Male in different languages

Male in Different Languages

Discover 'Male' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'male' is a fundamental term in many languages, denoting the gender that is typically associated with characteristics such as strength, assertiveness, and logic. Its significance extends beyond biology, encompassing cultural, social, and psychological implications. For instance, in some societies, males are expected to be the primary breadwinners, while in others, they are revered as leaders and protectors.

Moreover, the word 'male' has a rich historical context, with its origins dating back to Old English and Proto-Germanic. It is also a term that is widely used in various scientific fields, such as biology, zoology, and genetics, to classify and differentiate between sexes.

Given the global prevalence of the English language, it is not uncommon for individuals to want to learn the translations of the word 'male' in different languages. This knowledge not only broadens one's linguistic repertoire but also fosters an appreciation for the diversity of human cultures and languages.

Here are some translations of the word 'male' in various languages:

Male


Male in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansmanlik
In Afrikaans, "manlik" not only means "male" but can also refer to bravery or masculinity.
Amharicወንድ
The word "ወንድ" can also refer to the right side of the body or a strong or powerful person.
Hausanamiji
The word "namiji" in Hausa also means "man" or "husband".
Igbonwoke
The word "nwoke" in Igbo can also mean "mature" or "responsible," reflecting the cultural association of manhood with these qualities.
Malagasylahy
The Malagasy word for 'male' ('lahy') is thought to derive from the Proto-Austronesian term for 'man' ('*laki').
Nyanja (Chichewa)wamwamuna
The word "wamwamuna" in Nyanja can also refer to a promiscuous man or someone who is always in trouble.
Shonamurume
The word "murume" can also refer to a son-in-law, husband, groom, partner, boyfriend or fiancé.
Somalilab ah
The Somali word "lab ah" derives from a Proto-Cushitic root meaning "strong" or "virile", and is cognate with other terms for "male" in Cushitic and Semitic languages.
Sesothoe motona
The word "e motona" is related to the word "motho", which means "person", and "tona", which means "strong".
Swahilikiume
"Kiume" is also a synonym for "strength" or "power" in Swahili slang, reflecting the strong association between masculinity and physical prowess in the culture.
Xhosayindoda
The term "yindoda" can also refer to a person of authority or a military commander.
Yorubaokunrin
While 'okunrin' directly translates as 'male' or 'man,' it can also refer to the male child of an extended family or paternal bloodline.
Zuluowesilisa
" owesilisa" is also a term of respect used for both men and women of higher rank or age.
Bambara
Eweatsu
Kinyarwandaumugabo
Lingalamobali
Luganda-lume
Sepedimonna
Twi (Akan)barima

Male in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالذكر
In the Quran, the word "al-dikr" can also refer to "remembrance of God".
Hebrewזָכָר
Its root meaning is "to remember" and is cognate with the Arabic word "dhikr" meaning "mention, remembrance".
Pashtoنر
The Pashto word "نر" is also used to refer to a type of wild cat.
Arabicالذكر
In the Quran, the word "al-dikr" can also refer to "remembrance of God".

Male in Western European Languages

Albanianmashkull
The word "mashkull" in Albanian also means "masculine" in terms of gender and "virile" in terms of behavior.
Basquegizonezkoa
The Basque word "gizonezkoa" derives from two words: "gizon" ("man") and "-zkoa" ("belonging to"), so the word literally means "belonging to man".
Catalanmasculí
In Catalan, "masculí" not only means "male" but also refers to the grammatical gender of words.
Croatianmuški
In Croatian, the word "muški" originally referred to a person from the Slavic tribe known as the Moesians.
Danishhan-
The word 'han-' in Danish can also mean 'he' or 'him'.
Dutchmannetje
"Mannetje" means "man" but is used to refer to an uncast bull, a tom, a cob, an immature herring. "Man" is never called "mannetje" in Dutch unless he's young.
Englishmale
The word 'male' originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *man-, meaning 'to think' or 'to remember'.
Frenchmasculin
The term 'Masculin' can also refer to the gender category in French grammar and can be applied to objects and concepts, not just people.
Frisianmanlik
The Frisian word "manlik" is an archaic form of "manlich", cognate with English "manly".
Galicianmasculino
In Galician, "masculino" may also refer to a masculine clothing item, such as a suit jacket or shirt, or a masculine noun.
Germanmännlich
In contrast to the usual gender assignment, "männlich" also describes female animals when they have a dominant character.
Icelandickarlkyns
The word karlkyns originates from the Old Norse word "karl" meaning "man" or "husband".
Irishfireann
The term 'fireann' translates directly to 'true person', implying a superior role in Celtic society.
Italianmaschio
Maschio also means 'dungeon' and derives from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'tower'
Luxembourgishmännlech
Malteseraġel
Maltese "raġel" derives from the Arabic word "rajul" meaning "man" or "husband".
Norwegianhann
The word "hann" is cognate with the English word "he" and the German word "er".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)masculino
The Portuguese word "masculino" originates from the Latin word "masculinus," meaning "male"}
Scots Gaelicfireann
The Scots Gaelic word "fireann" also serves as the Gaelic name for St. Brendan the Navigator.
Spanishmasculino
The word "masculino" in Spanish shares its root with "masculus" in Latin, meaning "larger" or "stronger".
Swedishmanlig
The word "manlig" in Swedish is not related to the word "man" in English, but rather comes from the Old Norse word "mannligr" meaning "humanly".
Welshgwryw
The word 'gwryw' can also refer to a stag, while its feminine form 'gwreidd' means 'a hind'

