'Man' and 'Male' — Which to use when?
The basic understanding I have about this nuance is ‘male’ represents any living being of masculine gender whereas ‘man’ (-correct me if I’m wrong) is strictly for a human male.
Now while filling out the forms, we have gender where two options are male and female. When it comes to reproductive system, we define that as male reproductive system (we doctors use this term) and not man reproductive system. If it’s defining the human, why not man reproductive system. In fact, it’s gender specific (read above — form’s example), so shouldn’t it be man reproductive system.
Obviously, it’s there is a male man standing under the tree. But then, man male pattern baldness is also common. We are certainly talking about the baldness occurring in human males — why not man pattern.
Furthermore male strippers and not man strippers? In this why is it male (singular) but then strippers (plural)? Had it been using men then would it be men stripper? Is it because of male/man?
2 Answers 2
Man has two senses, both of which go back to the very earliest uses of the word in OE.
- The human species or, when used with a determiner, a member of that species.
- An adult human male.
The species sense appears to be etymologically older; but the secondary sense of ‘adult male’ has by now become primary. OED 1 writes:
b. In the surviving use, the sense ‘person’ occurs only in general or indefinite applications (e.g. with adjs. Like every, any, no, and often in the plural, esp. with all, any, some, many few, etc.); in modern apprehension man as thus used primarily denotes the male sex, though by implication referring also to women.
The gradual development of the use of the unambiguous synonyms body, person, one, and (for the plural) folk(s), people, has greatly narrowed the currency of man in this sense; it is now literary and proverbial rather than colloquial.
Since OED wrote this, the success of the women’s movement since the 1970s has tended to marginalize the human sense of the term even farther.
Nonetheless, in ordinary speech man is still inherently ambiguous. Consequently, except for those “literary and proverbial” situations OED mentions, we tend to avoid man altogether, employing male instead when we are trying to express what is proper to the male as opposed to the female sex.
Note, too, that even if that were not the case, man would not be an appropriate modifier for reproductive system or a baldness pattern, since these are characteristic of all males, not merely adult males.
Context is everything. When you are in doubt whether to use male or man, look at what terms you are contrasting with, whether implicitly or explicitly.
If you are contrasting humans with nonhumans, man is appropriate: “It’s not a fit night out for man or beast”.
If you are contrasting adult male humans with sub-adult male humans, man is again appropriate: “He is a man now, no longer a boy.”
But if you are contrasting male humans with female humans, male is appropriate: male strippers, nurses and college students are distinguished from the female strippers, nurses and college students who constitute (in the US, at least) the majority in those occupations.
The difference between Male and Man
When used as nouns, male means a human member of the masculine sex or gender, whereas man means an adult male human.
Male is also adjective with the meaning: belonging to the sex which typically produces sperm, or to the gender which is typically associated with it.
Man is also verb with the meaning: to supply (something) with staff or crew (of either sex).
check bellow for the other definitions of Male and Man
Male as an adjective:
Belonging to the sex which typically produces sperm, or to the gender which is typically associated with it.
Examples:
"male writers'', ''the leading male and female singers'', ''a male bird feeding a seed to a female'', ''in bee colonies, all drones are male'', ''intersex male patients"
Male as an adjective:
Characteristic of this sex/gender. , .>>
Examples:
"stereotypically male interests'', ''an insect with typically male coloration"
Male as an adjective:
Tending to lead to or regulate the development of sexual characteristics typical of this sex.
Examples:
"the male chromosome''; ''like testes, ovaries also produce testosterone and some other male hormones"
Male as an adjective (grammar, less common than 'masculine'):
Masculine; of the masculine grammatical gender.
Male as an adjective (figuratively):
Of instruments, tools, or connectors: designed to fit into or penetrate a female counterpart, as in a connector, pipe fitting or laboratory glassware.
Male as a noun (sometimes, _, offensive):
One of the male (masculine) sex or gender. A human member of the masculine sex or gender. An animal of the sex that has testes. A plant of the masculine sex.
