Identify the Feminine Form of a Noun: Lion

Identify the feminine form of a noun: Lion 

A. Liona

B. Lionine

C. Lioness

D. She-Lion

Answer (C) Lioness

The term lioness is the feminine form of the animal lion, which is the masculine form. In a lot of cases, the feminine form of a certain animal is formed by adding the suffix ‘ess’ to them.

For example – The feminine form of the animal tiger is called a tigress. Here we see that the suffix ‘ess’ is added at the end of the word tiger. Tiger + ess is a tigress. In the same way, the feminine form of the word Lion is a lioness with the suffix ess added to it.

The option (A) Liona from the given options above is incorrect since there is no such word known as Liona in the English language. If no such word exists, the option naturally becomes incorrect, ruling it out.

Option (B) Lionine from the given options is also not the correct answer. This is because the word Lionine is used as an adjective in certain places to signify the qualities of a lion. These qualities are used for the comparison of the qualities of humans and other animals. As a result, this option is also marked as incorrect and is ruled out.

The option (D) She – Lion from the given options is also not the correct answer since it is not a single term. This option is also incorrect since it is of no use here. This option is also ruled out.

The final remaining option (C) Lioness, is the correct answer of all. 

There is no flexibility in the rules of grammar: few words add ‘ess’ to their feminine form, like a waitress, tigress etc. A few words have a completely different word for their female forms, like King and queen, bull and cow. Some of the words are gender-neutral, like a person, human, firefighter etc. All these words have specific gender names. 

All these names are meant to be spelt only the way they are meant to be original. A female for King will always be queen, and it can’t be called the – King or something else.