masculin

masculine, male

adjective mas-koo-LAN Rare

Origin: Latin masculinus, from masculus ('male')

Usage Note

Masculin is used both grammatically ('a masculine noun') and socially ('masculine traits'). Its opposite is féminin. In grammar class, knowing a noun's gender is often framed as deciding whether it is masculin or féminin.

Examples

"Le soleil est un nom masculin en français."

Natural Translation

'Sun' is a masculine noun in French.

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