Male in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianмужчына
Мужчына is also an informal, humorous word for
Bosnianmuško
The word "muško" in Bosnian is also used as a term of endearment, particularly between men.
Bulgarianмъжки пол
The word "мъжки пол" (male) in Bulgarian is derived from the Old Slavic word "mǫžь", meaning "man", and is cognate with the English word "man".
Czechmužský
The word "mužský" in Czech also has the meaning of "masculine" in grammar.
Estonianmees
Despite being commonly associated with men, "mees" also means "husband" and "man" in Estonian.
Finnishuros
"Uros" is often considered as an alternative form of "uros", which means "brave, valiant, strong, courageous, sturdy, sturdy" in Finnish.
Hungarianférfi
The word "férfi" in Hungarian also means "husband".
Latvianvīrietis
The word “vīrietis” also means “hero” or “warrior” and is related to the word “vīrs” meaning “man” or “husband”.
Lithuanianpatinas
The word "Patinas" in Lithuanian is derived from the Latin word "pater", meaning "father", and is also related to the Sanskrit word "pati", meaning "lord" or "husband".
Macedonianмашки
The word "машки" is also used to refer to a type of doll or puppet in Macedonian.
Polishmęski
The word "męski" in Polish derives from the Proto-Slavic word "męžь" meaning "brave" or "courageous" and is related to the Latin word "masculus" meaning "male".
Romanianmasculin
The Romanian word "masculin" derives from the Latin word "masculus", meaning "male", and is also used to refer to objects or qualities traditionally associated with masculinity, such as strength or courage.
Russianмужской
The word мужской ("male") also relates to "peasants," "villagers," or "commoners," with the feminine equivalent женщина ("female") derived from a word for "wife."
Serbianмушки
The word "Мушки" in Serbian has Slavic roots and can also refer to "a little fly" or "a small dot used to accentuate a beauty mark".
Slovakmuž
The word "Muž" may also refer to a husband or a man of a certain age and social status.
Slovenianmoški
Moški is cognate with Russian мужской and the Proto-Slavic *mǫžьskъ, derived from the Proto-Indo-European *man-.
Ukrainianчоловічий
The Ukrainian word "чоловічий" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰelh₂-, meaning "to cover". This is why it also means "human" in some contexts.

Male in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপুরুষ
The word "পুরুষ" can also mean "person" or "human being" in Sanskrit.
Gujaratiપુરુષ
The Gujarati word "પુરુષ" (purush) is related to the Sanskrit word "पुरुष" (purusha), which in ancient Hindu philosophy refers to the universal human being, encompassing not only the physical and mental aspects but also the spiritual.
Hindiनर
"नर" can also mean "human" or "man" in Hindi.
Kannadaಪುರುಷ
The Kannada word "ಪುರುಷ" also has meanings of "a hero" and "an actor."
Malayalamആൺ
The Malayalam word 'ആൺ' can also mean 'power', 'strength' or 'authority'.
Marathiनर
The Marathi word 'नर' (male) originates from Sanskrit 'narah', which can also refer to a human (man or woman).
Nepaliनर
The word "नर" also means "man", and is used as the root for many compound words like "नरसंहार" (massacre) and "नरपति" (king).
Punjabiਨਰ
The word "ਨਰ" can also refer to a human being, a man, or a human male in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පිරිමි
The word පිරිමි can also refer to a male animal, or to a man who is considered to be strong and manly.
Tamilஆண்
The word "ஆண்" (male) in Tamil is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word *அன, which originally meant "strength" or "power".
Teluguపురుషుడు
The word "పురుషుడు" is derived from the Sanskrit word "पुरुष" which means "person" or "human being" and is not gender specific.
Urduمرد
The word مرد (male) in Urdu comes from the Persian word مرد, which also means 'brave' or 'courageous'.

