theyfriend

English

WOTD – 14 July 2025

Etymology

From they +‎ friend, modelled after boyfriend and girlfriend.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˈðeɪfɹɛnd/
  • Audio (General American):(file)
    (file)
  • Hyphenation: they‧friend

Noun

theyfriend (plural theyfriends)

  1. (neologism) A non-binary partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.
    Synonyms: enbyfriend, joyfriend
    Coordinate terms: boyfriend, girlfriend
    • 2018, Talia Hibbert, Wanna Bet? (Dirty British Romance; 2), [United Kingdom]: Nixon House, →ISBN:
      She'd never had a boyfriend or girlfriend or theyfriend, not in her entire life.
    • 2021 October 21, Skeeter, “Janithor is my non-binary theyfriend”, in alt.slack[1] (Usenet):
      Janithor is my non-binary theyfriend [title] [] so prwned[sic]
    • 2022, Anna Meriano, “Just Tell Them You Play Soccer”, in Laura Silverman, editor, Game On: 15 Stories of Wins, Losses, and Everything in Between, New York, N.Y.: Viking, →ISBN, page 196:
      "And I know as soon as I get in it'll be all 'Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a theyfriend?'" Olivia sighs. "And my high school squad is going to be even worse."

Translations

Further reading