She
UK /["/ʃi//ʃiː/"]/US /["/ʃi//ʃiː/"]/
Definition
a female person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified
In simple words: the word used to talk about a girl or woman
Examples
- ‘What does your sister do?’ ‘She's a dentist.’
- Doesn't she *(= the woman we are looking at)* look like Sue?
- Think about a friend or family member. What kind of person is **he or she**?
- She's a big country.
Usage notes
Used to refer to a female person. Appropriate in most contexts. Avoid using it for non-human subjects unless personifying.
Grammar pattern
pronoun, used as subject
Memory hint
Think of 'she' as the start of the word 'sheep' – both refer to females.
Collocations
- she went
- she said
- she likes
Synonyms
- her
- they
- one
Antonyms
- he
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'her' as the subject.
- Using 'she' for non-female entities.