English · Word Candidate

hu

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

they (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.

Pronoun

Examples

Hu is fond of enigmas, of conundrums, of hieroglyphics; exhibiting in hus solutions of each and all a degree of acumen which appears to the ordinary apprehension preternatural.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

them (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns him and her.

Pronoun

Examples

One of his favorite metaphors for the historian, drawn from the "Preface" to Hegel's Philosophy of Right, likens hu to the owl of Minerva, whose flight at dusk provided the setting for mature reflection on the day that had passed.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “hu” mean?

they (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.

Is “hu” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.