Difference Between Tranny and Shemale

Main Difference – Tranny vs Shemale

Tranny and shemale are two slangs that are used to refer to transsexual people. However, both these words are considered to be offensive and derogatory by many people. The main difference between tranny and shemale is their usage – although tranny is used to refer to transvestite or transsexual people in general, shemale is typically used for transwomen or male-to-female transsexuals. Although this article describes the meaning and usages of this term for the sake of clarification, keep in mind to never use these terms to refer to a transsexual or transgender person since these are derogatory terms.

This article explains, 

1. Who is a Shemale?
     – Definition, Features, Usage of the term

2. Who is a Tranny?
     – Definition, Features, Usage of the term

3. What is the difference between Shemale and Tranny?

Who is a Shemale

A shemale is an informal and often offensive term that is used to refer to a transvestite or transsexual. This is specially used to refer to transwomen (male-to-female transsexual) with female secondary sex characteristics and male genitalia. Shemales typically have physically or hormonally enhanced breasts. When this word is used to describe a transgender woman, it often implies that this woman is working in the sex trade. Shemale can also refer to transsexuals who have transitioned to female but have not undergone genital surgery.

The term shemale is a compound noun made using the two words she and male. It was first used in the mid-ninth century as a humorous colloquialism for aggressive females. Nowadays, this term is often used in a derogatory sense and is often used in the porn industry. Transgender woman is the politically and officially correct word that should be used instead of shemale.

Transwoman

Who is a Tranny

Tranny is also an offensive word that refers to a transvestite or transgender person. This term is made by shortening and altering the words transvestite and transgender. It came into use in the 1960s. Tranny is considered to be an offensive and defamatory term by most transgender and transsexual people.

Unlike shemale, this term does not refer to a particular section of transsexual people; it can be used to describe all transsexuals, transgenders, transvestites, and cross-dressers. It is always advisable to use politically correct terms such as transvestite, transgender, and transsexual instead of tranny. 

Difference Between Tranny and Shemale

Meaning

Tranny: Tranny refers to a transvestite or transgender person.

Shemale: Shemale specifically refers to a transwoman (male-to-female transsexual) with female secondary sex characteristics and male genitalia.

Origins

Tranny: The word tranny came into use in the mid-twentieth century.

Shemale: The word shemale, which came into use in the mid-nineteenth century, originally referred to aggressive females.

Morphological Process

Tranny: This word is formed by clipping the term transgender, transsexual or transvestite.

Shemale: This is formed by compounding the two words she and male.

Inclusiveness

Tranny: Tranny can be used to refer to all transsexuals, transgenders, transvestites, and cross-dressers; thus, it is a more inclusive term.

Shemale: Shemale is typically used to refer to male-to-female transsexuals.

Image Courtesy:

“Transwoman at Gay Pride in São Paulo, 2008” By Silvio Tanaka from SP, Brazil – Flickr (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

“A TransGender-Symbol Plain3” By User:ParaDox – en:User:ParaDox – de:Benutzer:ParaDox – Own work (CC BY-SA 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia