Feminine vs. Masculine — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 27, 2023
Feminine and Masculine denote gender attributes, often relating to women and men respectively.
Difference Between Feminine and Masculine
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Feminine refers to qualities or attributes traditionally associated with women, often emphasizing softness, gentleness, and nurturing. Masculine, on the other hand, pertains to qualities or attributes traditionally linked to men, highlighting strength, assertiveness, and dominance.
In many cultures, Feminine embodies characteristics like sensitivity, empathy, and intuition, whereas Masculine represents decisiveness, courage, and resilience.
In language, Feminine and Masculine govern the use of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in languages that assign gender. For instance, in Spanish, "niña" is the feminine form of "child", while "niño" is the masculine form.
Feminine is also used in design and art to describe features that are delicate, graceful, or ornate, while Masculine design elements may be more straightforward, bold, or rugged.
It's vital to note that the social constructs surrounding Feminine and Masculine have evolved, and these traditional definitions don't necessarily confine one's identity or expression.
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Comparison Chart
Grammatical Role
Governs nouns/pronouns in languages like Spanish (e.g., "amiga" for female friend).
Governs nouns/pronouns (e.g., "amigo" for male friend).
Endings in French
Many nouns ending in -e are feminine (e.g., "table").
Nouns ending in -age, -ege (e.g., "village").
Article in German
Uses the article "die" for feminine nouns.
Uses the article "der" for masculine nouns.
Adjective Form
In many languages, adjectives change for feminine nouns (e.g., Spanish: "bonita" for a pretty girl).
Adjectives change for masculine nouns (e.g., "bonito" for a pretty boy).
Pronouns
Refers to female antecedents (e.g., "she" and "her" in English).
Refers to male antecedents (e.g., "he" and "him").
Compare with Definitions
Feminine
Representing female qualities or characteristics.
Her leadership style was assertive yet feminine.
Masculine
Relating to men or the male gender.
He had a deep, masculine voice.
Feminine
Characterized by delicacy or softness.
The room had a feminine touch with soft pastels.
Masculine
In grammar, denoting gender as male.
In Spanish, hombre is a masculine noun.
Feminine
In design, showcasing elements traditionally linked with women.
The jewelry had a distinctively feminine design.
Masculine
Characterized by strength or boldness.
The room had a masculine aesthetic with dark woods.
Feminine
Relating to women or the female gender.
She exhibited a strong, feminine presence.
Masculine
Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men
He is outstandingly handsome and robust, very masculine
Feminine
Of or relating to women or girls.
Masculine
Of or denoting a gender of nouns and adjectives, conventionally regarded as male
Masculine pronouns
Feminine
Characterized by or possessing qualities traditionally attributed to women, such as demureness.
Masculine
The male sex or gender
The dance presents the world of the masculine, its raw energy
Feminine
Effeminate; womanish.
Masculine
Of or relating to men or boys; male.
Feminine
(Grammar) Relating or belonging to the gender of words or forms that refer chiefly to females or to things grammatically classified as female.
Masculine
Characterized by or possessing qualities traditionally attributed to men, such as aggressiveness.
Feminine
The feminine gender.
Masculine
(Grammar) Relating or belonging to the gender of words or forms that refer chiefly to males or to things grammatically classified as male.
Feminine
A word or form belonging to the feminine gender.
Masculine
(Music) Ending on an accented beat
A masculine cadence.
Feminine
Of or pertaining to the female gender; womanly.
Masculine
The masculine gender.
Feminine
Of or pertaining to the female sex; biologically female, not male.
Masculine
A word or word form of the masculine gender.
Feminine
Belonging to females; typically used by females.
Mary, Elizabeth, and Edith are feminine names.
Masculine
(Archaic) A male person.
Feminine
Having the qualities stereotypically associated with women: nurturing, not aggressive.
Masculine
Of or pertaining to the male gender; manly.
Feminine
(grammar) Of, pertaining or belonging to the female grammatical gender, in languages that have gender distinctions.
Masculine
Of or pertaining to the male sex; biologically male, not female.
