heterosexual

== English == === Etymology === From hetero- +‎ -sexual. Earliest citation from 1892, in C.G. Craddock's translation of Krafft-Ebbing's Psychopathia Sexualis. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˌhɛtəɹəˈsɛkʃuəl/, /ˌhɛtəɹoʊˈsɛkʃuəl/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌhɛtəɹəˈsɛkʃuəl/, /ˌhɛtɹəˈsɛkʃuəl/ === Adjective === heterosexual (comparative more heterosexual, superlative most heterosexual) (of a person or other animal) Sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex. (of a romantic or sexual act or relationship) Between two people of different sex. Coordinate terms: gay, homosexual, lesbian, same-sex, single-sex (obsolete, medicine) Having a sexual desire for the opposite sex seen as unhealthy, including a proclivity for nonreproductive sex. ==== Synonyms ==== (sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex): straight, hetero, hetty (gay slang), other-sex ==== Hyponyms ==== heteroflexible cishet ==== Coordinate terms ==== heteroromantic ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== heterosocial heteroerotic heterogenital ==== Translations ==== === Noun === heterosexual (plural heterosexuals) A heterosexual person, or other heterosexual organism. ==== Synonyms ==== (heterosexual person): straight (especially in the plural), hetero, hetty (gay slang), breeder (humorous, often offensive) ==== Antonyms ==== homosexual ==== Translations ==== == Catalan == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Central) [ˌɛ.tə.ɾu.sək.suˈal] IPA(key): (Balearic) [ˌɛ.tə.ɾo.sək.suˈal] IPA(key): (Valencia) [ˌɛ.te.ɾo.sek.suˈal] === Adjective === heterosexual m or f (masculine and feminine plural heterosexuals) heterosexual === Noun === heterosexual m or f by sense (plural heterosexuals) heterosexual ==== Related terms ==== heterosexualitat == Galician == === Etymology === From hetero- +‎ sexual. === Adjective === heterosexual m or f (plural heterosexuais) heterosexual === Noun === heterosexual m or f by sense (plural heterosexuais) heterosexual ==== Antonyms ==== homosexual ==== Derived terms ==== heterosexualidade ==== Related terms ==== heterofobia == German == === Etymology === Coined by Austro-Hungarian writer, journalist, translator and bibliographer Karl-Maria Kertbeny in 1868, from hetero- +‎ sexual. === Adjective === heterosexual (strong nominative masculine singular heterosexualer, not comparable) dated form of heterosexuell Coordinate term: homosexual ==== Declension ==== == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French hétérosexuel. Equivalent to hetero- +‎ sexual. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˌhe.te.ro.sek.suˈal/ === Adjective === heterosexual m or n (feminine singular heterosexuală, masculine plural heterosexuali, feminine/neuter plural heterosexuale) heterosexual ==== Declension ==== === Noun === heterosexual m (plural heterosexuali, feminine equivalent heterosexuală) a heterosexual ==== Declension ==== ==== Related terms ==== heterosexualitate == Spanish == === Etymology === From hetero- +‎ sexual. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /eteɾoseɡˈswal/ [e.t̪e.ɾo.seɣ̞ˈswal] Rhymes: -al Syllabification: he‧te‧ro‧se‧xual === Adjective === heterosexual m or f (masculine and feminine plural heterosexuales) heterosexual === Noun === heterosexual m or f by sense (plural heterosexuales) heterosexual Antonym: homosexual ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “heterosexual”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025