Pronunciation: [ˈɒltə sˈɛksəs] (IPA) 
The spelling of "Alter sexus" comes from the Latin language, where "alter" means "the other" or "another" and "sexus" means "sex" or "gender". In IPA phonetic transcription, "alter" is pronounced as /ˈɑːltər/ and "sexus" is pronounced as /ˈsɛksʊs/. Together, the full phrase is pronounced as /ˈɑːltər ˈsɛksʊs/. The phrase can be used to refer to a person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Alter sexus is a Latin term that translates to "change of sex" in English. It refers to the process of gender transition or sex change, particularly in biological males transitioning to females or vice versa. This term is commonly used in medical and legal contexts to describe the transition that individuals may undergo to align their physical appearance, lifestyle, and legal gender with their gender identity.
The process of alter sexus typically involves various medical procedures such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and gender-confirming surgeries. Hormone therapy aims to induce secondary sexual characteristics consistent with the desired gender, while surgeries, such as genital reconstruction or facial feminization, may help further align the physical appearance with the gender identity. These procedures are often pursued by transsexual individuals to alleviate gender dysphoria, a condition where one's gender identity does not align with their assigned gender at birth.
Beyond the medical domain, alter sexus also encompasses social and legal changes. It may involve adopting a new name, pronouns, and gender presentation. Legal processes may include changing gender markers on identification documents and obtaining legal recognition of the transitioned gender.
Alter sexus is an important concept as it recognizes and supports individuals who wish to change their biological sex to better align with their gender identity. It acknowledges the intrinsic nature of gender identity and affirms the rights of individuals to live and be recognized in a way that is most authentic to them.
The phrase "Alter sexus" is a Latin phrase that can be broken down as follows:
- "Alter" means "other" or "another".
- "Sexus" means "sex" or "gender".
Therefore, "Alter sexus" can be translated as "another gender" or "other sex".
The etymology of the individual words can be traced back to classical Latin. "Alter" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *al- meaning "beyond" or "other". "Sexus" ultimately comes from the Latin verb "secare", meaning "to cut", and it originally referred to the division or distinction between male and female.
When combined, "Alter sexus" in Latin refers to the concept of someone belonging to a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth.
