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In English, the four genders of nouns are masculine, feminine, common, and neuter.
Masculine nouns refer to words for a male figure or male member of a species (i.e. man, boy, actor, horse, etc.)
Feminine nouns refer to female figures or female members of a species (i.e. woman, girl, actress, mare, etc.)
Common nouns refer to members of a species and don’t specify the gender (i.e. parent, friend, client, student, etc.)
Neuter nouns refer to things that have no gender (i.e. rock, table, pencil, etc.)
In many other languages, neuter nouns take on a particular gender. In Spanish, for example, la mesa (the table) is considered feminine, while el lapiz (the pencil) is considered masculine — in Spanish, note that la and el are both used as the word “the,” and denote the noun’s gender. In these languages, genders are often arbitrary and have little to do with the characteristics of the objects they describe. French, German, and Italian are other languages which prescribe either a masculine or feminine gender to nouns that are neuter in English.
Follow the list of masculine, feminine genders
Abbot – abbess
Actor – actress
Author-authoress
Bachelor – spinster
Baron – baroness
Benefactor – benefactress
Boy-girl
Bridegroom-bride
Brother – sister
Bull – cow
Bull-calf – cow-calf
Cock – hen
Cock-sparrow – hen-sparrow
Conductor-conductress
Count – countess
Count-countess
Czar – czarina
Czar-czarina
Dad-mum
Daddy-mummy
Drake – duck
Drone – bee
Duke – duchess
Duke-duchess
Emperor – empress
Enchanter – enchantress
Father – mother
Gander – goose
Gentleman – lady
Giant – giantess
God-goddess
Grandfather – grandmother
Hart – roe
He-goat – she-goat
Heir – heiress
Heir-heiress
Hero – heroine
Hero-heroine
Host – hostess
Host-hostess
Hunter – huntress
Husband – wife
Husband-wife
King – queen
Landlord – landlady
Lion – lioness
Lord – lady
Man – woman
Manservant – maidservant
Master – mistress
Master-mistress
Milkman – milkmaid
Monk – nun
Murderer-murderess
Nephew – Niece
Nephew-niece
Patron – patroness
Peacock – peahen
Peer – peeress
Poet-poetess
Policeman-policewoman
Priest – priestess
Prince-princess
Prophet – prophetess
Shepherd – shepherdess
Signor – signora
Sir – madam
Son-daughter
Songster – songstress
Stag – hind
Steward – stewardess
Sultan – sultana
Tempter – temptress
Tiger – tigress
Traitor – traitress
Uncle – aunt
Viscount – viscountess
Waiter – waitress
Wizard – witch
Males, females, young ones
Crabs(jimmy)-Sooks-Zoea
Snake (nag)- Nagina- Snakelet, neonate, hatchling snake
Otters(boars)-Sows-Pups or kittens
Mole(boars)-Sows-Pups
Bats-Female bat-Pups
Squirrels(boars)-Sow-Pup, kit, kitten
Wolf-Bitch-Pup
Dog-Bitch-Pup
Frog-Female frog-Polliwog, tadpole, froglet
Swine-Sow-Piglet
Peacock-Peahen-Peachicks
Owl (coco)-Owl hen-Owlet
Insect-Female insect-Nymphs, larvae, pupae
Hare-Jill-Leveret
Sheep-Ewe-Lamb
Sheep-Ewe-Lamb
Cat-Queen-Kitten
Rat-Does-Kitten
Raccoon(boar)-Sow-Kits
Chipmunk-Does-Kits
Fish-Female fish-Juvenile fish
Kangaroo(buck)-Flyer-Joeys
Koala(buck)-Doe-Joeys
Wombat-Jill-Joey
Monkey-Female MonkeyFemale -monkeyInfant
Hedgehog(boars)-Sows-Hoglets
Cattle-Cow-Heifer
Turtles-Female turtle-Hatchlings
Crocodile-Cow-Hatchling
Goose-Goose-Gosling
Zebra(stallion)-Mare-Foal
Horse-Mare-Foal
Ass-Jenny-Foal
Deer-Doe-Fawn
Eagle-Female-Eaglets
Duck(drake)-Duck-Duckling
Swan-Pen-Cygnet
Fox(tod’s or reynard’s)-Vixen-Cubs
Tiger-Tigress-Cub
Bear-Sow-Cub
Badger(boar)-Sow-Cub
Lion-Lioness-Cub
Leopard-Leopardess-Cub
Cheetah-Female-Cub
Parrots-Hen-Chick
Chicken-Hen-Chick
Reindeer-Female-Calves
Dolphin(bull)-Cows-Calves
Giraffe-Cow-Calves
Whales-Cow-Calf
Whale-Cow-Calf
Rhinoceros(bull-)Cow-Calf
Hippopotas (bull)-Cow-Calf
Elephant-Cow-Calf
Cattle-Cow-Calf
Rabbit-Doe-Bunny
Common gender nouns list
There are some nouns that are both male and female and these nouns are called common gender nouns.
Examples
Singer
Sheep
Relative
Pupil
President
Pig
Passenger
Parent
Owner
Infant
Guest
Guardian
Friend
Deer
Dancer
Cousin
Comrade
Companion
Child
Cattle
Cat
Bird
Baby
Teacher
Swan
Student
Exercises
1. Answer the following questions.
a. What is common gender? Give example.
b. Give examples of neuter gender.
2. Change the masculine gender to feminine gender:
Cow, man, father, boy, uncle, nephew, wife, boar, goose, drake, brother
