Lesbians

/ˈlezbiənz/ noun

Definition

plural of lesbian; women who are romantically attracted to other women

Etymology

from Greek Lesbios, relating to the island of Lesbos and poet Sappho

Kelly Says

A term that evolved from geography to identity

Translations

AMአማርኛ
ለስቢያንኮች
lɛsbiyankoch
ARالعربية
مثليات
mithliyat
BNবাংলা
সমকামী নারী
shomokami nari
CACatalà
lesbianes
ləzˈbiənəs
CSČeština
lesby
lɛsbi
DADansk
lesbiske kvinder
lɛsˈbiːske ˈkʰøˀɐ
DEDeutsch
Lesben
ˈleːzbn̩
ELΕλληνικά
λεσβίες
lezvíes
ESEspañol
lesbianas
leˈsbianas
FAفارسی
لزبین
lezbin
FISuomi
lesbot
lesbot
FRFrançais
lesbiennes
lɛzjɛn
GUGU
લેસ્બિયન
lesbiyan
HAHA
lesbians
lesibiyans
HEעברית
לסביות
lesbiyot
HIहिन्दी
सामलैंगिक महिलाएं
sāmlaingik mahilāẽ
HUMagyar
leszbik
lɛzbiːk
IDBahasa Indonesia
lesbian
lɛsbiɑn
IGIG
lesbians
lɛsibians
ITItaliano
lesbiche
leˈzbiːke
JA日本語
レズビアン
rezubian
KKKK
лесбиянкалар
lesbiyankalar
KMKM
ស្ត្រីស្រី
sdtrei srei
KO한국어
레즈비언
rejeubieon
MRMR
लेस्बियन
lesbiyan
MSBahasa Melayu
lesbian
lɛsbiɑn
MYမြန်မာ
လိဇ်ဘီယံ
lēz bī yaṅ
NLNederlands
lesbische vrouwen
lɛsˈbɪsə ˈvʌuən
NONorsk
lesbiske kvinner
lɛsˈbiːske ˈkʋɪnːə
PAPA
ਲੈਸਬੀਅਨ
lesbiyan
PLPolski
lesbijki
lɛsˈbʲijki
PTPortuguês
lésbicas
ˈlezbi.kɐʃ
RORomână
lesbiene
leˈzbiene
RUРусский
лесбиянки
lʲɪsʲbʲɪˈjanːkʲi
SVSvenska
lesbiska kvinnor
lɛsˈbɪska ˈkʋɪnːɔr
SWKiswahili
lesbians
lesibians
TAதமிழ்
லெஸ்பியன்கள்
lespiyankaḷ
TEతెలుగు
లెస్బియన్లు
lesbiyanlu
THไทย
เลสเบียน
letsabian
TLTL
lesbyana
lɛsˈbjana
TRTürkçe
lezyenler
lezyenler
UKУкраїнська
лесбійки
lʲɪsʲˈbʲijki
URاردو
لزبیں
lizbēṅ
VITiếng Việt
đồng tính nữ
đổng tính nữ
YOYO
awọn obinrin lesbian
awọn obinrin lesibian
ZH中文
女同性恋者
nǚ tóng xìng liàn zhě
ZUZU
lesbians
lesibiyani

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Term reclaimed from pejorative origins (19th c. medicalization). Historical erasure from language; celebration of LGBTQ+ identity centers women's autonomy and desire outside male-defined frameworks.

Inclusive Usage

Use as neutral descriptor of sexual orientation and community identity; center lesbian voices and experiences in discourse.

Empowerment Note

Lesbian literature, activism, and scholarship have been foundational to feminist theory and LGBTQ+ liberation; recognize women's leadership in these movements.

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