Male in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
男 (nán) can also mean "husband" or "man" in the general sense.
Chinese (Traditional)
男 (nán) also means 'difficult' in Chinese, and in ancient times it was used as a measure word for horses.
Japanese男性
Originally meaning "the side of strength," 男 can also be used to mean "strong," "energetic," and "heroic."
Korean남성
The word "남성" can also mean "man" or "manliness" in Korean.
Mongolianэрэгтэй
Эрэгтэй, or "male" in Mongolian, originates from the Mongolian verb "эрэх," meaning "to procreate," or "to hunt."
Myanmar (Burmese)အထီး
According to Burmese scholar U Tin, the word "အထီး" (male) originally referred to a "husband".

Male in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpria
In Indonesian, the word
Javaneselanang
The Javanese word "lanang" can also be used to refer to a person of high status or a deity.
Khmerបុរស
The Sanskrit origin of បុរស suggests additional meanings such as "man" and "hero".
Laoຜູ້​ຊາຍ
The word ຜູ້​ຊາຍ also refers to a type of tree and a type of cloth worn as a loincloth by monks and villagers.
Malaylelaki
In Proto-Austronesian, the term also referred to humans in general, reflecting the idea that men are more representative of the species.
Thaiชาย
"ชาย" also means "edge" or "border" in Thai, and originates from the Sanskrit word "śalya," meaning "thorn" or "sharp."
Vietnamesenam giới
The word "Nam giới" in Vietnamese also refers to the male gender as a social construct, encompassing societal expectations and norms associated with masculinity.
Filipino (Tagalog)lalaki

Male in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanikişi
The word "kişi" in Azerbaijani can also refer to "a human" or "a person".
Kazakhер
In Turkic and Mongolian languages, it corresponds to
Kyrgyzэркек
The word "эркек" also means "husband" or "man" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikмард
"Мард" can also mean "man" or "husband" in Tajik.
Turkmenerkek
Uzbekerkak
The Uzbek word "erkak" is also the equivalent to "husband" and originates from the Persian word "irk" meaning "seed", "origin", or "essence."
Uyghurئەر

Male in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiankāne kāne
The word “kāne” also refers to a type of Hawaiian dance performed only by men.
Maoritane
In Maori, the word "tane" originates from the concept of separation and dividing, and also refers to "forest" and the "sun".
Samoantama
The word "tama" also means "father" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)lalaki
The Tagalog word "lalaki" is also used to refer to a "strong person" or a "leader."

Male in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarachacha
Guaranikuimba'e

Male in International Languages

Esperantovira
The word 'vira' is derived from the Latin word 'vir' and it can also mean 'hero', 'brave man', or 'husband' in Esperanto, similar to the word 'husband' in English.
Latinmasculum
"Masculum" can also refer to the male gender of a noun, or to a man that has not reached puberty.

Male in Others Languages

Greekαρσενικός
The word "αρσενικός" in Greek comes from the ancient Greek "ἄρσην", meaning "male", and "κοινός", meaning "common". It can also refer to the masculine gender in grammar.
Hmongtxiv neej
The word txiv neej can also be used to refer to a husband, father, or older brother.
Kurdishnêrî
The word "nêrî" is also used to refer to the male head of a household or family.
Turkisherkek
"Erkek" is derived from the Old Turkic word "er", meaning "hero" or "warrior". It later took on the meaning of "adult male" and eventually "male" in general.
Xhosayindoda
The term "yindoda" can also refer to a person of authority or a military commander.
Yiddishזכר
The Yiddish word "זכר" (zכר) has alternate meanings, including "a reminder" or "something that is remembered".
Zuluowesilisa
" owesilisa" is also a term of respect used for both men and women of higher rank or age.
Assameseপুৰুষ
Aymarachacha
Bhojpuriमरद
Dhivehiފިރިހެން
Dogriमर्द
Filipino (Tagalog)lalaki
Guaranikuimba'e
Ilocanolalaki
Krioman
Kurdish (Sorani)نێرینە
Maithiliपुरुष
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯅꯨꯄꯥ
Mizomipa
Oromodhiira
Odia (Oriya)ପୁରୁଷ
Quechuaqari
Sanskritपुरुषः
Tatarир-ат
Tigrinyaተባዕታይ
Tsongaxinuna

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