English uses both gender-specific and gender-neutral words for people. Historically, many roles developed paired forms (actor/actress) or masculine generics (chairman), while contemporary usage often prefers neutral options (actor, chair, firefighter) except where sex is relevant (husband/wife). The list below gathers common masculine–feminine pairs for people, including familial roles, titles, occupations, and honorifics. Some items are archaic, dialectal, or legalistic; others may be considered offensive today. They are included for reference, reflecting historical usage rather than recommendation. When writing, prefer inclusive, neutral terms unless contrast is necessary or stylistically appropriate. Always consider audience, context, and current style guides and clarity too.
| Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|
| actor | actress |
| administrator | administratrix |
| author | authoress |
| bachelor | spinster |
| boy | girl |
| boy scout | girl guide |
| bridegroom | bride |
| brother | sister |
| conductor | conductress |
| count | countess |
| czar | czarina |
| dad | mum |
| daddy | mummy |
| duke | duchess |
| emperor | empress |
| father | mother |
| father-in-law | mother-in-law |
| fiancé | fiancée |
| gentleman | lady |
| giant | giantess |
| god | goddess |
| governor | matron |
| grandfather | grandmother |
| grandson | granddaughter |
| headmaster | headmistress |
| heir | heiress |
| hero | heroine |
| host | hostess |
| hunter | huntress |
| husband | wife |
| king | queen |
| lad | lass |
| landlord | landlady |
| lord | lady |
| male | female |
| man | woman |
| manager | manageress |
| manservant | maidservant |
| masseur | masseuse |
| master | mistress |
| mayor | mayoress |
| milkman | milkmaid |
| millionaire | millionairess |
| monitor | monitress |
| monk | nun |
| Mr. | Mrs. |
| murderer | murderess |
| nephew | niece |
| papa | mama |
| poet | poetess |
| policeman | policewoman |
| postman | postwoman |
| postmaster | postmistress |
| priest | priestess |
| prince | princess |
| prophet | prophetess |
| proprietor | proprietress |
| prosecutor | prosecutrix |
| protector | protectress |
| shepherd | shepherdess |
| sir | madam |
| son | daughter |
| son-in-law | daughter-in-law |
| step-father | step-mother |
| step-son | step-daughter |
| steward | stewardess |
| sultan | sultana |
| tailor | tailoress |
| testator | testatrix |
| uncle | aunt |
| usher | usherette |
| waiter | waitress |
| washerman | washerwoman |
| widower | widow |
| wizard | witch |
| abbot | abbess |
| anchorman | anchorwoman |
| baron | baroness |
| benefactor | benefactress |
| businessman | businesswoman |
| chairman | chairwoman |
| clergyman | clergywoman |
| congressman | congresswoman |
| councilman | councilwoman |
| countryman | countrywoman |
| craftsman | craftswoman |
| draftsman | draftswoman |
| earl | countess |
| enchanter | enchantress |
| executor | executrix |
| father-of-the-bride | mother-of-the-bride |
| fireman | firewoman |
| fisherman | fisherwoman |
| foreman | forewoman |
| godfather | godmother |
| godson | goddaughter |
| horseman | horsewoman |
| kinsman | kinswoman |
| knight | dame |
| layman | laywoman |
| marquess | marchioness |
| newspaperman | newspaperwoman |
| nobleman | noblewoman |
| patron | patroness |
| patriarch | matriarch |
| salesman | saleswoman |
| schoolmaster | schoolmistress |
| showman | showwoman |
| spokesman | spokeswoman |
| sportsman | sportswoman |
| stepbrother | stepsister |
| stuntman | stuntwoman |
| tailor | seamstress |
| tempter | temptress |
| viscount | viscountess |
| warlock | witch |
