We’re all learning that gender is a spectrum, but it’s taking a moment for our language to catch up!
So, if you’re looking for a term for a young person that will respect their gender identity, or you just want to know a few gender-neutral terms for your son or daughter, you’ve come to the right place!
Gender-Neutral Terms for Son or Daughter
- Child
- Kid
- Offspring
- Spawn
- Descendent
- Heir
- Progeny
- Oldest/Youngest
- My (age) year old
- My adult child
- Kiddo
- Youngster
- Fruit of my loins
- Charge
- Youth
- Sprog
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Child” is the most standard and natural gender-neutral term for one’s son, daughter, or non-binary youngster.
- In more informal circumstances, you can use the word “kid.”
- You can use the word “offspring” to refer to a son, daughter, or non-binary child in especially formal situations or when you want to be humorous.
Keep reading! In the next section, we’ll discuss our top three gender-neutral terms for a son or daughter or non-binary youth.
Additionally, we’ll provide some useful example sentences using each of our chosen words.
Child
The most popular gender-neutral word for a son or daughter is “child.”
This is a fairly standard term to use regardless of a child’s gender identity, and it will come quite naturally to most parents. Moreover, you can use it in both formal and informal settings.
Merriam-Webster defines a “child” as “a son or daughter of human parents.” As you can see from this definition, you can use this word to refer to your child regardless of their age or gender.
“Child” can also refer to a person under the age of majority or adulthood, but English-speaking parents will call their children their children no matter how old they get.
Therefore, you can use the term “child” to refer to an adult person as well, so long as you are speaking about them in relation to their parents.
To see what we mean, have a look at the examples below:
I believe that’s Kirk and Bella’s child, Toby.
I’ll be in the office a little bit later this morning, as I have to take my child to their dance lessons.
Kid
“Kid” is a more informal gender-neutral name for someone’s son or daughter or non-binary child.
Merriam-Webster defines a “kid” as “a young person.” What counts as “young” is fairly broad in practice. For instance, people often use the word “kid” to refer to younger children.
However, older people may use the word “kid” as an affectionate term for a young adult or teenager as well.
In fact, Merriam-Webster also states that “kid” is “often used as a generalized reference to one especially younger or less experienced.”
Let’s see some examples making use of this term:
I need to pick up my kid in half an hour, could you cover for me?
For your first time behind the wheel, you did a great job, kid.
Offspring
The Cambridge Dictionary defines “offspring” as both “a person’s children” and “the young of an animal.”
Therefore, this is an effective non-binary term for a son or daughter or genderless child and can even refer to the young of any species! How forward.
The term “offspring” comes across as rather formal and would not generally be used by parents to refer to their children in casual conversations. However, you can use this term in formal writing.
Moreover, some parents use it in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek way to refer to their kids.
Essentially, they’re playing on the fact that it comes across as a rather strange way to address their children in normal circumstances.
Therefore, check out the following examples to see this term in action:
My darling friend, Joanne, agreed to take the trip with me and mentioned yesterday that she will be bringing her offspring.
My offspring is on the jungle gym over there, terrorizing the other children.