Theyfriend
Theyfriend or themfriend is a gender-neutral alternative to boyfriend or girlfriend, commonly used to describe a romantic partner who is nonbinary, genderqueer, or otherwise identifies outside the traditional male-female gender binary. The term allows people to describe their relationships without assigning a gender to their partner.
Although often used by and for nonbinary people, theyfriend can be used by anyone who prefers the term. Not all nonbinary people identify with it, and some prefer alternatives such as partner, significant other, or enbyfriend.
Origins of the Term Theyfriend
The term combines the gender-neutral pronoun "they" with "friend," following the familiar structure of boyfriend and girlfriend.
The term emerged within LGBTQ+ communities as an alternative to traditional gendered relationship labels, particularly for people who identify as nonbinary, genderqueer, or genderfluid.
Although its exact origins are unknown, theyfriend appeared in Urban Dictionary as early as 2015 and was used in published fiction by 2018. The term reflects a broader movement toward inclusive language that allows people to describe their relationships without assigning a binary gender to their partners.
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