His or her

[FallenRev]

(Edited and corrected)

Hello,
English isn't my native language and i have a question. For a baby shower card (for a little girl) someone wrote "A new minion is on his way". Is it "his" (since minions are a male fictional character) or "her", since the minion is referring to a baby girl?

Thank you

 

[Tarheel]

For a baby shower card (for a little girl) someone wrote "a new minion is on his way". Is it "his" (since minions are a male fictional character) or "her", since the minion is referring a baby girl?

I don't know what a minion is, but a girl is a girl is a girl.

 

[Barque]

Is it "his" (since minions are a male fictional character) or "her",

I haven't heard of a male fictional character called a minion. Even if there is, it's also a word.

It usually refers to a devoted follower but I see from the dictionary that it can also be used for a person who's favoured or highly regarded. It's probably this second meaning that's meant. I don't know why the person used "his".

 

[jutfrank]

If the person who wrote the card knew for sure that the baby was a girl, they ought to have said on her way, even though minions do appear mostly to be all male.

'Minions' are those yellow, pill-shaped creatures from the Despicable Me movie franchise:

 

[tedmc]

Why choose "minion" of all names? It has a negative connotation, as in a yes-man, or a servile, faceless person.

 

[Tarheel]

I didn't know those things were called minions.

"A girl is a girl is a girl" means of course that if it's a girl it should be "her" and not "his".

 

[emsr2d2]

Why choose "minion" of all names? It has a negative connotation, as in a yes-man, or a servile, faceless person.

The Minions are fantastic (and very funny) little characters. Many native speakers won't even know the definition you've given above. I can entirely see how it's become a cute little endearment for babies/small children.

 

[Barque]

I see from the dictionary that it can also be used for a person who's favoured or highly regarded. It's probably this second meaning that's meant.

I take back what I said above. It appears the person who sent that card meant the animated characters.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.
English isn't my main native language but and I had a doubt with this have a question. For a baby shower card (for a little girl) someone wrote "A new minion is on his way". Is it "his" (since minions are a male fictional character) or "her", since the "minion" is referring to a baby girl?

Thank you. Unnecessary. Thank us after we help you, by adding the "Thanks" icon to any post you find helpful.

Welcome to the forum.

Please note my corrections and comments above. As the others have said, it should be "on her way" if the writer knows the baby will be a girl. If the sex of the baby is unknown, it should be "on the way".

 

[Skrej]

Also, when babies are brand new, they kind of all look the same (like the Minions). Unless you're changing their diaper, it's really hard to distinguish a newborn baby girl from a newborn baby boy. Plus, they typically have very little hair, and are often wearing those headcaps to keep their heads warm, so they really do kind of look like the rounded heads of Minions.