homosexual

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See also: homosexuál

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from German homosexual, from homo- (“same”) + sexual (“relating to sex or sexuality”), coined by Karl Maria Kertbeny in 1868, and popularized in Richard von Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis (2nd ed. 1887, in German) and Charles Gilbert Chaddock's 1892 English translation thereof (compare bisexual), displacing the slightly older term Uranian. Equivalent to homo- +‎ -sexual.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Received Pronunciation):
    • IPA(key): /ˌhɒməʊˈsɛksjuːəl/, /ˌhɒməʊˈsɛkʃuːəl/
    • IPA(key): /ˌhəʊməʊˈsɛksjuːəl/, /ˌhəʊməʊˈsɛkʃuːəl/
    • Audio (UK)(file)
  • (US):
    • enPR: hō'mə-sĕkʹsho͞o-əl, hō'mō-sĕkʹsho͞o-əl, IPA(key): /ˌhoʊməˈsɛkʃuːəl/, /ˌhoʊmoʊˈsɛkʃuːəl/
    • Audio (US)(file)

Adjective[edit]

homosexual (comparative more homosexual, superlative most homosexual)

  1. (of a person or animal, formal, distancing or dated) Sexually and/or romantically attracted to members of the same sex, such as a man who is attracted to men or a woman who is attracted to women; gay. (Typically used in the sense of sole/exclusive attraction.)
    No, it wouldn't make a difference if the applicant was homosexual.
    • 1892 [1889], Charles Gilbert Chaddock, transl., Psychopathia Sexualis‎[1], Philadelphia: F. A. Davis, translation of Psychopathia Sexualis by R. von Krafft-Ebing, page 97:
      [H]e said he had never noticed anything homosexual in himself.
    • 1983, Michael W. Ross, Homosexuality and Social Sex Roles:
      "Significant results indicate that Swedes would choose a more masculine partner the more homosexual they are, and that Finns would choose a more attractive partner the more homosexual they are."
  2. (of a romantic or sexual act or relationship, formal, distancing or dated) Between two people of the same sex; gay.
    Most western countries have repealed laws against homosexual activity between consenting adults.
    • 2022 March 20, Bill Maher, William Shatner, 56:37 from the start, in William Shatner, Club Random With Bill Maher‎[2], episode 1, Club Random Podcast, archived from the original on 05 April 2022:
      Shatner: Have you ever had a homosexual experience?
      Maher: No. Why, are you...? But it's early!
  3. (dated) Intended for or used by homosexuals, as a nightclub, a bar, etc.
    No one says "a homosexual bar" anymore; it's a "gay bar" or maybe a "lesbian bar".

Usage notes[edit]

  • Many style guides[1] and many gay people[2] recommend against the use of the word "homosexual" because of its clinical and sometimes pejorative connotations, preferring the terms gay and (for women) lesbian, and relationship descriptors like "same-sex relationship". Many consider it particularly pejorative when it is used as a noun, and prefer "gay man", "gay woman" (or "lesbian").
  • The first part of the word derives from the Greek word for "same", which is traditionally pronounced /ˈhɒməʊ/, unlike the Latin word homo (“man, human being”), which is pronounced /ˈhəʊməʊ/ (RP). However, it is much more common to pronounce the first vowel as /əʊ/ (RP) / /oʊ/ (US) than as /ɒ/.

Synonyms[edit]

Antonyms[edit]

Hyponyms[edit]

Coordinate terms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun[edit]

homosexual (plural homosexuals)

  1. (typically formal, distancing or dated) A person who is sexually attracted solely or primarily to others of the same sex.
    • 1963, John Rechy, City of Night, page 48:
      Soon, we got up, walked around the west side — toward the "meat rack" — the gay part of the park. There, it was as if someone had hung a line of marionettes on the railing: the lonesome young homosexuals, legs dangling, looking, waiting for that one-night's sexual connection...
    • 1997, The Advocate, number 742, page 9:
      It was unheard-of for those of us who are 30-something or older to have had an openly gay role model when we were young. Homosexuals weren't depicted in the media in a positive light, if at all.

Usage notes[edit]

  • "Homosexual" as a noun is more often applied to males while females are more likely to be described as lesbians.
  • Many style guides and gay people advise against the use of "homosexual" as a noun; see the usage notes above.

Synonyms[edit]

  • This section is divided into two tables, one containing synonyms that generally are not derogatory and one containing those that generally are. However, note that the non-derogatory terms can nonetheless be used derogatorily, and that some of the derogatory ones are often used humorously and non-derogatorily by gay people and others.
non-derogatory synonyms
of either sex
only of men
only of women
derogatory synonyms
of either sex
only of men
only of women

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ GLAAD media reference guide, citing the AP and NYT style guides.
  2. ^ NYT article

Basque[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /omos̺eks̺ual/ [o.mo.s̺ek.s̺u.al], /omos̺eks̺wal/ [o.mo.s̺eks̺.wal]
  • Rhymes: -ual, -eks̺wal

Adjective[edit]

homosexual (not comparable)

  1. homosexual

Declension[edit]

Declension of homosexual (inanimate, ending in consonant)
indefinite singular plural
absolutive homosexual homosexuala homosexualak
ergative homosexualek homosexualak homosexualek
dative homosexuali homosexualari homosexualei
genitive homosexualen homosexualaren homosexualen
comitative homosexualekin homosexualarekin homosexualekin
causative homosexualengatik homosexualarengatik homosexualengatik
benefactive homosexualentzat homosexualarentzat homosexualentzat
instrumental homosexualez homosexualaz homosexualez
inessive homosexualetan homosexualean homosexualetan
locative homosexualetako homosexualeko homosexualetako
allative homosexualetara homosexualera homosexualetara
terminative homosexualetaraino homosexualeraino homosexualetaraino
directive homosexualetarantz homosexualerantz homosexualetarantz
destinative homosexualetarako homosexualerako homosexualetarako
ablative homosexualetatik homosexualetik homosexualetatik
partitive homosexualik — —
prolative homosexualtzat — —

Related terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • "homosexual" in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy], euskaltzaindia.eus

Catalan[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

homosexual m or f (masculine and feminine plural homosexuals)

  1. homosexual

Noun[edit]

homosexual m or f by sense (plural homosexuals)

  1. homosexual

Related terms[edit]

Galician[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From homo- +‎ sexual.

