How PronounDB Helps You Use the Correct Pronouns

Updated

PronounDB is a browser extension that shows people's pronouns directly inside the websites you already use, so you can refer to them correctly without asking. It works in two directions: you share your own pronouns once, and the extension displays other people's pronouns on supported platforms. According to the site, more than 29,100 people are already sharing their pronouns through it. The extension is available for Google Chrome (version 0.14.6, 4000+ users), Firefox (version 0.14.6, 1000+ users), and Microsoft Edge (version 0.14.6, 400+ users).

What PronounDB actually does

The extension solves a specific, recurring problem: keeping track of everyone's pronouns is complicated, and mistakes happen. PronounDB's stated goal is to help you "get people's pronouns right, all the time, without struggling."

It does this by:

  • Letting you share your pronouns so others can use the right ones without having to ask.
  • Showing you the pronouns of people you interact with on supported platforms.
  • Placing pronouns inside the site's own design, rather than in a separate popup or dashboard you have to check.

That last point matters more than it sounds. The site describes its integrations as "elegant," designed so pronouns "integrate smoothly within websites, matching their design language and injecting in sensible places." The intent is that pronouns appear "right where you expect them to be" — as if they were always part of the page.

How the integration works in practice

Once installed, the extension reads pronoun data that users have shared and injects it into supported platforms. You don't look up a profile in a separate tool; the pronoun appears next to the person's name or handle in the interface you're already reading.

The site lists Twitch, Twitter, and GitHub among supported platforms, with more available through a full platform list. For Twitch, Twitter, and GitHub specifically, the site notes "No preview available" at the time of writing, so you may want to check the live platform page to see current rendering examples before installing.

A practical example: if you're chatting in a Twitch stream and want to refer to another viewer, the pronoun shows up inline in that context instead of requiring you to ask in chat or guess. The same logic applies on GitHub when discussing a contributor, or on Twitter when replying to someone.

Why this reduces awkwardness and errors

The core benefit is removing the ask. Asking for pronouns can feel intrusive to some people and repetitive to others, and guessing risks getting it wrong. PronounDB's approach is to make the information ambient — visible when relevant, without a conversation.

This also helps in one-directional situations, where you're reading about or discussing someone but not directly interacting with them. If they've shared their pronouns through PronounDB, you can see them without any exchange.

What to check before relying on it

  • Coverage depends on participation. Pronouns only appear for people who have shared them. The 29,100+ figure is the current pool of sharers, not everyone on any given platform.
  • Platform support varies. Check the supported platforms list for the sites you use most, since integration quality and availability differ by platform.
  • You need to install it per browser. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge each have their own listing, all at version 0.14.6.

If you're new to the concept itself, the site points to a "Pronouns 101" guide for background before you start using the extension.

Getting started

  1. Pick your browser: Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
  2. Install the extension from that browser's listing.
  3. Share your own pronouns so others see them.
  4. Browse supported platforms as usual — pronouns appear inline for users who have shared them.

The extension is aimed at anyone who wants to get pronouns right without the friction of asking, and at anyone who wants their own pronouns visible without repeating them in every profile.