A Quick Guide to Pronouns

At LGBT Health and Wellbeing, we celebrate the many ways people express their gender. We’re proud to create a welcoming environment for everyone, making space for the people we support and represent to share who they are.  

One way of doing this is to promote the respectful, everyday use of pronouns. We’re always learning and committed to making sure our support reflects the full diversity of our community in Scotland.    

What are gender pronouns?

Pronouns are the words we use to refer to someone in place of their name, like she, he, or they. Using the right pronouns is a simple but powerful way to show respect for someone’s identity. 

When someone shares their pronouns with you, it’s important to use them whether they’re in the room or not. It’s a way of affirming who they are and helping to build a more inclusive world. 

Why do pronouns matter?

Getting someone’s pronouns right helps create a culture of care and respect. It tells people: you belong here. Misusing pronouns, even by accident, can feel hurtful or dismissive. But mistakes happen, and what matters most is how we respond. 

If you slip up, just correct yourself, apologise briefly, and carry on. No need to over-explain or make it about you. A quick fix shows you care and are trying your best. 

Pronouns have changed over time to reflect the wide range of gender identities people hold. Many use them to show how they identify, or to step away from traditional gender labels altogether. 

Commonly used pronouns

Here’s a quick guide to some of the pronouns people might use: 

Binary pronouns 

• He/Him/His: often used by men or masculine-identifying people
  “He’s going to the shop. I saw him there with his friend.” 

• She/Her/Hers: often used by women or feminine-identifying people
  “She’s going to the shop. I saw her there with her friend.” 

Gender-neutral pronouns 

• They/Them/Theirs: used by many non-binary, genderqueer or gender-diverse people
  “They’re going to the shop. I saw them there with their friend.” 

Neopronouns 

Some people use newer or less common pronouns that better reflect their identity. These include: 

• Ze/Zir/Zirs or Ze/Hir/Hirs 

• Xe/Xem/Xyr or Xe/Xir/Xirs 

• Ey/Em/Eirs 

• Fae/Faer/Faers 

• It/Its: (used by some people who reclaim it for themselves) 

• Name only: some people prefer not to use pronouns at all
  “Jordan is going to the shop. I saw Jordan there with Jordan’s friend.” 

Mixed pronouns 

Some people use more than one set of pronouns, like she/they or he/they. You might hear: “They’re going to the shop, and she’ll meet us there later.” If you’re not sure which pronouns someone prefers or how they use multiple sets, it’s okay to ask respectfully. 

What if I make a mistake?

It’s okay, we all do! The key is to: 

• Correct yourself quickly 

• Apologise briefly 

• Move on without making it about you 

For example:
“Oh, she’s a great friend. Sorry—I meant they’re a great friend. They always send me funny videos to cheer me up.” 

Avoid over-apologising or making the person comfort you. It’s important here not to make the moment about your intentions or explain why you got it wrong. The best way to show you care is to correct yourself, keep things moving, and do better next time. 

Let’s keep it simple: ask, listen, respect

Using someone’s correct pronouns is one of the easiest ways to show you care. If you’re not sure, just ask politely. And if someone shares their pronouns with you, use them. 

Need support or have questions? Our helpline offers a safe space to talk, ask about pronouns, and get guidance from a trained team.

Together, we can help make Scotland a more affirming and inclusive place.