Man as a noun:
An adult male human.
Examples:
"The show is especially popular with middle-aged men."
Man as a noun (collective):
All human males collectively: mankind.
Man as a noun:
A human, a person of either gender, usually an adult.
Examples:
"every man for himself"
Man as a noun (collective):
All humans collectively: mankind, humankind, humanity.
Man as a noun (anthropology, archaeology, paleontology):
A member of the genus Homo, especially of the species Homo sapiens.
Man as a noun (obsolete):
A sentient being, whether human or supernatural.
Man as a noun:
An adult male who has, to an eminent degree, qualities considered masculine, such as strength, integrity, and devotion to family; a mensch.
Man as a noun (uncountable, obsolete, uncommon):
Manliness; the quality or state of being manly.
Man as a noun:
Man as a noun:
A lover; a boyfriend.
Man as a noun:
A male enthusiast or devotee; a male who is very fond of or devoted to a specified kind of thing.
Examples:
"Some people prefer apple pie, but me, I’m a cherry pie man."
Man as a noun:
A person, usually male, who has duties or skills associated with a specified thing.
Examples:
"I wanted to be a guitar man on a road tour, but instead I’m a flag man on a road crew."
Man as a noun:
A person, usually male, who can fulfill one's requirements with regard to a specified matter.
Man as a noun:
A male who belongs to a particular group: an employee, a student or alumnus, a representative, etc.
Man as a noun:
An adult male servant.
Man as a noun (historical):
A vassal. A subject.
Examples:
"Like master, like man. (old proverb)"
Man as a noun:
A piece or token used in board games such as chess.
Man as a noun (Multicultural London English, slang):
Man as a noun:
Examples:
"Come on, man, we've got no time to lose!"
Man as a noun:
A friendly term of address usually reserved for other adult males.
Examples:
Man as a noun (sports):
A player on whom another is playing, with the intent of limiting their attacking impact.
Man as an adjective:
Man as a verb (transitive):
To supply (something) with staff or crew (of either sex).
Examples:
"The ship was manned with a small crew."
Man as a verb (transitive):
To take up position in order to operate (something).
Examples:
"Man the machine guns!"
Man as a verb (reflexive, possibly, _, dated):
To brace (oneself), to fortify or steel (oneself) in a manly way.
Man as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
To wait on, attend to or escort.
Man as a verb (transitive, obsolete, chiefly, falconry):
Understanding the Difference: Male vs. Man
English literature has been seen upgraded or modified through the years, it was first introduced in Britain in 450 CE years ago which at the time was named as Anglo-Saxton. the British used and speak this language, and whenever they capture any states or other colonies they made English the first language for that state or colony.
That is why English became so popular and common to everyone and today it is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Many other variations and accents come in English literature. Two of the most popular English accent we all know are UK Accent and US Accent.
But we can all just agree whether you speak UK English or USA English, many words in English literature are quite strange some words are difficult to pronounce, some words are very lengthy and some words are very short.
The words male and man are two words that are pretty hard to differentiate. However, it does not mean that both are the same.
A male is referred to as a human being that can produce male gamete cells. Whereas, when a human male turns to adulthood he is referred to as a man.
Curious about how these two words differ from one another? Don’t know how to use them in formulating your sentences?
No worries, I got you!
Stay tuned until the end of this article, and learn about these words as I’ll answering your common question about them.
How do we define the word Man?
The word man can be defined in many ways—but it is mostly used as a general term for human beings.
Man is defined as a term referring to a human being regardless of their gender. It can often be relative to being an individual.
Man is a word, not a proper noun, and can be defined depending on how you will use it based on how you construct your sentence. Therefore, it should not be capitalized when being written. But, if this word is written at the beginning of your sentence—the first letter of this word should be capitalized. And that is an exemption.
However, it can also be defined as sex or gender, which is a later stage in adulthood, especially when compared to the opposite sex.
Take this one as an example: man versus woman.
It can also be a general term for all individuals—and its usage or function in a sentence will depend on how you will use it.
