French word

mâle

Pronunciation

IPA/mal/

Meaning

  • adjectivemale

Example

C'est un chien mâle.

It is a male dog.

Illustration for mâle (male)

More examples

Le chat mâle dort sur le canapé.

The male cat sleeps on the sofa.

Core concept

The male member of an animal species, set against the corresponding female member.

Common phrases

  • chien mâle

    male dog

  • chat mâle

    male cat

Similar words

femelle: Indicating the female sex in an animal or plant.
masculin: Relating to a male person or to something classified as masculine.
féminin: Relating to a female person or to something with feminine qualities.

Definition in French

Qui désigne un individu de sexe mâle, opposé à femelle, surtout employé pour les animaux.

Word origin

The French word continues Latin mas, genitive maris, through the Old French form masle and later French mâle.

Usage tips

  • Un mâle is common when the animal itself is meant, whereas mâle after a noun describes its sex, as in un chien mâle.

Opposites

Word lists with this word