This article analyzes the linguistic expression of the classification of humans according to sex and age in the Balkans, and specifically the use of grammatical gender. It focuses on the formation, semantics, and use of neuter designations of humans in Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian, and Greek and concludes that the phenomenon is innovative. Prototypically, neuters denote children, but they can be used to refer to adults as well. This latter usage contributed to the creation of the Balkan atmosphere of reciprocal nondeference and led to the development of a type of politeness conducive to social cohesion, which was favored in traditional Balkan societies.