The word man is also used with other words to form new words. For example, the word manhunt is formed by combining the words man and hunt to create a new word with a new meaning. Manhunt means an organized search for a criminal or a convicted person.
Have a hard time pronouncing this word or simply don’t know how to? Check this video out. You can use it as your guide.
How do we use the word Man?
There are many ways in which you can use the word man. Since it can be defined differently, it can also have different usage for every sentence.
Man can be used as a verb, interjection, or even a noun depending on how you construct your sentence.
Let’s take a look at the examples below and try to identify the function of the word man and how it is used in every sentence.
- “He was much friendlier now that he was engrossed in what added up to be a major manhunt.”
- “While Drake hadn’t seen the show, he was furious at the man‘s attitude as described by Mary.”
- “Next, I was shown a picture of a chubby-cheeked man about forty, with long hair and a seven o’clock shadow.”
- “Quick-witted Betsy laughed, and told the man who was a common visitor, that it looked like a childhood picture of Josh in a Halloween costume.”
- “Besides the doctor who was engaged in his work, there was a man in a white suit standing by the corridor.”
- “A stylishly dressed man in his nineties identified as Assistant Director Carlton Summerfield had taken charge.”
- “Olivia has begun seeing somebody; an old man who does grounds keeping work at the Country Club and is a half dozen years her junior.”
- “He’s a nice old man and I feel would make a far less labor-intensive mate than Brendon.”
What is meant by Manhood?
Manhood is a state for a human being in which a human being becomes an adult or man and has male maturity. It means a time-lapse of being a man rather than a child.
This word also refers to a state or qualities of an adult man—which can be a description of facial features, personality, or character.
Manhood can also be defined as a man’s sexual reproductive organ, depending on how you will incorporate it in a sentence.
So, before using the word manhood in one of your sentences, make sure that you know the definition first before using it. If you know the definition of the word, it would be easier for you to convey the message that you want to tell.
Man and Men: Are they the same thing?
Men is the plural form of the word man.
Men is the plural version of the word man—which refers to an adult male human being. The word man is most commonly employed as a noun, but it may also be used as a verb.
The principles of English grammar are complicated, and regularly used terms can have several meanings.
So if you want to have a comprehensive discussion about the difference between these words and learn how to deal with the complexities of the English language, check out my previous article.
How do we define a Male?
The word male can be either defined as an adjective or noun. It can be used to refer to a human being or an animal. Therefore, the definition will depend on how it will be applied in a sentence.
The word male, if used as an adjective refers to those types of human beings or animals that can produce gamete (sex cell) and then this fuses with female gamete which is called fertilization.
However, when used as a noun, it can also indicate one’s sexuality or gender identity.
The word male is borrowed from the old French malle, which comes from the modern French word masle. Moreover, the word masle comes from the Latin word masculus.
Male: When to properly use
Although most commonly used as a noun, the word male can also be used as a clear indication of one’s sexuality.
The word male is mostly represented as a noun or an adjective in a sentence.
If you use the word male as a noun, then you should use it if the range is broad and well elaborated or uncertain or to figure out a transgender person’s sex task after the birth.
For example, the phrase “person assigned female or male a birth” is a correct way of using the word male in a sentence instead of this: “person assigned boy or girl at birth.”
If not then avoid using the word female or male, instead, use particular nouns for people of unlike age like the words women, boy, or child.
If you use the word male in sense of an adjective then you should use it directed to the sex which is commonly distinguished as having smaller gametes (which is done to does a group of species having 2 sexes so a distinction can be made) which fertilize the female-developed eggs.
How to use the word Male in sentences
There are several ways to use the word male in your sentences. Just knowing the meaning of a word does not mean you are perfect in its usage.
Below are some example sentences that will help you use the word male in your sentences:
- “Emma could never comprehend why; she speculates it was some macho alpha male thing, but Jack would sometime go out seeking trouble.”
- “Noah speculated no male juror would even bother paying attention to the testimony before giving her anything her little heart wants.”
