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 transsexual person who has had surgery.
Pre-op: A transexual 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.
Transsexual: A transsexual is a person who identifies as a member of the opposite gender. People who are transsexual often want to surgically or hormonally alter their bodies to match their 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.
