non-binaire
/nɔ̃.bi.nɛʁ/
In French, non binary is expressed as non-binaire.
The term describes someone or something that is non-binary.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the term non-binaire is commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form non-binaire can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects because it ends in an unaccented e. To make the phrase plural, add an s to the end to create non-binaires.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of non-binaire is /nɔ̃.bi.nɛʁ/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- Because French is a gendered language, people who are non-binaire often use the pronoun iel, which blends the masculine il and feminine elle.
- To be inclusive of non-binaire identities in writing, some French speakers use the point médian, placing a dot between masculine and feminine endings, such as tous·toutes.
- The French Académie, which regulates the language, has historically resisted the official adoption of gender-neutral terms like iel or inclusive writing.
Examples in context
- Nous sommes tous non-binaires, Moïse.We're all non-binary, Moses.Tatoeba #10009446 by Rovo, translation #12523870 by rul
- Cette personne s'identifie comme non binaire.This person identifies as non binary.
- Les personnes non binaires ont des expériences uniques.Non binary individuals have unique experiences.
- Cette personne se décrit comme non-binaire.This person describes themselves as non-binary.
- Le terme non-binaire est de plus en plus utilisé.The term non-binary is being used more and more.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are talking about a new acquaintance.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu connais Jordan ?Do you know Jordan?
- GabrielOui, c'est une personne non-binaire.Yes, they are a non-binary person.
- EmmaQuel pronom utilise-t-il ?Which pronoun does he use?
- GabrielJordan utilise le pronom 'iel'.Jordan uses the pronoun 'iel'.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry non-binaire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
