Skip to content

hijra (third gender)

    1. Definition and Meaning

    • Hijra (noun)
      1. A traditional third‑gender community in South Asia, whose members may be intersex, transgender, eunuchs, or people who do not conform to binary gender norms.
      2. (Historical) A caste or social group officially recognized in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

    Simple sentence: A hijra is someone recognized as neither strictly male nor female in South Asian cultures.

    2. Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ˈhɪdʒrə/
    • Syllables: hij‑ra (two syllables)
    • Rhymes with: “ledger‑a”

    3. Grammatical Formation

    • Part of speech: Noun (common, singular and plural form is identical: hijra or hijras)
    • Countability: Countable—a hijra, two hijras
    • Modifiers:
      • Definite article: the hijra community
      • Adjectives: traditional hijra, urban hijra

    4. Word Comparisons

    TermMeaningNotes
    HijraThird‑gender community in South AsiaSocial‑cultural role, ritual performers
    TransgenderPerson whose gender identity differs from their birth sexBroad, global term
    EunuchCastrated male, sometimes associated historically with hijrasHistorical subset of hijra candidates

    5. Changes in Meaning with Prepositions

    • Hijra of
      • The hijra of Delhi perform at weddings.
      • → Specifies a local community.
    • Blessed by
      • Guests were blessed by a hijra.
      • → Focus on ritual role.
    • With hijra
      • The play featured actors with hijra.
      • → Indicates inclusion or accompaniment.
    • From hijra
      • They accepted offerings from hijra.
      • → Source of gifts or blessings.

    Note: Prepositions highlight whether you’re referring to the community’s location, role, inclusion, or source of action.

    6. Real‑Life Examples

    1. In India, hijra often earn a living by performing blessings at births and weddings.
    2. Many hijra live together in communal households under a guru.
    3. The government of Pakistan issues separate ID cards for hijra.

    7. Common Synonyms

    third gender, eunuch, kinnar, aravani, gender non‑conforming

    8. Common Antonyms

    cisgender, male, female

    9. Related Terms

    • Transgender
    • Intersex
    • Third gender
    • Genderqueer
    • Kathoey (Thai third‑gender community)

    10. Common Collocations

    • Hijra community
    • Hijra guru
    • Hijra household
    • Hijra rites
    • Blessings by hijra

    11. Idiomatic Usage & Expressions

    • “To call in the hijra” (idiomatically, to bring in an outsider for a ritual)
    • “Hijra dance” (refers to the traditional performance style)

    Idiom example: We decided to call in the hijra to bless the newborn.

    12. Sample Sentences

    1. The film explores the life of a hijra growing up in Kolkata.
    2. She attended the hijra’s shrine and received a blessing.
    3. Legal recognition of hijra in Bangladesh increased access to healthcare.

    13. Connection to Sexuality

    • Hijra primarily denotes a gender identity/community rather than a sexual orientation.
    • While some hijra may engage in sex work or have diverse sexual practices, the term itself does not define sexuality. It centers on gender non‑conformity and cultural roles.
    Tags: