Why are some objects – ships, countries, the moon – referred to as 'she'?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

I’d be fascinated to know why do we sometimes refer to ships, countries, the church, the Earth, the moon and cars among other things as “she”? Is it the same in other languages?
Keith Williams

Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published on Sunday.

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