Why are ships referred to as "she"?
We're learning about the USS Arizona in History and they keep referring to the ship as "she" instead of "the ship" like most inanimate objects are normally. So I was wondering how did this start and why is it that way? Is it mainly used in the Navy or all of boating?
4 yrs ago / JT
Best Answer (Chosen by Voter)
The truth of the matter is that about 600 years ago, a man by the name of Prince Henry (Henry Henrique) who became known as Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) was a Portuguese royal prince that "financed" many explorers. Prince Henry sent many sailing expeditions down Africa's west coast, but did not go on them himself. Thanks to Prince Henry's money, Portuguese ships sailed to the Madeira Islands, rounded Cape Bojador, sailed to Cape Blanc and around Cap Vert, as well as many other places of discovery.
While not nearly so popular as Columbus, Prince Henry actually financed a far greater amount of ships and while he himself did not sail on any of them, the ships he financed, discovered many more lands then any other sailors and exployers of his time. Magellan, being one of them.
At that time, ships were commonly named after the King or Queens that financed them. Prince Henry's ships however had various names. He however was quoted as saying that all his ships were a "she" because "like a woman, they take much powder and paint to keep them looking good.
The exact reason why boats are called she in English is lost to history. While explanations…Read more
Sailors would name their boats in honor of the women they left behind when they went to sea.
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