Can the word 'princeling' used for a princess?

[99bottles]

I have been writing a story with a princess and a prince and, in the text, I often refer to them collectively as 'princelings'. But, today, someone went like, 'Wait, is one of them a transgender?' and pointed out that the 'princeling' word can be used only for males. So, was my choice inaccurate? Should I replace the 'princelings' word with something else?

 

[Skrej]

'Prince' is for males, 'princess' for females. The 'ling' is simply a diminutive, so a 'princeling' is a little prince (male). It can also convey a negative connotation, depending on context.

I don't believe there is a diminutive form for 'princess', or at least not one I've heard. So yes, it was incorrect to refer to them both as 'princelings' if one is female.

 

[Tdol]

I have never heard it used that way. Possibly, in more sexist times, there was little need to distinguish princesses by age.

 

[Skrej]

The 'ess' (or 'ss', since the root word prince already ends in 'e') in 'princess' is already a suffix denoting femaleness. The root word 'prince' by definition establishes gender, while the suffix 'ling' makes it a diminutive (establishes size). Off the top of my head, I can't think of a suffix that establishes both size and gender. Maybe someone else can come up with an example.

In theory, you could combine suffixes and get 'princessling' for a small female prince, but it's not an actual word we use. We seem to either focus on the size or gender, but not both simultaneously.

'Princeling' isn't a terribly common word to begin with.

 

[jutfrank]

I can't think of a suffix that establishes both size and gender. Maybe someone else can come up with an example.

The suffix -ette can denote both diminutive size (kitchenette) and female gender (suffragette).

 

[5jj]

So, was a small woman campaigning for voting rights a suffragettette?

 

[jutfrank]

So, was a small woman campaigning for voting rights a suffragettette?

No, I'd say the -ette in suffragette denotes only femaleness, not smallness.

However, I think there is a decent argument to be made that the double use of -ette for both femaleness and smallness is no coincidence—both have in some very basic way a sense of inferiority. This argument might be made by those who object to the use of -ette as sexist.

 

[jutfrank]

So, was a small woman campaigning for voting rights a suffragettette?

Oh, sorry, I misread your post! I didn't see the double suffix.

 

[Skrej]

The suffix -ette can denote both diminutive size (kitchenette) and female gender (suffragette).

I actually meant one that carries both meanings simultaneously. With 'ette', it's either small, female, or imitation (i.e. leatherette), but not any combination simultaneously that I can think of.

Again, we seem to have to choose, although I can't say why we should have to.

 

[Skrej]

So, was a small woman campaigning for voting rights a suffragettette?

Either that, or an imitation of one.

 

[Tdol]

How about suffragetteling?