What does "he-she" mean?
A butch (or masculine) woman; (sometimes also) a trans man (regarded as a masculine woman).
He-she
/hiːʃiː/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A butch (or masculine) woman; (sometimes also) a trans man (regarded as a masculine woman).
- Grammar: he-she is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: shim.
- Usage evidence: [page 4:] The weekend butches were scared of me because I was a stone he-she. […] [page 27:] I noticed a grownup whose sex I couldn't figure out. "Mom, is that a he-she?" I asked out loud. […] "What's a he-she?" my sister demanded to know. I was interested in the answer too. "It's a weirdo," my father laughed. "Like a beatnik." Rachel and I nodded without understanding. […] [page 69:] Angie [said] "I remember being in a restaurant with my mother and stepfather and I saw a woman who looked something like her [that butch]." […] "You like tough women, don't you, butch?" [Angie asked ...] I nodded. "That's like the time I was about fourteen and I saw this he-she. […] Everybody was staring at the jewelry department. There's this couple—a he-she and a femme. […] The pressure just popped those two women out the door like corks. […] And all the while I was thinking, Oh shit, that's gonna be me." […] [page 137:] Some of the older butches had warned me that sometimes on a job the guys would pressure one of the women to sleep with a he-she, as a joke, and then come back and tell everyone about it. That was the last day on the job for the butch, who usually left in shame. But sooner or later the stigma also came back around and stuck on the woman who slept with one of us, and she had to leave too.
How to use "he-she"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "he-she" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "he-she" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "he-she" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "he-she" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "he-she" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "shim" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "he-she", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A butch (or masculine) woman; (sometimes also) a trans man (regarded as a masculine woman). derogatory, informal, offensive
"[page 4:] The weekend butches were scared of me because I was a stone he-she. […] [page 27:] I noticed a grownup whose sex I couldn't figure out. "Mom, is that a he-she?" I asked out loud. […] "What's a he-she?" my sister demanded to know. I was interested in the answer too. "It's a weirdo," my father laughed. "Like a beatnik." Rachel and I nodded without understanding. […] [page 69:] Angie [said] "I remember being in a restaurant with my mother and stepfather and I saw a woman who looked something like her [that butch]." […] "You like tough women, don't you, butch?" [Angie asked ...] I nodded. "That's like the time I was about fourteen and I saw this he-she. […] Everybody was staring at the jewelry department. There's this couple—a he-she and a femme. […] The pressure just popped those two women out the door like corks. […] And all the while I was thinking, Oh shit, that's gonna be me." […] [page 137:] Some of the older butches had warned me that sometimes on a job the guys would pressure one of the women to sleep with a he-she, as a joke, and then come back and tell everyone about it. That was the last day on the job for the butch, who usually left in shame. But sooner or later the stigma also came back around and stuck on the woman who slept with one of us, and she had to leave too."
- 2 A transsexual or transgender woman (a woman who was assigned male at birth). derogatory, informal, offensive
"Cops aren't very fond of prostitutes; they create work. […] The prostitutes in the Four-one bear no resemblance to Shirley McLaine's Irma La Douce. They are the ugliest assortment of hes, shes, he-shes, and she-hes in the world."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"[page 4:] The weekend butches were scared of me because I was a stone he-she. […] [page 27:] I noticed a grownup whose sex I couldn't figure out. "Mom, is that a he-she?" I asked out loud. […] "What's a he-she?" my sister demanded to know. I was interested in the answer too. "It's a weirdo," my father laughed. "Like a beatnik." Rachel and I nodded without understanding. […] [page 69:] Angie [said] "I remember being in a restaurant with my mother and stepfather and I saw a woman who looked something like her [that butch]." […] "You like tough women, don't you, butch?" [Angie asked ...] I nodded. "That's like the time I was about fourteen and I saw this he-she. […] Everybody was staring at the jewelry department. There's this couple—a he-she and a femme. […] The pressure just popped those two women out the door like corks. […] And all the while I was thinking, Oh shit, that's gonna be me." […] [page 137:] Some of the older butches had warned me that sometimes on a job the guys would pressure one of the women to sleep with a he-she, as a joke, and then come back and tell everyone about it. That was the last day on the job for the butch, who usually left in shame. But sooner or later the stigma also came back around and stuck on the woman who slept with one of us, and she had to leave too."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "he-she"?
Common synonyms include: shim.
How do you use "he-she" in a sentence?
[page 4:] The weekend butches were scared of me because I was a stone he-she. […] [page 27:] I noticed a grownup whose sex I couldn't figure out. "Mom, is that a he-she?" I asked out loud. […] "What's a he-she?" my sister demanded to know. I was interested in the answer too. "It's a weirdo," my father laughed. "Like a beatnik." Rachel and I nodded without understanding. […] [page 69:] Angie [said] "I remember being in a restaurant with my mother and stepfather and I saw a woman who looked something like her [that butch]." […] "You like tough women, don't you, butch?" [Angie asked ...] I nodded. "That's like the time I was about fourteen and I saw this he-she. […] Everybody was staring at the jewelry department. There's this couple—a he-she and a femme. […] The pressure just popped those two women out the door like corks. […] And all the while I was thinking, Oh shit, that's gonna be me." […] [page 137:] Some of the older butches had warned me that sometimes on a job the guys would pressure one of the women to sleep with a he-she, as a joke, and then come back and tell everyone about it. That was the last day on the job for the butch, who usually left in shame. But sooner or later the stigma also came back around and stuck on the woman who slept with one of us, and she had to leave too.
How do you pronounce "he-she"?
Pronounced /hiːʃiː/.
Etymology
From he + she.