01
männlich
male / masculine
Refers to the biological or grammatical gender of men, boys, or male animals.
example
Der Löwe mit der Mähne ist das männliche Tier.
The lion with the mane is the male animal.
männlich
male / masculine
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'männlich' (male/masculine) is derived from the noun 'der Mann' (man). The ending '-lich' turns the noun into an adjective meaning 'like a man' or 'belonging to a man.'
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein typischer Mann.
He is a typical man.
Context: biology and grammar
In the meaning of 'biological or grammatical gender,' 'männlich' (male/masculine) is used in specific contexts. You find it in biology (male animals), in grammar (masculine nouns), or on forms (gender: male).
EXAMPLE
Das Nomen „Tisch“ ist männlich.
The noun 'Tisch' (table) is masculine.
Typical collocations
When 'männlich' (masculine) is used to describe qualities, it is often combined with certain nouns. Typical examples are 'eine männliche Stimme' (a masculine voice), 'männliche Gesichtszüge' (masculine facial features), or 'männliches Verhalten' (masculine behavior).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sehr markante, männliche Gesichtszüge.
He has very distinctive, masculine facial features.
Compare with
männlich vs divers
various / diverse
'divers' and 'männlich' can both appear in gender information. 'Männlich' refers to men, boys, or male animals. 'Divers' officially refers to a gender identity that is not exclusively male or female. Learners may confuse the words because both appear on forms alongside other gender options. The important point is: 'divers' is not a special form of 'männlich', but a different specification.
männlich
Der Tierarzt erklärte, dass der junge Hund männlich ist.
The vet explained that the young dog is male.
divers
Auf dem Ausweis steht beim Geschlecht die Angabe „divers“.
On the ID card, the gender entry says 'diverse'.
In real life
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