Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
two-spirit en · ADJ · etymology 2
Pronunciation
- /ˈtuˌspɪɹɪt/ (General-American)
- /ˈtuːˌspɪɹɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /tuˈspɪɹɪt/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /tuːˈspɪɹɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
The noun is derived from two + spirit, coined in 1990 at the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, based on Ojibwe niizh manidoowag (“two spirits”) (coined at the same conference), from niizh (“two”) + manidoo (“spirit”) + -wag (suffix denoting the third-person plural of an animate noun); the term was created to replace berdache in anthropological literature which was considered offensive.
The adjective is derived from the noun.
Meanings
-
(Canada, US, not-comparable) Of, pertaining to, or being a two-spirit (noun sense).
[I]t should come as no surprise that many Native American gay, lesbian, transgender, and other two-spirit people consider the term "berdache" derogatory.
1997, Sue-Ellen Jacobs, Wesley Thomas, Sabine Lang, “Introduction”, in Sue-Ellen Jacobs, Wesley Thomas, Sabine Lang, editors, Two-spirit People: Native American Gender Identity, Sexuality, and Spirituality, Urbana; Chicago, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, →ISBN, page 4:In Canada there are now aboriginal (as we are termed in Canadian English) AIDS projects in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia, due almost entirely to the efforts of two-spirit (gay/lesbian) people.
1997, Ron Rowell, “Developing AIDS Services for Native Americans: Rural and Urban Contrasts”, in Lester B. Brown, editor, Two Spirit People: American Indian, Lesbian Women and Gay Men, Binghamton, N.Y.; London: Harrington Park Press, →ISBN, page 88:A Hupa two-spirit male told me: / I was real feminine as a child, from as early as I can remember. […] Within the family, Indians believe you can be whatever you choose.
1996, Walter L[ee] Williams, “Two-spirit Persons: Gender Nonconformity among Native American and Native Hawaiian Youths”, in Ritch C. Savin-Williams, Kenneth M. Cohen, editors, The Lives of Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals: Children to Adults, Fort Worth, Tex.; Philadelphia, Pa.: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, →ISBN, part 4 (Cultural and Mental Health Issues), page 421:Instead of seeing two-spirit persons as transsexuals who try to make themselves into "the opposite sex", it is more accurate to understand them as individuals who take on a gender status that is different from both men and women. […] Two-spirit people were respected by native societies not only due to religious attitudes, but also because of practical concerns. […] Two-spirit persons assisted their siblings' children and took care of elderly relatives, and often served as adoptive parents for homeless children.
2010 October 11, Walter L[ee] Williams, “The ‘two-spirit’ people of indigenous North Americans”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2025:
Synonyms
two-spirited
Translations (3)
fr bispirituel (of, pertaining to, or being a two-spirit) · fi kaksisieluinen (of, pertaining to, or being a two-spirit) · eo duspirita (of, pertaining to, or being a two-spirit)
wikipedia: San Francisco Pride
two-spirit en · NOUN · etymology 2
Pronunciation
- /ˈtuˌspɪɹɪt/ (General-American)
- /ˈtuːˌspɪɹɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /tuˈspɪɹɪt/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /tuːˈspɪɹɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
The noun is derived from two + spirit, coined in 1990 at the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, based on Ojibwe niizh manidoowag (“two spirits”) (coined at the same conference), from niizh (“two”) + manidoo (“spirit”) + -wag (suffix denoting the third-person plural of an animate noun); the term was created to replace berdache in anthropological literature which was considered offensive.
The adjective is derived from the noun.
Meanings
-
(Canada, US) A Native North American bisexual, homosexual, or gender-variant person; especially one belonging to a traditional tribal third-gender, fourth-gender, or transgender cultural category that has a ceremonial role.
"The elders will tell you the difference between a gay Indian and a Two-Spirit," he [Joey Criddle] said, underscoring the idea that simply being gay and Indian does not make someone a Two-Spirit.
2006 October 8, John Leland, “A spirit of belonging, inside and out”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2024:The Lakota, by the way, called their Two-Spirits winkte and wapetokeca which means "people with special powers."
2006, Walter L[ee] Williams, Toby Johnson, “About the Historical Accuracy of this Novel”, in Two Spirits: A Story of Life with the Navajo, Maple Shade, N.J.: Lethe Press, →ISBN, page 322:The term/identity of two-spirit does not make sense unless it is contextualized within a Native American frame […] Today, most people associate the term with LGBT Natives; however, the work of the two-spirit organizations is more akin with the traditional understanding
c. 2013, Harlan Pruden, Se-ah-dom Edmo, “Two-spirit People: Sex, Gender & Sexuality in Historic and Contemporary Native America”, in ESIT Weekly, [Olympia, Wash.]: Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families, published 18 March 2022, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2025, page [2]:
Forms
Deriveds
2 · 2S · two-spirited
Relateds
sworn virgin · berdachism · acault
Synonyms
2 · berdache · hermaphrodite · 2S
Translations (93)
cro bate (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · atw yaawa (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · wlk clele (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kut kupatke'tek (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · cr êyihkwêw (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ari skuxát (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ats athuth (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · oj ininiikaazo (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · asb wįktą (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ale ayagigux̂ (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · lui kwit (Juaneño dialect; male-bodied) (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · pt dois-espíritos (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ale tayagigux̂ (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · lkt wíŋkte (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ems aranu'tiq (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · coc elha (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · dak wiŋkta (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yur wergern (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · zun katsotse (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · fr berdache (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ru бердаш (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · iow mixo'ge (transvestite or transgender person) (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · pot m'netokwe (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · arp haxu'xan (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · mrc kwiraxame' (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · nv nádleeh (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · veo 'aqi (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kut titqattek (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kjq kok'we'ma (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · chy he'émane (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · iu sipiniq (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · bla awau-katsik-saki (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · zun katsotstsi' (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · eo duspiritulo (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · hop hova (quod vide) (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · tix lhunide (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · iu ᓯᐱᓂᖅ (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · fr bispirituel (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · mov hwame (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yum elxa' (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kuu angutnguaq (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · itl koekchuch (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · coc warrhameh (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · chy he'émáné'e (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · qu quariwarmi (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · dak winkta (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · bla ninauh-oskiti-pahpyaki (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · bla a'yai-kik-ahsi (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ess uktasik (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · arn weye (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yuk íwap náip/ipnaip (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kee kokwima (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kuu aranaruaq (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · mrc ilyaxai' (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · cr ᐁᔨᐦᑵᐤ (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · oj ikwekaazo (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · es dos espíritus (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · mhq mihdeke (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · fi kaksisieluinen (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · tli gatxan (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · atw brumaiwi (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yuk iwap kuti (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yum kwe'rhame (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yok-kry tonoo'tcim (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yuk í-wa-musp (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · oma mix'uga (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · hid miati (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · pao tüdayapi (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ess anasik (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yuk musp-íwap náip (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · zun katsotstsi (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · nv nádleehé (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · cuk omegiid (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · zun lhamana (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · mov alyha (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · fr bardache (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · lui cuit (Luiseño dialect; male-bodied) (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · itl коекчуч (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yur wrgrn (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · zai (ira') muxe (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · de Two-Spirit (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · nol walusa (hermaphrodite) (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yok-ply tonocim (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kla t'winiːq (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · tew kwido (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · ksk míⁿxoge (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · paw kúsaat (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · yok-svy tonochim (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · paw ckúsaat (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · chy hetanémáné'e (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · qui yah'wa (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · apw ndéʼsdzan (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache) · kjq kokwimu (Native North American gender-variant, bisexual, or homosexual person — see also berdache)
wikipedia: San Francisco Pride