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Swiss Jake Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

actor v. actress

0Hi teachers,02br
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00are the words that have also a female form still used?02br
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00For example, do you still say/write actress, hostess?02br
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00Thanks Jake0-
  

Top answer

0Hello Jake02br 02br 00Some actresses prefer to be known as actors, since they feel that the term "actress" is patronising or pejorative. 02br 02br 00People still seem to use "host" and "hostess", in connection with private parties, etc. 02br 02br 00MrP0-

— MrPedantic

  • 0Hello Jake02br 02br 00Some actresses prefer to be known as actors, since they feel that the term "actress" is patronising or pejorative.
  • 02br 02br 00People still seem to use "host" and "hostess", in connection with private parties, etc.
  • 02br 02br 00MrP0-
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19 Answers
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0Hello Jake02br
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00Some actresses prefer to be known as actors, since they feel that the term "actress" is patronising or pejorative. However, Oscars are still awarded for Best Actress, etc.02br
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00People still seem to use "host" and "hostess", in connection with private parties, etc. But for television "hosts", "hostess" seems less common.02br
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0Hi,02br
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00Interestingly, the word 'princess' is still OK. I guess that's because a princess is seen to have so much status that the word has no patronizing connotation at all.02br
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00Speaking personally, I have a fondness for the female form.02br
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00Best wishes, Clive 0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Clive12cite10Speaking personally, I have a fondness for the female form.12br
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12blockquote
10<roll on snares + cymbal splash>0-
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0Hello!02br
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00Thanks guys!02br
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00So what words do have a female form?02br
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00actor, actress; host, hostess; prince, princess, ...02br
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00What can be added?02br
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00Regards, Jake0-
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0These are actually used:02br
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00lion, lioness, waiter, waitress. 02br
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00 "Jew, Jewess" comes to mind, but I don't think anyone has used "Jewess" for several hundred years! And I think Amelia Earheart was probably the last "aviatrix."0-
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0Hi,02br
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00We'd better not forget about '**********', or we'll be sorry we did.02br
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00Clive0-
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0 There's also Baron/Baronness, Count/Countess, Duke/Duchess. And what about the poor Earl -- what do we call his wife? I do hope she isn't Earless - she wouldn't be able to hear anything! 0-
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5100 There is dude and dudette, right?02br
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00See: 01u01font01a05000 02a02font02u01a02a02br
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00Jake0230hrefhttp://www.angelfire.com/ok/4equity/m5.html
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0PS: @ khoff02br
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00You asked me onetime where in the US I was, because I said English was spoken so poorly. Well, I am in PLymouth, IN. I am exchange student. And as I said people make mistakes in their daily speech, which even I can notice. (I have only had three years of English at school.)02br
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00The mistakes they make are mostly in the conjuga
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