Caqueteuses

/ˌkækɪˈtøz/ noun

Definition

Plural of caqueteuse; multiple women who chatter excessively or engage in gossiping.

Etymology

French plural of caqueteuse, formed by the standard French feminine plural.

Kelly Says

The fact that French had a specific feminine word for female gossips but no equivalent masculine form tells us something about how language reflects gender stereotypes—it assumes gossiping is naturally associated with women!

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Caqueteuses (plural) carries the same feminine-marked bias as caqueteuse; the -euse suffix denotes women, while the masculine form remains unmarked, embedding a pattern that treats women as exceptions or special cases.

Inclusive Usage

Use plural caquetors or those who caquet. Avoid gendered plurals unless historically documenting how gossip was gendered as feminine.

Inclusive Alternatives

["caquetors","those who caquet"]

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