Feminine
(of a noun) Being of the feminine class or grammatical gender, and inflected in that manner.
Masculine
Belonging to males; typically used by males.
“John”, “Paul”, and “Jake” are masculine names.
Feminine
(of another part of speech) Being inflected in agreement with a feminine noun.
Masculine
Having the qualities stereotypically associated with men: virile, aggressive, not effeminate.
Feminine
|of any word}} Having the vowel harmony of a front vowel.
Masculine
(grammar) Of, pertaining or belonging to the male grammatical gender, in languages that have gender distinctions.
Feminine
That which is feminine.
Masculine
(of a noun) Being of the masculine class or grammatical gender, and inflected in that manner.
The noun Student is masculine in German.
Feminine
A woman.
Masculine
(of another part of speech) Being inflected in agreement with a masculine noun.
German uses the masculine form of the definite article, der, with Student.
Feminine
(grammar) The feminine gender.
Masculine
|of any word}} Having the vowel harmony of a back vowel.
Feminine
(grammar) A word of the feminine gender.
Masculine
(grammar) The masculine gender.
Feminine
Of or pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of a woman; womanish; womanly.
Her letters are remarkably deficient in feminine ease and grace.
Masculine
(grammar) A word of the masculine gender.
Feminine
A gender that refers chiefly (but not exclusively) to females or to objects classified as female
Masculine
That which is masculine.
Feminine
Associated with women and not with men;
Feminine intuition
Masculine
A man.
Feminine
Of grammatical gender;
`it' is the third-person singular neuter pronoun
Masculine
Of the male sex; not female.
Thy masculine children, that is to say, thy sons.
Feminine
Befitting or characteristic of a woman especially a mature woman;
Womanly virtues of gentleness and compassion
Masculine
Having the qualities of a man; suitable to, or characteristic of, a man; virile; not feminine or effeminate; strong; robust.
That lady, after her husband's death, held the reins with a masculine energy.
Feminine
(music or poetry) ending on an unaccented beat or syllable;
A feminine ending
Masculine
Belonging to males; appropriated to, or used by, males.
Feminine
In grammar, denoting gender as female.
In French, femme is a feminine noun.
Masculine
Having the inflections of, or construed with, words pertaining especially to male beings, as distinguished from feminine and neuter. See Gender.
Masculine
A gender that refers chiefly (but not exclusively) to males or to objects classified as male
Masculine
Of grammatical gender;
`it' is the third-person singular neuter pronoun
Masculine
Associated with men and not with women
Masculine
(music or poetry) ending on an accented beat or syllable;
A masculine cadence
The masculine rhyme of `annoy, enjoy'
Masculine
Representing male qualities or characteristics.
His approach to the problem was direct and masculine.
Masculine
In design, showcasing elements traditionally linked with men.
The watch had a robust and masculine feel.
Common Curiosities
What does Feminine primarily denote?
Feminine primarily denotes attributes or qualities associated with women or the female gender.
Are Feminine and Masculine exclusive to gender?
No, they also play roles in grammar, design, and cultural norms.
What's the main implication of Masculine?
Masculine mainly refers to characteristics or attributes associated with men or the male gender.
Can a man have Feminine traits?
Absolutely. Traits aren't gender-bound; a man can have qualities traditionally labeled as feminine.
Is Masculine always dominant over Feminine in linguistics?
No, the dominance varies based on the language's rules and structures.
Are Feminine and Masculine evolving concepts?
Yes, societal understanding of these terms is evolving, especially regarding gender identity and expression.
Can women exhibit Masculine qualities?
Yes. Women can and do exhibit qualities traditionally deemed masculine.
How do Feminine and Masculine manifest in language?
Many languages assign gender to nouns, pronouns, and adjectives using feminine and masculine forms.
Is it possible for an object to have both Feminine and Masculine design elements?
Yes, many designs blend elements traditionally labeled as feminine or masculine.
Can the terms Feminine and Masculine be limiting or stereotyping?
Yes, rigid adherence to these constructs can perpetuate stereotypes and limit individual expression.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
