[General] Can we refer to an unborn baby by using pronoun 'it'?

[jiaruchan]

I heard you have a baby on the way. When will it be born?

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Can we refer to an unborn baby by using pronoun 'it' without being regarded as disrespectful? Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

I heard you have a baby on the way. When will it be born?

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Can we refer to an unborn baby by using pronoun 'it' without being regarded as disrespectful? Thank you.

Yes, it's quite usual to do that.

 

[The French]

I heard you have a baby on the way. When will it be born?

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Can we refer to an unborn baby by using pronoun 'it' without being regarded as disrespectful? Thank you.

Hello (I am not a teacher),

But I reckon in Englsih the use of the personal pronoun 'it' is just used for things. Maybe in speaking English it is possible, but like you have suggested, it is a little disrespectful if you are talking with the mother's child.

I know sometimes people use he and she to speak about her pet because they love them so much or too much.

I think it's better for you to use he or she, it's for me more formal.

It's my mind. Have a nice day.

Cordially,

 

[The French]

Yes, it's quite usual to do that.

Hello teacher,

One question, is it natural to speak like that or is there an unformal or formal way for English people?

Thanks for your reply.

Happy New year.

The Frenchie.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello teacher,

One question, is it natural to speak like that or is there an unformal or formal way for English people?

Thanks for your reply.

Happy New year.

The Frenchie.

If we don't know the sex of a baby, especially an unborn baby, it is usual to use "it".

 

[The French]

Many thanks teacher,

In my mind, I thought that the mother of the baby can have a bad interpretation of the pronoun 'it' and consider that like an insult, but I understand well your explanation.

See you later.

 

[DougLewis]

I heard you have a baby on the way. When will it be born?

Although many people use "it", many others try to use a different approach to avoid what some regard as a poor choice of word for a baby.

I heard you have a baby on the way, when are you expecting delivery.

Is an alternative.

 

[aztlaniano]

Hello teacher,

One question, is it natural to speak like that or is there an informal or formal way for English people?

Not just unborn babies can be called "it".
Example: "Sorry, I can't hear you. A woman just got on the bus with a baby in her arms and it's crying."
We don't know the baby's sex and it is not relevant anyway.