The difference between Berdache and Two-spirit

When used as nouns, berdache means among native americans, a person who identifies with any of a variety of gender identities which are not exclusively those of their biological sex, whereas two-spirit means a native (north) american gender-variant, homosexual or bisexual person (especially one belonging to a traditional tribal third-gender, fourth-gender or transgender cultural category that has a ceremonial role).


Two-spirit is also adjective with the meaning: pertaining to or being a two-spirit.

check bellow for the other definitions of Berdache and Two-spirit

  1. Berdache as a noun (anthropology):

    Among Native Americans, a person who identifies with any of a variety of gender identities which are not exclusively those of their biological sex; a transgender person.

  1. Two-spirit as a noun:

    A Native (North) American gender-variant, homosexual or bisexual person (especially one belonging to a traditional tribal third-gender, fourth-gender or transgender cultural category that has a ceremonial role).

  1. Two-spirit as an adjective:

    Pertaining to or being a two-spirit.

  1. Two-spirit as an adjective (theology):

    Involving two spirits; especially, pertaining to the doctrine of dualism espoused in the so-called Treatise on the Two Spirits in the Dead Sea Scrolls.