he
he Lexical Profile
he Game Scores & Validity
• pronoun
Used as the subject of a verb to refer to a man, boy, or male animal previously mentioned or easily identified.
"When my brother arrived at the station, he called to let us know he was safe."
Used to refer to a person of unspecified sex, especially in traditional or formal contexts.
"In the traditional proverb, he who hesitates is lost."
• noun
A male person or animal.
"The veterinarian examined the stray kitten and confirmed that the tiny creature is a he."
Word Nuance & Usage
Historically used as a generic pronoun to refer to a person of unspecified gender, modern standard usage strongly favors gender-neutral alternatives such as 'they' or 'he or she' to avoid gender bias.
• Rhymes for he
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English hē, of West Germanic origin and related to Dutch hij, ultimately deriving from a Proto-Germanic demonstrative base meaning 'this'.