two-spirit

American  

[too-spir-it] / ˈtuˌspɪr ɪt /

Also two spirit, or Two-Spirit

noun

1. (among some Indigenous North American peoples)

   1. a person, especially someone assigned male at birth, who adopts the gender identity, dress, and social roles traditionally assigned to a different gender.

   2. a person who adopts some combination of male and female gender identity, dress, and social roles, or who identifies as gay, lesbian, transgender, etc.

   3. any of numerous culturally distinct genders apart from male and female.

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adjective

1. being or relating to a person who is a two-spirit.

Usage

What does two-spirit mean? Two-spirit is a third gender found in some Native American cultures, often involving birth-assigned men or women taking on the identities and roles of the opposite sex. A sacred and historical identity, two-spirit can include but is by no means limited to LGBTQ identities.

Other Word Forms

• two-spirited
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of two-spirit

Coined in 1990 by Cree educator Myra Laramee at the third annual Intertribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference; coined concurrently with Ojibwe niizh manidoowag “two spirits,” from niizh “two” + manidoo “spirit” ( cf. manitou ( def. )) + -wag, plural suffix

Example Sentences

In addition, according to Indian Health Services, traditionally, for Native Americans, there is an identity known as two-spirit.

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2024

The term 2SLGBTQI+ is widely used in Canada for people who consider themselves two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2023

Canada's travel advisory for the United States now includes a cautionary message for those who consider themselves two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex - or 2SLGBTQI+ for short.

From Reuters • Aug. 29, 2023

Look at Bobby Sanchez, a Peruvian American transgender, two-spirit poet and rapper who has released a song in Quechua, the language of the Wari people that her father came from.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 9, 2023

Beside him, seven-foot-tall twins strum hologram guitars and sing a song of gratitude for safe sisters and two-spirit relatives.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith