homosexual
/oh-moh-sek-soo-AHL/
homosexual
As an adjective, 'homosexual' describes a sexual orientation characterized by attraction to the same sex.
homosexual(adjective)
homosexual
?describing sexual orientation
gay
?used when describing a man's orientation
,lesbian
?used when describing a woman's orientation
📝 In Action
La pareja homosexual celebró su aniversario.
B2The homosexual couple celebrated their anniversary.
Existe mucha literatura homosexual moderna.
C1There is a lot of modern homosexual literature.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Form
This adjective is special because it does not change its ending based on gender. It is used for both masculine ('un hombre homosexual') and feminine ('una mujer homosexual') nouns. It only changes form when plural: 'homosexuales'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Casual
While 'homosexual' is correct and formal, many speakers prefer the shorter, common words 'gay' or 'lesbiana' in everyday conversations.
As a noun, 'homosexual' refers to a person who has a sexual orientation toward others of the same sex.
homosexual(noun)
homosexual
?referring to a person (man or woman)
gay person
?casual reference
📝 In Action
El activista es un homosexual conocido en la ciudad.
B2The activist is a well-known homosexual man in the city.
La homosexual es una líder comunitaria muy respetada.
C1The homosexual woman is a very respected community leader.
💡 Grammar Points
Gendered Nouns
When using 'homosexual' as a person ('noun'), you must use the correct article to show gender: 'el homosexual' for a man, and 'la homosexual' for a woman.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: homosexual
Question 1 of 1
Choose the most appropriate article for the sentence: '___ homosexual es una escritora famosa.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'homosexual' un término formal?
Sí, 'homosexual' es el término formal y neutral utilizado en documentos, noticias y contextos académicos. Es completamente correcto, aunque en la conversación diaria se usan más 'gay' o 'lesbiana'.