Language never stands still. It shifts, stretches, and adapts, always reflecting the people who use it. That’s one of the things I love most about language: it’s alive. And recently, we’ve seen English evolve in ways that make it more inclusive and reflective of our diverse identities.
Small words, big meaning
Today, I learned two new words that really made me smile: nibling and pibling.
A nibling is a gender-neutral word for niece or nephew, just like sibling is gender-neutral for brother or sister. A pibling means aunt or uncle in a gender-neutral way.
I love how logical these are! They fill a real gap in the language, allowing people to describe family relationships without automatically assigning gender. It’s such a simple change, yet it carries deep meaning. It’s about recognition, respect, and belonging.
Pronouns and progress
The growing use of they/them as singular, gender-neutral pronouns shows the same inclusive spirit. English has actually used they in the singular for centuries (“Someone left their umbrella”), but in recent years it’s gained new purpose and visibility. It’s a beautiful example of how language can adapt naturally to meet social change, a reminder that inclusion doesn’t have to feel forced when the words already exist within our linguistic toolbox.
When language structure makes inclusion harder
But as adaptable as English is, it’s much more complex in other languages.
Languages like French and Dutch are built around gendered structures, not just for people, but for every noun. A table, a book, a chair,… all have grammatical gender. And that can make gender-neutral expression much more challenging.
I recently heard an interview with a well-known Flemish filmmaker who admitted he struggles with using the gender-neutral Dutch pronouns die/hun, not out of unwillingness, but from a linguistic standpoint. They simply don’t yet fit naturally into the rhythm of the language he grew up speaking.
That really made me think. If there’s already a barrier when it comes to the flow of gender-neutral words, how much trickier must it be to make a whole language truly inclusive?
Inclusion in every language
Still, it’s encouraging to see so many communities finding creative solutions, from new words and reformed endings in French (iel, celleux) to youth-led movements in Dutch that are normalising die/hun. Language evolves through use, and every conversation, every word choice, every effort counts.
Because ultimately, inclusion isn’t just about grammar. It’s about belonging. And when language evolves to make more people feel seen, valued, and represented, that’s something worth celebrating.
Final thought
Language is one of the most powerful tools we have for inclusion. Whether we’re using they/them, nibling/pibling, or simply pausing to consider the words we choose, we’re helping language do what it does best: grow, adapt, and reflect the world we live in.
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