Adjective[edit]

homosexual m or f (plural homosexuais)

  1. homosexual
    O comportamento homosexual obsérvase con frecuencia entre os mamíferos.
    Homosexual behaviour is frequently observed among mammals.

Noun[edit]

homosexual m or f by sense (plural homosexuais)

  1. homosexual

Antonyms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Coined by Austro-Hungarian writer, journalist, translator and bibliographer Karl-Maria Kertbeny in 1868, from homo- +‎ sexual.

Adjective[edit]

homosexual (strong nominative masculine singular homosexualer, not comparable)

  1. Dated form of homosexuell.
    • 1869, Anonymous [Karl Maria Kertbeny], Paragraph 143 des preußischen Strafgesetzbuches vom 14. April 1851 […] , page 36:
      Denn das Wort „Entartung“ bezog sich ohne Zweifel auf jene Individuen, welche von solchen homosexualen Leidenschaften befallen sind, und activ sich Personen zu deren Befriedigung suchen […]
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 1889, Richard von Krafft-Ebing, “Psychische Hermaphrodisie”, in Psychopathia Sexualis, page 99:
      Bei eingehenderer Exploration erklärt sich Pat. für wesentlich doch homosexual, Empfindung und Trieb zum anderen Geschlecht nur für etwas Episodisches, Grobsinnliches. So leide sie zwar gegenwärtig schrecklich unter sexuellen Drängen zu jenem Manne ihrer Umgebung, aber ein edlerer und höherer Genuss sei es ihr, auf eine sanftgerundete, weiche Mädchenwange einen Kuss zu hauchen.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 1928, Kurt Tucholsky, Sprechstunde am Kreuz‎[3]:
      »Wie er aber dann das Resultat seines jünglinghaften Empfindens und Denkens, die Frucht jahrelanger Isoliertheit und melancholischer Anwandlungen, die Stimmung einer ganz reinen, von sinnlichen Regungen freien, fast homosexual gearteten, dabei glücklich und heiter veranlagten Seele in seinen lehrhaften Gesängen und Preisungen einer menschenumfassenden, selbstlosen Nächstenliebe aushauchte und ausströmte, […] «
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Declension[edit]

Positive forms of homosexual (uncomparable)
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist homosexual sie ist homosexual es ist homosexual sie sind homosexual
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative homosexualer homosexuale homosexuales homosexuale
genitive homosexualen homosexualer homosexualen homosexualer
dative homosexualem homosexualer homosexualem homosexualen
accusative homosexualen homosexuale homosexuales homosexuale
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der homosexuale die homosexuale das homosexuale die homosexualen
genitive des homosexualen der homosexualen des homosexualen der homosexualen
dative dem homosexualen der homosexualen dem homosexualen den homosexualen
accusative den homosexualen die homosexuale das homosexuale die homosexualen
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein homosexualer eine homosexuale ein homosexuales (keine) homosexualen
genitive eines homosexualen einer homosexualen eines homosexualen (keiner) homosexualen
dative einem homosexualen einer homosexualen einem homosexualen (keinen) homosexualen
accusative einen homosexualen eine homosexuale ein homosexuales (keine) homosexualen

Coordinate terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Romanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from French homosexuel. Equivalent to homo- +‎ sexual.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˌho.mo.sek.suˈal/

Adjective[edit]

homosexual m or n (feminine singular homosexuală, masculine plural homosexuali, feminine and neuter plural homosexuale)

  1. homosexual
    În lumea animală se observă comportamentul homosexual relativ frecvent la mamifere și la păsări
    In the animal world, homosexual behaviour is observed relatively frequent in mammals and birds.

Declension[edit]

Declension of homosexual
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative 		indefinite homosexual homosexuală homosexuali homosexuale
definite homosexualul homosexuala homosexualii homosexualele
genitive/
dative 		indefinite homosexual homosexuale homosexuali homosexuale
definite homosexualului homosexualei homosexualelor homosexualilor

Noun[edit]

homosexual m (plural homosexuali, feminine equivalent homosexuală)

  1. homosexual

Declension[edit]

Declension of homosexual
singular plural
indefinite articulation definite articulation indefinite articulation definite articulation
nominative/accusative (un) homosexual homosexualul (niște) homosexuali homosexualii
genitive/dative (unui) homosexual homosexualului (unor) homosexuali homosexualilor
vocative homosexualule homosexualilor

Related terms[edit]

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From homo- +‎ sexual.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /omoseɡˈswal/ [o.mo.seɣ̞ˈswal]
  • Audio (Colombia):(file)
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: ho‧mo‧se‧xual

Adjective[edit]

homosexual m or f (masculine and feminine plural homosexuales)

  1. homosexual
    El comportamiento homosexual se observa con frecuencia entre los mamíferos.
    Homosexual behaviour is frequently observed among mammals.

Derived terms[edit]

Noun[edit]

homosexual m or f by sense (plural homosexuales)

  1. homosexual
    Antonym: heterosexual

Related terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

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