iel

/jɛl/
pronounIntermediate
informal

A gender-neutral singular pronoun used to refer to a person whose gender is not specified or is non-binary.

Iel a choisi de ne pas révéler son genre.

They chose not to reveal their gender.

Iel est très talentueux·se·x.

They are very talented.

💡

The pronoun 'iel' is part of a set of gender-neutral pronouns in French, including 'iel', 'iels', 'ielx', and 'iel·le·x'. It is used to avoid gendered language and is commonly used in LGBTQ+ communities and progressive contexts.

Collocations

iel estthey areiel athey haveiel faitthey do

Synonyms

Related Phrases

iel·le·xpronoun
gender-neutral plural pronoun
ielspronoun
gender-neutral plural pronoun
ielxpronoun
gender-neutral plural pronoun

💡Pro Tip

Gender-Neutral Pronouns

In French, 'iel' is part of a set of gender-neutral pronouns that are used to refer to people whose gender is not specified or is non-binary. These pronouns are used to avoid gendered language and are commonly used in LGBTQ+ communities and progressive contexts.

Gold Rule

Consistency

When using 'iel', ensure consistency in your use of gender-neutral pronouns throughout your text to avoid confusion.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the combination of 'il' (he) and 'elle' (she), with the neutral ending '-el' to create a gender-neutral pronoun.

📝Usage Notes

The use of 'iel' is more common in written and formal contexts, especially in progressive or LGBTQ+ spaces. It is less commonly used in everyday spoken French but is gaining recognition as a tool for inclusive language.

Word Breakdown

iel
gender-neutral singular pronoun
pronoun
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais