some very common masculine and feminine words list with infographics and PDF.
What is common and neuter gender?
A common Gender:
A noun that is used for both a male and a female is called common gender. I.e. person, doctor, friend, child, fish, etc.
Examples
- Cousin
- Parents
- Cook
- Pupil
- Student
- Teacher
- Clerk
- Child
- Baby
- Friend
Neuter Gender:
A noun that is used for a non-living thing is called Neuter Gender. I.e. pen, book, table, apple, watch, etc.
Examples
- Paper
- Fan
- Apple
- Table
- Watch
- Mirror
- Knife
- Chair
- Book
- Radio
- Computer
- Shoes
Rules to Make Masculine and Feminine
Some masculine nouns can be changed to feminine by adding “ess” at the end.
Masculine Feminine
Prince princess
Heir heiress
Host hostess
Giant giantess
Poet poetess
Lion lioness
Rule No.2.
Some masculine nouns are changed into feminine nouns by removing their last or second last vowel and adding “ess” at the end.
Masculine Feminine
Actor actress
Tiger tigress
Negro negress
Hunter huntress
Rule No.3.
Sometimes, a slight alteration at the beginning or end of a word can change a masculine into a feminine.
Masculine Feminine
Bridegroom bride
Widower widow
Masculine Feminine
Grandfather grandmother
Landlord landlady
Son-in-law daughter-in-law
Peacock peahen
He-got she-goat
Father-in-law mother-in-law
Male female
Man-servant maid-servant
Man woman
Following nouns have no rule for changing their gender
Masculine Feminine
Boy girl
Bull cow
Uncle aunt
Fox vixen
Cock hen
Son daughter
He she
Drone bee
Ox cow
Brother sister
King queen
Horse mare
Father mother
Buck deer
Sir madam
Husband wife
Dog bitch
Nephew Niece
Must Try: Masculine and Feminine Gender of Animals
List of Masculine and Feminine
Below is the list of masculine and feminine genders in English:
Masculine | Feminine |
Nephew | Niece |
Signor | Signora |
Czar | Czarina |
Host | Hostess |
Bull | Calf |
Dad | Mum |
Actor | Actress |
Husband | Wife |
Hart | Roe |
Traitor | Traitress |
Prince | Princess |
Jew | Jewess |
Shepherd | Shepherdess |
Bull | Cow |
Benefactor | Benefactress |
Murderer | Murderess |
Husband | Wife |
God | Goddess |
Earl | Countess |
Patron | Patroness |
Gentleman | Lady |
Emperor | Empress |
Count | Countess |
Masculine | Feminine |
Cock | Sparrow |
Gander | Goose |
Abbot | Abbess |
Hero | Heroine |
Czar | Czarina |
Waiter | Waitress |
Giant | Giantess |
Shepherd | Shepherdess |
Author | Authoress |
Monk | Nun |
Brother | Sister |
Lord | Lady |
Milkman | Milkmaid |
Land-lord | Land-lady |
Grand-father | Grand-mother |
Brother | Sister |
Negro | Negress |
Grandfather | Grandmother |
Conductor | Conductress |
King | Queen |
Uncle | Aunt |
Host | Hostess |
Bachelor | Spinster |
Prophet | Prophetess |
Cock | Hen |
Heir | Heiress |
Hero | Heroine |
Uncle | Aunt |
Baron | Baroness |
Bridegroom | Bride |
Poet | Poetess |
Abbot | Abbess |
Sir | Madam |
Wizard | Witch |
Duke | Duchess |
Father | Mother |
Count | Countess |
Tiger | Tigress |
Count | Countess |
Bull-calf | Cow-calf |
Father | Mother |
Masculine | Feminine |
Master | Mistress |
Lion | Lioness |
Priest | Priestess |
Cock-sparrow | Hen-sparrow |
Tempter | Temptress |
He-goat | She-goat |
Stag | Hind |
Hunter | Huntress |
Policeman | Policewoman |
Boy | Girl |
Cock | Hen |
Father | Mother |
Instructor | Instructress |
Conductor | Conductress |
Mayor | Mayoress |
Manager | Manageress |
Manservant | Maidservant |
Traitor | Traitress |
Man-servant | Maid-servant |
Milkman | Milkmaid |
Steward | Stewardess |
Peacock | Peahen |
Sultan | Sultana |
Benefactor | Benefactress |
Hero | Heroine |
Songster | Songstress |
