Etymology Map
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Male

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means of the sex that fathers young

Where does the word "male" come from? It comes from Latin masculus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
masculus
Latin · ancient
"male"
a diminutive of 'mas', male, the root of 'masculine'
2
Stage 2 of 3
masle
Old French · medieval
"male"
the s was lost in French
3
Stage 3 of 3
male
English · 1300s
"man"
'male' and 'female' are unrelated in origin
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Read the full story

Male’s story begins in Latin: masculus meant “male.” A diminutive of 'mas', male, the root of 'masculine'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as masle. The s was lost in French. It reached English by 1300s as male. 'male' and 'female' are unrelated in origin. Today, male means of the sex that fathers young.