GL

Abbreviation of English "Girls' Love" — a Japanese-coined term (和製英語(わせいえいご)) for fiction featuring romantic relationships between women.

Etymology

Like BL (Boys' Love), GL is a genre label created in Japan. The English-speaking world more commonly uses "yuri" (borrowed back from Japanese) or "sapphic fiction."

Common collocations

• GL漫画(まんが): GL manga
• GL作品(さくひん): GL work/title
• GL小説(しょうせつ): GL novel

Similar words

• 百合(ゆり): another term for GL (literally "lily"); more common in Japanese fan communities
• BL: boys' love (the male-male equivalent)

Usage

Most commonly encountered in discussions of manga, anime, light novels, and related media. The term is neutral and descriptive, not pejorative.