Monk | Nun |
Enchanter | Enchantress |
Heir | Heiress |
King | Queen |
Duke | Duchess |
Lion | Lioness |
Tiger | Tigress |
Master | Mistress |
Daddy | Mummy |
Gentleman | Lady |
Drake | Duck |
Tempter | Temptress |
Drake | Duck |
Gander | Goose |
Hunter | Huntress |
Son | Daughter |
Peer | Peeress |
Actor | Actress |
Signor | Signora |
Lord | Lady |
Peacock | Peahen |
Viscount | Viscountess |
Masculine | Feminine |
Son | Daughter |
Founder | Foundress |
Songster | Songstress |
Viscount | Viscountess |
Man | Woman |
Peer | Peeress |
Emperor | Empress |
Baron | Baroness |
Host | Hostess |
Drone | Bee |
Dog | Bitch |
Patron | Patroness |
Nephew | Niece |
Enchanter | Enchantress |
Duke | Duchess |
Sultan | Sultana |
Steward | Stewardess |
Czar | Czarina |
Man | Woman |
Stag | Hind |
He | Goat |
Poet | Poetess |
Landlord | Landlady |
Sir | Madam |
Giant | Giantess |
Master | Mistress |
Nephew | Niece |
Wizard | Witch |
Hart | Roe |
Drone | Bee |
Heir | Heiress |
Author | Authoress |
Prophet | Prophetess |
Bull | Cow |
Priest | Priestess |
Husband | Wife |
Bachelor | Maid / Spinster |
Masculine Feminine Animals
Animals | Masculine | Feminine |
Badger | Boar | Sow |
Spider | Male | Female |
Turtle | Male | Female |
Goose | Gander | Goose |
Magpie | Cock | Hen |
Bat | Male | Female |
Reindeer | Buck | Doe |
Pigeon | Cock | Hen |
Mallard | Drake | Hen |
Nightingale | Cock | Hen |
Fly | Male | Female |
Woodpecker | Cock | Hen |
Hare | Buck, Jack | Doe |
Possum | Jack | Jill |
Tiger | Tiger | Tigress |
Wolf | Dog | Bitch |
Wallaby | Jack | Jill |
Coyote | Dog | Bitch |
Owl | Male | Female |
Monkey | Male | Female |
Raccoon | Boar | Sow |
Hamster | Buck | Doe |
Pig | Boar | Sow |
Swan | Cob | Pen |
Eagle | Male | Female |
Mole | Boar | Sow |
Donkey | Jack, Jackass | Jennet, Jenny |
Wombat | Jack | Jill |
Bear | Boar | Sow |
Penguin | Male | Female |
Viper | Male | Female |
Gaur | Bull | Cow |
Polar Bear | Boar | Sow |
Raven | Cock | Hen |
Peacock | Peacock | Peahen |
Hippopotamus | Bull | Cow |
Mule | John | Molly |
Leopard | Leopard | Leopardess |
Crocodile | Bull | Cow |
Beaver | Male | Female |
Porpoise | Bull | Cow |
Ape | Male | Female |
Rat | Buck | Doe |
Zebra | Stallion | Mare |
Rook | Cock | Hen |
Buffalo | Bull | Cow |
Snake | Male | Female |
Sparrow | Cock | Hen |
Gerbil | Buck | Doe |
Guinea Pig | Buck | Doe |
Dog | Dog, Stud | Bitch, Dam |
Hornet | Drone | Queen |
Fox | Dog, Todd, Reynard | Vixen |
Crow | Cock | Hen |
Cheetah | Male | Female |
Aardvark | Boar | Sow |
Bullock | Heifer | Cow |
Finch | Cock | Hen |
Squirrel | Buck | Doe |
Rabbit | Buck, Jack | Doe, Jill |
Turkey | Turkey-Cock | Turkey-Hen |
Ferret | Hob | Jill, Gill |
Duck | Drake | Duck, Hen |
Dolphin | Bull | Cow |
Bittern | Cock | Hen |
Shark | Bull | Female |
Mink | Boar | Sow |
Chicken | Rooster | Hen |
Frog | Male | Female |
Porcupine | Boar | Sow |
Beetle | Male | Female |
Giraffe | Bull | Cow |
Rhinoceros | Bull | Cow |
Panda | Boar | Sow |
Crab | Jimmy, Cock | Hen |
Bee | Drone | Queen |
Otter | Boar | Sow |
Elephant | Bull | Cow |
Cattle | Bull | Cow |
Bison | Bull | Cow |
Crane | Cock | Hen |
Grasshopper | Male | Female |
Lion | Lion | Lioness |
Hyena | Dog | Bitch |
Camel | Bull | Cow |
Sea Lion | Bull | Cow |
Seal | Bull | Cow |
Goat | Billy, Buck | Nanny |
Parrot | Cock | Hen |
Bird | Cock | Hen |
Ostrich | Cock | Hen |
Moose | Bull | Cow |
Dove | Cock | Hen |
Fish | Male | Female |
Mouse | Buck | Doe |
Gorilla | Male | Female |
Alligator | Bull | Cow |
Termite | Male | Female |
Deer | Buck, Stag, Hart | Doe, Hind, Cow |
Sheep | Ram | Ewe |