I'm 32, but I'm new to being immersed in transgroups.  For example, I am new to my local group and it's the first time I've ever even spoken to other transfolk, MTF and FTM.  The thing is that there seems to be a rather diverse usage of terminology - transman, FTM, F2M, transguy, transboy/transboi, etc.  My interest is picqued.  What terminology do you use?  What terminology do you avoid and why?  Also, any other terminology that I've not mentioned would be enlightening to learn.  I don't want to possibly offend someone by using the wrong word.

I use transman, trans guy, trans, and FTM. I avoid using bio when referring to people who aren't trans and ->-bleeped-<-, because it bothers people.

I say "trans [guy/man]" using "trans" as an adjective. FTM is acceptable too, although not entirely accurate (we were never female) but it gets the point across.

Usually, however, I just refer to myself as a guy unless my trans status is relevant.

I use trans and cis, mostly. I'm particularly fond of the term transsexual, and I tend not to specify my gender. When I'm speaking to ignorant or unaware people, I use the term transgendered, because it's a word that doesn't scare them or make them feel stupid.

I like "->-bleeped-<-," too, when I'm in safe places or being silly. So many people have called me that unkindly that I've decided to just embrace it and stop letting it hurt me.

If I need to differentiate between different groups of transsexuals, I use ftm, mtf, transman, transwoman. Genderqueer for those who don't want to be differentiated.

When I'm tired or not feeling intellectual sometimes I just use "gay" for all of us in the whole lgbt spectrum. It's shorthand that all outsiders understand.

Ftm or Mtf (Pronounced "Ef-tim" and "Em-tif", I stole it from some youtube video)

Quote from: ~RoadToTrista~ on October 25, 2011, 02:08:15 AM
Ftm or Mtf (Pronounced "Ef-tim" and "Em-tif", I stole it from some youtube video)

Never thought of saying it like that. I say the letters.

If I have to be specific I will use FTM or MTF, transman or transwoman, but when referring to myself I tend to just say 'guys like me' because it makes me feel better.

I use trans as an adjective to describe the type of man I am, and cis to describe non trans people.

I'm going to copy/paste the reason why I don't like ftm/mtf

Problematic: MtF, FtM, transgenders, a
transgender, a transsexual, a trans
Preferred: trans people, transgender
people, trans women, trans men,
women, men
The acronyms MtF and FtM are still
very common, but their use is being
phased out because they make it sound
like someone is stuck in transition
forever and define trans people by their
birth assignments. Trans and its
variations are adjectives, not nouns.
Using them as nouns strips trans
people of their identities and objectifies
them. You wouldn't say "Erin is an MtF,"
you'd say "Erin is a woman."

and more on the space...

Problematic: transwoman, transman,
trans-woman, trans-man
Preferred: trans woman, trans man
The one-word "transwoman" or
hyphenated "trans -woman" imply that
trans women are a "third gender,"
distinct from woman. By including the
space, trans is just an adjective
modifying a particular type of woman,
just like Asian woman or young woman
or liberal woman. While some self-
identify with these terms, they are not
generally accepted.

and on cis...

Problematic: real, bio, genetic, natural,
born
Preferred: cis
Trans people are not fake, artificial, or
unnatural. Their genetics have the same
effect on them that cis people' s do, and
they're born to be who they are just as
much as cis people are. Cis is also
preferable to "non-trans, " which would
unfairly create a labeled group and an
unlabeled one.

source

I generally say transman or "big-ole-->-bleeped-<-"

I just call myself a guy
If I am specifically talking about people from the ftm community I tend to say transgender, but even then, I'd just say 'those guys said..' or whatever, I don't see myself as anything different so I don't feel the need to address it

I agree pretty much with everything Nygeel posted.  I prefer to just call myself a guy, man, etc.  But I will say I'm trans to simplify things when necessary.  I will also use AFAB (assigned female at birth) to describe myself depending on the context.

I will use the words non-trans and transsexual though.  It's difficult for me to remember to say "cis" at times because I haven't used it much.

One term that seems to be common on the internet is 'reverse trap'. I think its pretty funny.

Thanks, guys.  I have a much better idea now of what to use in my convo.  I'd never heard of AFAB.  I think it sounds more appropriate than other things, especially using the F word.  I also read on a book review where someone was calling trans-men "female men" which I found quite offensive.  @GnomeKid - "big-ole-->-bleeped-<-"?  lol

I use trans woman/girl, trans man/guy, or trans folk/people depending on context - as those seem to be the most inclusive/least offensive. And tend to use non-trans rather than cis, despite the problems, due to the lack of awareness of what cis means. I don't use transgender(ed) or transsexual to describe other people, even as just an adjective. Learned fast enough how problematic those are. I use AMAB and AFAB under certain circumstances, but generally spell the whole thing out (assigned-male-at-birth, etc.), cause otherwise few enough people follow.

The other thing I try to do is use "living as a guy/girl" or "presenting as a guy/girl" for discussing pre-transition. I deeply despise "when she was a boy" or other words to that effect, since it is simply untrue.

For discussing body parts, I've been using "traditionally male" or "traditionally female" when I have to, but I'd love to hear of something simpler and less problematic.

Nygeel explained all the rest.

i use trans guy when talking to lgbt or people involved in the lgbt community. i use "guys like me" around people im out to but arent in the lgbt community.

Quote from: Elliot on October 25, 2011, 02:51:03 PM
I just call myself a guy
If I am specifically talking about people from the ftm community I tend to say transgender, but even then, I'd just say 'those guys said..' or whatever, I don't see myself as anything different so I don't feel the need to address it

Yeah I agree with this.
I never refer to myself using any sort of transgender related label (FTM, transsexual, FAAB, whatever) unless I absolutely have to, and then I just say 'trans'. IMO it's a very personal medical condition, not part of my identity.

Quote from: nobody on October 26, 2011, 02:16:06 AM
IMO it's a very personal medical condition, not part of my identity.

Exactly what I think, people assigned male at birth don't say 'Hi, I'm a cis/bio/non-trans guy'
We're all just male

Like others here, I tend to use "guys like me." When referring to others' transness, usually in mixed company, I tend to euphemistically say that they are "family," but otherwise use "trans" as a general  term.

When not speaking of anyone specific, "transman" and "transwoman" will do usually.

And I use the bio- and cis- prefixes pretty much interchangeably.

Quote from: MaxAloysius on October 25, 2011, 06:10:23 AM
If I have to be specific I will use FTM or MTF, transman or transwoman, but when referring to myself I tend to just say 'guys like me' because it makes me feel better.

I do the same exact thing.
And like someone else said, I call myself a ->-bleeped-<- all the time. For me personally, I don't care what anyone calls me, so long as it isn't 'girl' or anything of the sort.

I don't use any terms, really, other than "guy" or "man" or anything related to that. Well, for certain intents and purposes (like joining this board) I'll use "trans" or "ftm" or something like that, but I believe gender is a social construct, and therefore I don't feel I have a special responsibility to identify my gender-sex congruence any more than anyone else. I don't expect anyone I meet to tell me how they identify (unless I'm inadvertently using the wrong pronouns), how their gender aligns with their sex, or anything of that nature, and so I don't really get this whole dynamic where people who were raised as one sex/gender and now live as something else are assigned (by others) the special responsibility to disclaim themselves so that others will feel comfortable.

I recognize that that definitely comes from a place of privilege, i.e. passing. However, I also don't hesitate to be honest about myself or my life, so I don't hide or change details that would point out that I used to be female in everyday conversation, even if that person doesn't know, yet.

When someone finds out and they say "Why didn't you tell me?!" I just answer with "You never asked."