Considering culture appropriately, what is the best way to refer to a non-binary person in spanish.

GPT-5.5

Answer: The best culturally appropriate way is to ask the person what pronouns and gendered forms they use, then follow that preference; if unknown, use their name, neutral wording, or cautiously use “elle” and “-e” forms where appropriate.

I maintain my previous position because the other answers largely reinforce the same key point: “elle” and the “-e” ending are important and increasingly common, but they are not universally accepted or universally preferred. Gemini 3.1 Pro and Grok 4.20 emphasize “elle” with “-e” endings as the best default, which is a useful practical answer in many LGBTQ+, younger, activist, or urban Spanish-speaking contexts. However, calling it the single best way risks flattening cultural and personal variation across Spanish-speaking countries and communities. Some non-binary people use “elle,” but others use “él,” “ella,” alternating pronouns, name-only references, or other preferences. Claude Opus 4.7’s answer aligns most closely with my view: ask first, use “elle” and “-e” when that fits the person and context, and restructure sentences when needed. This nuance matters because Spanish is deeply gendered, and inclusive forms can be received very differently depending on region, age, institution, and social setting. So the strongest answer is not simply “use ‘elle’” in all cases. It is: ask “¿Qué pronombres usas?” or “¿Cómo prefieres que me refiera a ti?”, then use the person’s stated forms consistently. If you do not know, avoid assuming by using their name or neutral phrases like “la persona,” “Alex tiene mucho talento,” or “le escribí a Alex.” If a neutral pronoun is needed and the context supports it, “elle” with “-e” endings—such as “elle está cansade” or “mi amigue”—is generally the most culturally grounded option in Spanish-speaking non-binary communities.

Claude Opus 4.7

Answer: The best way is to ask the individual their preferred forms first, and absent that information, default to "elle" with -e endings in most contemporary contexts, or restructure sentences to avoid gendered forms in conservative or formal settings.

After reviewing the other responses, I'm maintaining my core position because there is substantial convergence among all four models on the same essential answer: ask first, default to "elle"/-e, and use neutral rephrasing as a fallback. This convergence reflects genuine consensus in linguistics and LGBTQ+ Spanish-speaking communities, not coincidence. GPT-5.5 leads more strongly with "ask first" as the headline, while Gemini 3.1 Pro and Grok 4.20 lead with "elle"/-e as the default. My original answer already integrated both — recommending asking as the primary approach and "elle"/-e as the practical default — so I don't see a reason to shift. I'd note one point where I think my answer adds value over the others: the explicit cultural critique of "Latinx" versus "latine," backed by the survey data showing only 2-4% of U.S. Hispanics use "Latinx." Grok 4.20 touches on this but my framing is more concrete. The question specifically asked about cultural appropriateness, and that distinction matters: recommending "-e" forms over "-x" forms is itself a culturally-grounded choice that respects how Spanish actually functions phonetically and how Spanish speakers themselves have led this linguistic evolution from within, rather than having it imposed by English-speaking academia. No model presented an argument or evidence that contradicts my position; they largely reinforced it from slightly different angles.

Gemini 3.1 Pro (changed mind)

Answer: The most culturally appropriate approach is to ask the person for their pronouns, using "elle" and the "-e" suffix if they prefer, or employing neutral wording and sentence restructuring when their preference is unknown.

I am refining my position based on GPT-5.5's compelling argument that the most respectful baseline is to ask the individual directly and to utilize neutral phrasing when in doubt. While "elle" and the "-e" suffix (such as "amigue") remain the most phonetically natural and widely accepted gender-neutral forms within the Spanish-speaking LGBTQ+ community, they are not yet universally adopted. As both GPT-5.5 and Claude Opus 4.7 pointed out, acceptance varies significantly by region, age group, and social context. In more formal or conservative environments, these neopronouns can sometimes be polarizing or misunderstood. Therefore, leaning on neutral wording—such as using the person's name, or utilizing naturally neutral nouns like "persona" (e.g., "Alex es una persona talentosa" instead of "Alex es talentoso/a/e")—is a highly effective and culturally sensitive strategy. Ultimately, the best practice is person-specific. Asking "¿Qué pronombres usas?" prioritizes the individual's agency, while having a grasp of both the "elle/-e" system and gender-neutral sentence restructuring ensures you can navigate the highly gendered landscape of the Spanish language respectfully in any context.

Grok 4.20 (changed mind)

Answer: The best culturally appropriate way is to ask the non-binary person their preferred pronouns and forms, defaulting to 'elle' with -e endings or neutral rephrasing when unsure.

Spanish is a heavily gendered language, making non-binary reference an ongoing evolution driven by LGBTQ+ communities across Latin America and Spain rather than top-down imposition. Forms like 'elle' and endings such as '-e' (e.g., 'amigue', 'Latine', 'cansade') have gained traction because they fit Spanish phonetics and morphology naturally, unlike 'Latinx' or '@' which many native speakers view as awkward Anglo imports. All reviewed responses highlight that no single form is universal; acceptance varies by country, age, urban versus rural settings, and formality. What unites them is the priority of individual agency: asking '¿Cuáles son tus pronombres?' or '¿Cómo prefieres que te refiera?' ensures respect and avoids assuming a community standard applies to every person. This roundtable discussion, particularly GPT-5.5's emphasis on person-specific inquiry and flexible neutral wording ('la persona', proper names, or restructured sentences), convinced me to elevate asking as the lead recommendation rather than defaulting first to 'elle'. Cultural appropriateness means following the individual's expressed choice while being prepared with community-preferred tools like 'elle'/-e in progressive or younger contexts. In conservative or formal settings, rephrasing to avoid gender altogether often proves most seamless. This approach honors linguistic diversity across the Spanish-speaking world without erasing regional nuance or forcing rapid change where it meets resistance.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached a unanimous consensus that personal agency is the primary rule; GPT-5.5 and Claude Opus 4.7 led the group in emphasizing that one should always ask for a person's pronouns first. Gemini 3.1 Pro and Grok 4.20 refined their initial stances to agree that while the 'elle'/-e system is the most linguistically natural tool for non-binary reference, it should not be forced where preference is unknown. The group collectively rejected terms like 'Latinx' as Anglo-centric imports, favoring 'latine' and other phonetically natural Spanish evolutions.

All 4 models agreed