There's a lot of transgender terminology out there. Here is a quick overview to help you keep it straight.
Trans Terms
FTM or F2M: A trans person who is transitioning from female to male.
Genderqueer: This refers to people who do not adhere to strictly male or female identities and roles.
Hormone therapy: Synthetic hormones taken to affect things like body shape, hair growth patterns and secondary sex characteristics.
MTF or M2F: A trans person who is transitioning from male to female.
Non-op: A transgender person who does not intend to have surgery.
Post-op: A transgender person who has had surgery.
Pre-op: A transgender person who has not had surgery to alter his or her body, though he or she may want this.
Sex reassignment surgery (sometimes mistakenly called a "sex change operation"): This involves physically changing one's sex through surgery. It is often accompanied by hormone treatments.
T: Shorthand for the hormone testosterone, which is taken by some FTM individuals.
Transgender: An umbrella term for individuals who may have the genitals of one sex, but a gender identity usually associated with the other. For example, a person born with a penis who feels female may identify as transgender.
Transitioning: The process of changing one's sex to match one's gender identity.
Like gender, language can be fluid. In some circles a term might mean one thing, while in others it might mean something different altogether. Even so, having a general understanding of the language used to discuss transgender life can be a really important step in becoming a more inclusive society.
