Putting People First

The language and terms we use to describe HIV and AIDS can either help foster positive attitudes about people living with HIV or fuel stereotypes and discrimination. Using people-first language can help reduce HIV-related stigma because it focuses on people rather than their health status and presents a more respectful portrayal of individuals. People-first language is also free of the kinds of value judgments about a person’s behavior that may put them at greater risk of contracting HIV. In addition, using gender- inclusive language can help lessen stigma surrounding HIV while also helping to promote gender equality and eliminate gender bias. We can better support those living with—and at risk of contracting—HIV by choosing our words carefully and accurately.

Advocacy Poster

Download a printable PDF of the Putting People First poster.

Stigmatizing Language	Preferred Language
HIV/AIDS	Be specific. Are you referring to HIV, AIDS or both?
HIV-infected person, HIVers, HIV or AIDS carrier, victim, sufferer	Person living with HIV or AIDS. Emphasize the person not their diagnosis.
HIV or AIDS patient	Client or member of the HIV community
Died of AIDS	Died of an AIDS-related illness, AIDS-related complications or end-stage HIV
Full-blown AIDS	AIDS or end-stage HIV. AIDS has no stages.
HIV infections	HIV acquisitions, transmissions, cases or diagnoses
Contaminated or infected with HIV	Contracted or acquired HIV or diagnosed with HIV
Catch, contract or transmit AIDS or catch HIV	Contract, transmit or acquire HIV. AIDS is not transmitted, and HIV is not something you catch
Coinfect	Contract, transmit or acquire multiple viruses
Serodiscordant couple	Serodifferent or mixed-status couple
HIV-exposed infant	Infant exposed to HIV
AIDS orphan	Children orphaned by the loss of parents or guardians who died of AIDS-related complications
Compliant or noncompliant	Adherent or nonadherent is more positive and proactive.
HIV is a death sentence, fatal or a life-threatening condition.	HIV is a chronic, manageable health condition that can be serious for people not in care or treatment.
Prevent HIV infection	Reduce the risk of contracting or acquiring HIV
Unprotected or unsafe sex	Sex without a condom, sex without the use of PrEP or sex without an undetectable viral load. Be specific.
Prostitute; prostitution	Sex worker; transactional sex or the sale of sexual services
Promiscuous	Having more than one sexual partner
Tainted needles; tainted blood	Shared needles or equipment; blood containing HIV
Clean or dirty	Avoid these terms. HIV has nothing to do with one’s hygiene.
Drug user/addict	Person who uses drugs or who has a substance use disorder
A transgender, transgendered	Person who is transgender, person of trans experience
Biological sex	Assigned gender at birth
Incorrect or assumed pronouns	Use correct pronouns. If unsure, ask.
Sex change operation/surgery	Gender-affirming surgery
Changed gender or sex	Transitioned
Gendered terms (mailman, manmade)	Use inclusive terms (mail carrier, made by humans)

Stigmatizing Language: HIV/AIDS
Preferred Language	Be specific. Are you referring to HIV, AIDS or both?

Stigmatizing Language: HIV-infected person, HIVers, HIV or AIDS carrier, victim, sufferer
Preferred Language	Person living with HIV or AIDS. Emphasize the person not their diagnosis.

Stigmatizing Language: HIV or AIDS patient
Preferred Language	Client or member of the HIV community

Stigmatizing Language: Died of AIDS
Preferred Language	Died of an AIDS-related illness, AIDS-related complications or end-stage HIV

Stigmatizing Language: Full-blown AIDS
Preferred Language	AIDS or end-stage HIV. AIDS has no stages.

Stigmatizing Language: HIV infections
Preferred Language	HIV acquisitions, transmissions, cases or diagnoses

Stigmatizing Language: Contaminated or infected with HIV
Preferred Language	Contracted or acquired HIV or diagnosed with HIV

Stigmatizing Language: Catch, contract or transmit AIDS or catch HIV
Preferred Language	Contract, transmit or acquire HIV. AIDS is not transmitted, and HIV is not something you catch

Stigmatizing Language: Coinfect
Preferred Language	Contract, transmit or acquire multiple viruses

Stigmatizing Language: Serodiscordant couple
Preferred Language	Serodifferent or mixed-status couple

Stigmatizing Language: HIV-exposed infant
Preferred Language	Infant exposed to HIV

Stigmatizing Language: AIDS orphan
Preferred Language	Children orphaned by the loss of parents or guardians who died of AIDS-related complications

Stigmatizing Language: Compliant or noncompliant
Preferred Language	Adherent or nonadherent is more positive and proactive.

Stigmatizing Language: HIV is a death sentence, fatal or a life-threatening condition.
Preferred Language	HIV is a chronic, manageable health condition that can be serious for people not in care or treatment.

Stigmatizing Language: Prevent HIV infection
Preferred Language	Reduce the risk of contracting or acquiring HIV

Stigmatizing Language: Unprotected or unsafe sex
Preferred Language	Sex without a condom, sex without the use of PrEP or sex without an undetectable viral load. Be specific.

Stigmatizing Language: Prostitute; prostitution
Preferred Language	Sex worker; transactional sex or the sale of sexual services

Stigmatizing Language: Promiscuous
Preferred Language	Having more than one sexual partner

Stigmatizing Language: Tainted needles; tainted blood
Preferred Language	Shared needles or equipment; blood containing HIV

Stigmatizing Language: Clean or dirty
Preferred Language	Avoid these terms. HIV has nothing to do with one’s hygiene.

Stigmatizing Language: Drug user/addict
Preferred Language	Person who uses drugs or who has a substance use disorder

Stigmatizing Language: A transgender, transgendered
Preferred Language	Person who is transgender, person of trans experience

Stigmatizing Language: Biological sex
Preferred Language	Assigned gender at birth

Stigmatizing Language: Incorrect or assumed pronouns
Preferred Language	Use correct pronouns. If unsure, ask.

Stigmatizing Language: Sex change operation/surgery
Preferred Language	Gender-affirming surgery

Stigmatizing Language: Changed gender or sex
Preferred Language	Transitioned

Stigmatizing Language: Gendered terms (mailman, manmade)
Preferred Language	Use inclusive terms (mail carrier, made by humans)

This language chart was adapted from guidelines created for and by people living with HIV. Visit POZ.com/basics/language for more information and resources on using people-first language. Special thanks to Vickie Lynn, MSW, MPH; Venita Ray, JD; Valerie Wojciechowicz; CAN Community Health; and Positive Women’s Network–USA.