Ze/zir pronouns: pronunciation, forms and examples
Ze, zir, zir, zirs, zirself. Not the same set as ze/hir, so listen for the second word.
The forms
| Subject | ze |
|---|---|
| Object | zir |
| Possessive before a noun | zir |
| Possessive on its own | zirs |
| Reflexive | zirself |
In a sentence
- Ze is teaching the workshop on Saturday.
- I sent zir the photos.
- Zir sister called earlier.
- The corner desk is zirs.
- Ze taught zirself to knit.
The forms and how to say them
Ze is the subject, zir covers both the object and the determiner, zirs stands alone and zirself is the reflexive. Verbs are singular: ze is, ze was, ze has. That is the set as listed by Pronouns.page and the Gender Census.
Ze is said like "zee". Pronouns.page gives zir a sound close to "zur". Some people spell the subject zie, a spelling that also appears in university pronoun guides.
Ze/zir or ze/hir?
Both sets start with ze and split after that: ze/zir uses zir, ze/hir uses hir. If someone introduces themself as ze, the second word is the one to catch. "Zir or hir?" is a perfectly good question to ask.
The other set has its own page: ze/hir.
Where it comes from
Pronouns.page describes zir as derived from ze/hir in the 1990s. A 2004 FAQ on gender-neutral pronouns, summarised on Wikipedia, listed zie/zir among the sets then popular on Usenet. Exact origins for sets like this are hard to pin down, so treat the dates as approximate.
How common it is
5.7% of respondents to the 2025 Gender Census chose ze/zir. The sample is self-selected and skews young and US-based, so it shows that ze/zir is in real use, not how many people you are likely to meet who use it.
Asking, and slips
If you are unsure of the forms, ask once and write them down. If you slip, say ze or zir and keep going. More in misgendering, and for the family of sets this belongs to, neopronouns.
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce ze/zir?
Ze sounds like zee. Zir is close to zur. If the person says it differently, follow them.
Is it ze is or ze are?
Ze is. The set takes singular verbs.
What is the difference between ze/zir and ze/hir?
The subject is the same; the other forms differ. Ze/zir uses zir and zirs, ze/hir uses hir and hirs.
Is zie the same as ze?
Many guides treat zie as another spelling of ze. Use the spelling the person uses.