List of male vs. female words for jobs, positions
In English we mostly have the same word for both a man and a woman’s job title. Words like doctor, teacher and nurse can mean a man or a woman – there is no difference.
Here are a few examples of when we use different words for men and women’s jobs or positions.
| Male vs. female words for jobs, positions | ||
| man | woman | |
| actor | actress | Actor is becoming common for both men and women. |
| prince | princess | |
| waiter | waitress | |
| manager | manageress | Manager is now often used for both men and women. |
| duke | duchess | |
| groom | bride | Bridegroom is also used for a man. |
| host | hostess | |
| widower | widow | |
| hero | heroine | |
| policeman | policewoman | Police officer is now often used for men and women. |
| barman | barmaid | |
| headmaster | headmistress | The unisex headteacher is now used very often. |
| king | queen | |
| landlord | landlady | |
| steward | stewardess | The unisex word flight attendant is now used more than steward and stewardess. |
a waiter
AJ - August 30, 2017, 4:14 am
I’m curious. Would you say “mentor” and “mentoress”? I’m searching for the right female-specific version of mentor, but I’m coming up empty.
Raymond - September 12, 2017, 8:14 am
the female version of mentor is mentoress
AJ - February 2, 2020, 3:11 am
Thanks, Raymond, for answering. Good grief! I just noticed the date of the original question/answer. I just came across the question in some notes and decided to check to see if it was ever answered. I appreciate your taking the time to do so.
Anonymous - October 13, 2020, 5:54 am
what is the source information of mentor and mentoress?
Prakasha - June 24, 2022, 6:55 am
Mentor must he a common gender
Ivan - October 16, 2017, 8:20 am
should a professor then be professoress and a doctor – doctoress? I don’t think so.
Todd Hehl - November 10, 2018, 10:51 am
Silly. There’s no such thing as female doctors.
Paula - March 23, 2024, 4:16 pm
That is not an appropriate comment Todd Heh! If you tried to be funnyi, you were not.
Anonymous - February 2, 2020, 3:15 am
Ivan, if I choose to use the feminine endings, it’s not going to affect you one way or the other. I’m certainly not drafting a law mandating the return of such speech. I just happen to enjoy gender-specific titles because I like honoring the female sex as special and different from the male sex. In an age where we’re told it’s all about choice, what’s it to you if that’s MINE? Have a great 2020.
John - January 14, 2022, 10:57 pm
Are there occupations where the female version is formed by adding er to the male?ĺ
RobinM - May 26, 2021, 12:56 pm
Doctoress was a term in the 19th century.
Smart G-Boy - November 28, 2020, 12:10 pm
is there a female name for Engineer if there is then I would really like to know
RobinM - May 26, 2021, 12:58 pm
For barman and barmaid, add “bartender” in third column.
Jane’s - March 26, 2022, 10:10 am
So sad used to be 2prices ,actor and actress now one , it’s not that sex is the same but women should be treated fairly man used for both men and women, women ,or woman called that men called Neman or heman then words like chairman are no longer gender specific so much easier, after all we are whisking humanity these days, It no good Rock Hudson is a man and Marylin Monroe a actress, calling them the same is not being very specific, and if any one can take the mickey out of sexism it is M M,
David - August 2, 2022, 4:12 pm
They forgot to add masseur/masseuse for massage professionals.