How Do You Spell MASCULINE?

Pronunciation: [mˈaskjʊlˌɪn] (IPA)

The word "masculine" is spelled with a "c" in the middle, despite being pronounced with an "s" sound. This oddly placed "c" comes from the Latin word "masculinus," which was the origin of the English word. In IPA phonetic transcription, "masculine" is pronounced /ˈmæskjəlɪn/, with the "c" representing the sound of the Latin letter "c" which was a hard "k" sound. Over time, the pronunciation shifted but the spelling remained, creating an unusual spelling pattern in the English language.

MASCULINE Meaning and Definition

  1. Masculine is an adjective that pertains to qualities, attributes, or characteristics typically associated with males or being a man. It refers to the set of behavioral, physical, and psychological traits that are considered typical or traditional for males in a given culture, society, or context.

    In terms of physical traits, masculine often relates to having a muscular or robust physique, typically featuring broader shoulders, a deeper voice, and prominent facial features. This physical aspect of masculinity is often associated with strength, endurance, and physicality.

    Beyond the physical, masculine attributes often entail personality traits such as assertiveness, self-confidence, courage, and independence. These qualities may manifest through actions, communication styles, and decision-making approaches that are perceived as more direct, competitive, or authoritative.

    Culturally, masculine roles are often linked to traditionally male-dominated pursuits, such as leadership, career success, and the ability to provide for oneself or a family. However, it is important to note that these traditional understandings of masculinity are social constructs and can vary widely across cultures and historical periods.

    While masculinity traditionally refers to traits associated with males, it is worth noting that gender identity and expression are complex and fluid. Therefore, masculinity can be experienced and expressed by individuals across a range of gender identities, not exclusively limited to cisgender men.

  2. Relating to or marked by the characteristics of the male sex.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

  3. Having the qualities of a man; in gram., denoting the gender appropriated to the male kind; strong; robust; coarse, as opposed to delicate.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for MASCULINE *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for MASCULINE

Etymology of MASCULINE

The word masculine originated from the Latin word masculus, which means male or manly. It is derived from the Latin word mas, which means male. The term later evolved in French as masculin and ultimately entered Middle English as masculine.

Similar spelling words for MASCULINE

Plural form of MASCULINE is MASCULINES

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