What does she mean?
She is a third-person singular English pronoun used primarily to refer to a female person. In ordinary sentences, it appears in the subject position, before a verb or another part of the predicate: “She works” or “She is ready.” Although it is sometimes described as a personal pronoun, its traditional grammatical role is specifically feminine, unlike the more general third-person singular “they.” Contemporary usage increasingly treats “she” as appropriate for anyone who uses feminine pronouns, including some nonbinary people. The word is normally pronounced /ʃiː/, though its vowel may become shorter in unstressed positions, as in “she’d.” In writing, “she” is straightforward, but the choice between “she” and “they” can convey information about a person’s identity or the pronoun conventions expected by the speaker and audience.
pronounShe is a third-person singular pronoun used to refer to a female person, typically as the subject of a sentence. It may also be used for people who use feminine pronouns, including some nonbinary people.
- Used as the subject of a sentence to refer to a female person, or a person who uses feminine pronouns.
"She left the meeting before anyone could object."
"She is preparing a report for tomorrow’s meeting."
"After the announcement, she addressed the crowd with unusual confidence."
For centuries, English speakers used “she” as the default way to refer to a woman, while the language struggled to provide a universally accepted neutral pronoun for everyone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does she come from?
“She” comes from Old English sēo, a feminine singular demonstrative pronoun that gradually became the standard third-person feminine subject pronoun in Middle English. The Old English form was related to the wider Germanic system of demonstrative pronouns and has close cognates in German sie, Dutch zij, and Afrikaans sy. Over time, its functions narrowed from the broader demonstrative category to the gendered third-person subject role familiar in modern English.
How she is actually used
In standard contemporary English, “she” traditionally refers to a female person, while “they” is widely used as a gender-neutral singular pronoun. “She” may also be used for a person who identifies with feminine pronouns.