# sie

/ˈsi/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Pronoun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sie
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a gender-neutral way to refer to a person in the third person singular. You use this instead of 'he' or 'she' for someone who does not identify as male or female.

For teachers: a gender-neutral third-person singular pronoun used as an alternative to 'he' or 'she'. Often used by non-binary individuals or in contexts where gender is unknown or irrelevant.

## Examples

- Sie is a talented artist who loves painting landscapes.
- When the new manager arrives, sie will be responsible for overseeing the entire department's budget and hiring process.
- The author requested that reviewers use sie and hir when referring to the protagonist to respect the character's non-binary identity throughout the literary analysis.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Sie are my friend." but "Sie is my friend." — Unlike the singular 'they', 'sie' is traditionally treated as a singular pronoun and takes a singular verb.

## Usage notes

- Used as a subject pronoun; typically pairs with singular verb forms in modern usage, though some speakers may use plural agreement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.