French word

masculin

Pronunciation

IPA/maskylɛ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivemasculine

Example

Ce parfum est masculin.

This perfume is masculine.

Illustration for masculin (masculine)

More examples

Il a un air masculin.

He has a masculine appearance.

Core concept

A deep voice, angular style, or assertive manner associated with a man.

Common phrases

  • air masculin

    masculine appearance

  • côté masculin

    masculine side

Similar words

mâle: Of the male sex in biological terms.
viril: Conveying masculinity through power, toughness, or vigor.
féminin: Having an appearance or manner associated with women.

Definition in French

Relatif au genre masculin ou qui évoque des traits perçus comme appartenant aux hommes, tels que l'allure, la voix ou le comportement.

Word origin

French masculin comes from Latin masculinus, formed from masculus, meaning male, and retains the sense of relating to males or male-associated qualities.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, masculin also marks grammatical masculine gender, which is separate from describing a masculine appearance or manner.

Other meanings

  • manlyadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • masculinitémasculinitynoun

Word lists with this word