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homosexual

See also: homosexuál

Contents

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From homo- +‎ -sexual, English from 1892.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

homosexual (comparative more homosexual, superlative most homosexual)

  1. (of a person or animal) Sexually attracted primarily to other members of the same sex. Being either a male androphile or a female gynephile. (Sometimes used in the sense of sole/exclusive attraction.)
    • 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) Between two people of the same gender or same sex; gay.
    My sister is currently in a homosexual relationship with a girl in her class.
    homosexual acts, a homosexual kiss
  3. Intended for or used by homosexuals, as a nightclub, a bar, etc.

Usage notesEdit

  • Many homosexual people prefer to be referred to by the adjective (and noun) gay.
  • Many female homosexuals prefer to be referred to as lesbians.
  • Many people now avoid using the term homosexual because of the emphasis it places on sexuality. Those who consider it objectionable consider it especially so when it is used as a noun; here "gay man" and either "gay woman" or "lesbian" and their plural forms are considered more preferable by such individuals who feel this way about the term. Those who feel this way about the term might consider it less objectionable when used adjectivally, as in "a homosexual relationship", though they still might prefer such terms as "gay", "lesbian", or "same-sex" in those instances as well.
  • Pronunciation: The word "homosexual" derives from the Greek word for "same", which is traditionally pronounced /ˈhɒməʊ/ in words derived from it, rather than the Latin word homo (“man”), which is pronounced /ˈhəʊməʊ/ (RP) in English words derived from it. Hence the etymology indicates that the appropriate pronunciation of the vowel in the first syllable is /ɒ/, but the pronunciation with the long vowel /əʊ/ in this position is much more commonly heard, and is the only correct pronunciation of the shortened form homo.
  • Because of the similarity of homo- to the Latin word for man, the term homosexual is sometimes interpreted as meaning "sexually attracted solely or primarily to [other] men". This is a misinterpretation, as the Latin homo denotes a human being of either sex, and not the male of the species, which in Latin is vir.

SynonymsEdit

  • (sexually attracted solely or primarily to the same sex): gay, lesbian (used only of women), homo (derogatory)
  • (involving or relating to homosexuals): gay, lesbian (used only of women), same-sex
  • (intended for or used by homosexuals): gay, lesbian (used only of women)
  • (community): LGBT

AntonymsEdit

Coordinate termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

NounEdit

homosexual (plural homosexuals)

  1. A person who is attracted solely or primarily to others of the same sex.

Usage notesEdit

  • Female homosexuals are also known as lesbians, a term preferred by many of them. As homosexual applies to people of either sex, the expression homosexuals and lesbians is a pleonasm and is best replaced by "homosexuals" or "lesbians" alone as appropriate, or "gay people" (see also the usage notes for the adjective, and for gay).

SynonymsEdit

  • 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

TranslationsEdit

BasqueEdit

AdjectiveEdit

homosexual

  1. homosexual

CatalanEdit

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

homosexual (masculine and feminine plural homosexuals)

  1. homosexual

NounEdit

homosexual m, f (plural homosexuals)

  1. homosexual

Related termsEdit

RomanianEdit

EtymologyEdit

French homosexuel.

PronunciationEdit

  • IPA(key): /ˌho.mo.sek.suˈal/

AdjectiveEdit

homosexual m, 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.

DeclensionEdit

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 homosexualilor homosexualelor

NounEdit

homosexual m (plural homosexuali, feminine equivalent homosexuală)

  1. homosexual

DeclensionEdit

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 termsEdit

SpanishEdit

EtymologyEdit

homo- +‎ sexual

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

homosexual (plural homosexuales)

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

NounEdit

homosexual m, f (plural homosexuales)

  1. homosexual

AntonymsEdit

Related termsEdit

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