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Hetero: meaning, definitions and examples

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hetero

 

[ ˈhɛtəroʊ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

sexual orientation

Hetero is a term used to describe an individual who is sexually attracted to individuals of the opposite gender. It is short for heterosexual, which is derived from the combination of 'hetero' meaning different, and 'sexual' relating to sex or gender. Hetero individuals often form romantic relationships and engage in sexual activity with partners of the other sex. The term is commonly used in discussions of sexual orientation and relationships, and is often described in contrast to homo, which refers to homosexuality.

Synonyms

heterosexual, straight

Examples of usage

  • She is hetero and interested in dating men.
  • The club is open to all, but it mostly attracts hetero individuals.
  • Hetero couples often face challenges in their relationships.

Translations

Translations of the word "hetero" in other languages:

🇵🇹 heterossexual

🇮🇳 हेटेरो

🇩🇪 heterosexuell

🇮🇩 heteroseksual

🇺🇦 гетеросексуальний

🇵🇱 heteroseksualny

🇯🇵 ヘテロ

🇫🇷 hétérosexuel

🇪🇸 heterosexual

🇹🇷 heteroseksüel

🇰🇷 헤테로

🇸🇦 غير متجانس

🇨🇿 heterosexuální

🇸🇰 heterosexuálny

🇨🇳 异性恋

🇸🇮 heteroseksualen

🇮🇸 héteró

🇰🇿 гетеросексуал

🇬🇪 ჰეტეროსექსუალი

🇦🇿 heteroseksual

🇲🇽 heterosexual

Etymology

The term 'hetero' originates from the Greek word 'heteros', meaning 'other' or 'different'. It has been used in English since the late 19th century, when the term 'heterosexual' began to gain popularity in the medical and psychological communities. This period marked an increasing interest in human sexuality and the classification of sexual orientations. The prefix 'hetero-' implies a sexual attraction to the opposite gender, establishing a binary understanding of sexuality in contrast to 'homo-' for homosexual, which emerged to describe individuals attracted to the same sex. Over the decades, as societal understanding of sexual orientation broadened, the usage of 'hetero' evolved, becoming a commonplace descriptor in both casual conversation and academic discussions regarding sexuality.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,222, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.