In English, some nouns don’t change form based on gender – they can refer to either males or females (and often to animals of any sex) using the same word. These are called common-gender or epicene nouns. For example, words like teacher, friend, or sparrow can apply to both genders without modification.
This list gathers the most common examples of such words for people and creatures, making it easy to find and use truly gender-neutral terms in your writing or conversation.
People
- Accountant
- Addict
- Administrator
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Adviser
- Agent
- Ancestor
- Applicant
- Architect
- Artisan
- Artist
- Artiste
- Assistant
- Athlete
- Attendee
- Auditor
- Author
- Baby
- Baker
- Barber
- Barista
- Botanist
- Breadwinner
- Buyer
- Captain
- Caregiver
- Cashier
- Castaway
- Chairperson
- Chef
- Chemist
- Child
- Citizen
- Cleaner
- Clergyperson
- Clerk
- Coach
- Coder
- Colleague
- Commoner
- Companion
- Comrade
- Conjuror
- Consultant
- Cook
- Coordinator
- Copywriter
- Counsellor
- Counselor
- Courier
- Coworker
- Creator
- Criminal
- Customer
- Cyclist
- Dancer
- Darling
- Dealer
- Dear
- Decorator
- Deceased
- Defendant
- Delegate
- Delivery Driver
- Dentist
- Designer
- Developer
- Dietitian
- Director
- Dispatcher
- Doctor
- Driver
- Editor
- Electrician
- Employee
- Employer
- Engineer
- Entrepreneur
- Estate Agent
- Examiner
- Executive
- Expert
- Fan
- Farmer
- Firefighter
- Fisher
- Fishmonger
- Florist
- Foreigner
- Foreperson
- Friend
- Gardener
- Graduate
- Guard
- Guest
- Guide
- Gymnast
- Hawker
- Headteacher
- Healer
- Helper
- Historian
- Hostage
- Housekeeper
- Human Being
- Illustrator
- Immigrant
- Infant
- Informer
- Inspector
- Installer
- Instructor
- Intern
- Interpreter
- Interviewee
- Interviewer
- Investigator
- Investor
- IT Specialist
- Janitor
- Jogger
- Journalist
- Judge
- Killer
- Laborer
- Landlord
- Landowner
- Landscaper
- Leader
- Learner
- Lecturer
- Lender
- Librarian
- Liar
- Linguist
- Magician
- Manager
- Managerial Staff
- Mathematician
- Mechanic
- Mediator
- Member
- Mentor
- Midwife
- Minister
- Model
- Moderator
- Motorist
- Motivator
- Murderer
- Musician
- Neighbour
- Newsreader
- Novelist
- Nurse
- Observer
- Officer
- Orphan
- Owner
- Owner-Operator
- Painter
- Paramedic
- Parent
- Passenger
- Pastor
- Pastoral Worker
- Patron
- Pedestrian
- Pen Pal
- Pensioner
- Performer
- Person
- Pharmacist
- Photographer
- Physician
- Physicist
- Pilot
- Planner
- Plumber
- Poet
- Police Officer
- Politician
- Porter
- Presenter
- Principal
- Printer
- Producer
- Professional
- Programmer
- Project Manager
- Proprietor
- Prosecutor
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Publicist
- Pupil
- Reader
- Receptionist
- Recruiter
- Referee
- Refugee
- Relation
- Relative
- Reporter
- Researcher
- Responder
- Retailer
- Runner
- Sailor
- Salesperson
- Sanitation Worker
- Scholar
- Scientist
- Secretary
- Security Guard
- Seller
- Server
- Shop Assistant
- Shopkeeper
- Shopper
- Singer
- Smoker
- Social Worker
- Soldier
- Specialist
- Spectator
- Speaker
- Spy
- Statistician
- Stranger
- Student
- Surgeon
- Sweeper
- Tailor
- Taxi Driver
- Teacher
- Technician
- Teenager
- Teller
- Thief
- Tourist
- Tot
- Trainee
- Translator
- Traveler
- Treasurer
- Tutor
- Typist
- Umpire
- Undertaker
- Usher
- Vendor
- Victim
- Visitor
- Volunteer
- Waiter
- Well-Wisher
- Worker
- Worshipper
- Writer
- Yogi
- Zookeeper
Creatures
- Alligator
- Ant
- Anteater
- Ape
- Armadillo
- Ass
- Baboon
- Badger
- Bat
- Bear
- Beaver
- Bee
- Beetle
- Bird
- Bison
- Boar
- Buffalo
- Bullfrog
- Butterfly
- Camel
- Canary
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Cattle
- Chameleon
- Cheetah
- Chicken
- Chimpanzee
- Cobra
- Cockroach
- Coral
- Cowfish
- Crab
- Crocodile
- Crow
- Deer
- Dog
- Dolphin
- Donkey
- Dove
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Eagle
- Eel
- Elephant
- Ferret
- Finch
- Fish
- Flamingo
- Flea
- Fly
- Fox
- Frog
- Gazelle
- Giraffe
- Goat
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Guinea Pig
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk
- Hedgehog
- Hen
- Hippopotamus
- Horse
- Hummingbird
- Hyena
- Insect
- Jackal
- Jellyfish
- Kangaroo
- Koala
- Lamb
- Leopard
- Lion
- Lizard
- Lobster
- Locust
- Louse
- Magpie
- Mole
- Monkey
- Moose
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Octopus
- Ostrich
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
- Panda
- Parrot
- Peacock
- Pelican
- Penguin
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Platypus
- Porcupine
- Possum
- Prawn
- Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Rat
- Raven
- Reindeer
- Rhinoceros
- Rooster
- Salmon
- Scorpion
- Seahorse
- Seal
- Sheep
- Shark
- Shrimp
- Skunk
- Sloth
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Spider
- Squirrel
- Starfish
- Swan
- Tadpole
- Tiger
- Tortoise
- Trout
- Turkey
- Turtle
- Vulture
- Walrus
- Wasp
- Weasel
- Whale
- Wolf
- Wombat
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Yak
- Zebra
