The first part of the list are vernacular terms from the Pacific region and the second part of the list are English terms. The vernacular and English terms do not always have direct equivalencies. The usage of these terms are evolving and their meaning may differ depending on the person. We offer these as the broadly accepted definitions for these terms.
Aikāne (Hawaiʻi) - in Native Hawaiian culture an aikane was an intimate same-sex friend of a chief. This person often, though not always, had a sexual relationship with the chief as well.
Akavaʻine (Cook Islands) - in Cook Islands Māori this word referes to an individual, usually male, who "behaves like a woman". May refere to a third-gender and may be similar to transgerder women (male to female).
Faʻafafine (Samoa) - in Samoan culture a third-gendered individual. A recognized and integral part of traditional Samoan culture, faʻfafine, born biologically male, embody both male and female gender traits.
Faafatama (Samoa) - contemporary Samoan word for a woman who identifies as a lesbian.
Fafafine (Niue) - in Niuean culture a third-gendered individual. May be born biologically male and embody both male and female gender traits.
Fakaleiti / Fakeleti / Fakalati / Fakafefine (Tonga) - in Tongan culture a male who behaves in the manner of a woman. May also be considered a third gender. Similar to mahu, faʻafafine, and raerae.
Mamflorita (Guam) - word for homosexual.
Māhū (Hawaiʻi) - in Native Hawaiian culture this refers to an individual who may be considered third-gendered with characteristics of both sexes, usually a male to female. In contemporary Hawaiʻi the word is also used to describe people who are transgender, transvestites, or gay.
Māhūkāne (Hawaiʻi) - a wahine who lives the life of a kāne, mentally and/or physically.
Māhūwahine (Hawaiʻi) - A newly coined term (2003). A gender identity encompasing transvestiteism, transgenderism, and transsexualism.
Mengol a otaor (Palau) - a phrase for homosexual.
Moe aikāne (Hawaiʻi) - an individual who slept with another individual, both of the same sex or gender.
Pinapinaaine / Binabinaaine (Tuvalu and Kiribati) - a man who might regard himself as, or be regarded by others as, a woman.
Raerae / Māhū / Māhūvahine (Tahiti) - in Tahiti this refers to an individual who is male but identifies and lives as a female. Perhaps considered a third gender.
Takātapui (Maori) - a devoted partner of the same sex, in contemporary Aotearoa it has become an umbrella term for Maori LGBTI people.
Vaka sa lewa lewa (Fiji) - in Fijian culture this referes men who may present themselves, or live their lives as, women. May also be considered a third-gender similar to transgender women (female-to-male).
Whakawahine (Maori) - a term used to describe men who live as women either through sex reasignement sugery, hormone therapy, or even men who are born effeminite. May also be considered a third gender very much like faʻfafine, fakaleti, and māhū.
Wininmvan (Chuuk) - a word for homosexual.
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Bisexual - a term used for individuals who are sexually or romantically attracted to people of either sex.
Gay - a noun, particularly in Western culture, which is a synonym for a homosexual. While it can refer to all homosexual people it is most often used for bi or gay men.
Intersex - refers to atypical combinations of physical features that usually distinguish female from male. This is usually understood to be instances where biological anomalies are present, such as diversion from typical XX female or XY male presentations, genital ambiguity, and sex developmental differences. An intersex individual may have giological characteristics of both male and female sexes.
Lesbian - a term used in Western cultures to describe a woman who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.
Queer - originally an anti-gay epithet, it has been reclaimed as a pan-LGBT term to encompass all sexual and gender minorities.
Third Gender - describes individuals who are categorized (by their choice, social consensus, or against their will) as neither man or waman, as well as the social category present in those societies who recognize three or more genders.
Transexual - an individual's identification with a gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with their assigned sex.
Transgender - often regarded as an expression of ones gender identity that does not necessarily conform to dominant cultural norms on gender. For example, a man who identifies and expresses gender as a woman. Trans people may be heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual.
Transvestite - an individual who dresses in the clothing associated with the opposite sex. Does not nessicarily identify as trans or homosexual.