- “The height of the male at the shoulder when fully grown is normally from 8 to lc, ft., sometimes as much as II, and perhaps even more.”
- “In 1860 a new prince, possessing loyalty to the Dutch, was set up. As in other native states in Celebes, succession to the throne in the female line has priority over the male line.”
- “A botanist observes that the bee flying with the pollen of a male flower to a pistil fertilizes the latter, and perceives this as the reason for the bee’s existence.”
- “No female or male under twelve may be hired in mines, and no child under twelve may be hired in a factory, and when school is in session none under fourteen.”
- “If you were male and born on a farm, you were almost surely going to be a farmer.”
Male vs. Man: What is the difference between them?
Both male and men refer to species or human beings.
Although the words male and man are pretty similar they cannot be regarded as the same. The main difference between male and men is that men only belong to the human species that have man specifications.
Whereas, any living thing can be called male if they produce gamete. The table below represents the distinctions between males and men.
| Man | Male |
| An adult human being with man specification. | Those humans or species that can produce gamete cells. |
| Only the human species (with man specification) can be considered as Man. | Any living thing can be called Male if they produce gamete. |
| It is a noun and is also used as a verb. | It is a noun and is used as an adjective. |
Key distinctions between the word man and male.
Wrapping Things Up
Although the words man and male have pretty similar meanings, both cannot be regarded as the same. The words man and male are mainly different in terms of their usage.
Either you use man, male, or any other word to explain the gender. It is important to use it perfectly in your sentences to make them sound meaningful.
Слова Man и Male, Woman и Female — разница и тонкости употребления
В английском языке, помимо слов man и woman — «мужчина» и «женщина», есть похожие по значению слова male и female, которые могут значить (это одно из значений) «самец» и «самка». Однако если в русском языке слова «самец» и «самка» используются только по отношению к животным, а по отношению к людям звучат оскорбительно, в английском языке слова male и female используются несколько иначе. Давайте разберем, как именно эти слова используют в английском.
Существительные Male и Female — применительно к животным и людям
Как существительные, male и female действительно значат «самец» и «самка» соответственно:
The male of the species is less aggressive. — Самец данного вида менее агрессивен.
The kitten was a female. — Котенок был самкой.
Однако Cambridge Dictionary определяет male как «a boy, man, or male animal», а female как «a female animal or person». То есть эти слова применимы не только к животным, но и людям, причем без всякой оскорбительной коннотации. В этом значении male и female встречается в формальной речи, например, в полицейском или научном отчете, в речи военнослужащих:
Thre are two unidentified males among the bodies. — Среди тел — двое неопознанных мужчин.
Females represent 40 percent of the country’s workforce. — Женщины представляют 40% трудового населения страны.
The suspect was a female. — Подозреваемая была женщиной.
They detained five people, three males, two females. — Они задержали пять человек, троих мужчин, двух женщин.
В обычной же, повседневной речи мужчин называют man, женщин — woman, а если говорят просто о каком-то человеке, то person (один человек) или people (несколько людей). Замечу, что слово persons как множественное число person существует, но звучит очень формально, в обычной речи используется редко.
Кстати, слово man — многозначное, его часто путают с такими словами, как human, person, подробнее о разнице между ними и значениях слова man читайте в этой статье: «Разница между man, human, person, human being, person, people».
А вот, как обстоят дела с прилагательными male и female.
Прилагательные Male и Female
Как прилагательные, male и female часто используются, когда нужно уточнить пол, например, представителя профессии или какой-то социальной группы. В русском языке используется либо существительное мужского/женского рода (танцор — танцовщица, ведущий — ведущая), либо громоздкая приставка «мужчина-/женщина-»
He was arrested by a female police officer. — Его арестовала женщина-полицейский.
There are very few male students in this college. — В этом колледже очень мало парней-студентов.
Заметьте, что в данной роли мы не используем слова man/woman, то есть мы не можем сказать «a woman student», только «a female student», не можем сказать «a man officer», только «a male officer». В такой роли прилагательные male и female встречаются довольно часто.
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