In English grammar, gender is divided into three main types: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The masculine gender refers to words used for male people and male animals. Understanding masculine gender is important because it helps students use the correct words while writing, speaking, or reading English. It is also a common topic in school exams and is useful for improving everyday grammar skills. In this article, you will learn what the masculine gender means, along with easy examples to help you understand it better.

What is Masculine Gender?
Masculine Gender Noun Rules
Examples of Masculine Gender
Practice Exercise on Masculine Gender
Frequently Asked Questions on Masculine Gender

What is Masculine Gender?

The masculine gender refers to any noun or pronoun that is used to refer to people and animals classified as male. The masculine gender is defined as those words “relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to males”, and according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, it includes words “belonging to a class of words that refer to male people or animals and often have a special form”.

Masculine Gender Noun Rules

Most masculine nouns are words for male people or male animals. Some change their form to show gender, while others use totally different words. Understanding these rules helps you switch between masculine and feminine terms.

Changing Masculine to Feminine Gender

Many masculine words have special ways to form the feminine. Here are the main rules:

Use a different word: hero – heroine, king – queen, uncle – aunt
Add -ess: actor – actress, lion – lioness, host – hostess
Change part of a compound: step-brother – step-sister, grandfather – grandmother

There are some exceptions, so always check a list if unsure.

Examples of Masculine Gender

Masculine gender words are used to talk about boys, men, or male animals. They show that the person or animal is male. For example, words like father, king, lion, and rooster are all masculine. Let’s look at some more examples of masculine gender in people, animals, titles, and professions.

People & Relations

Man
Boy
Father
Son
Brother
Husband
Uncle
Nephew
Gentleman
Bachelor
Bridegroom
Godfather
Stepbrother
Stepfather
Grandfather

Titles & Positions

King
Prince
Emperor
Duke
Baron
Mayor
Lord
Master
Sir
Monk
Sultan
Czar (Tsar)
Hero
Wizard

Animals (Masculine Forms)

Lion
Tiger
Bull
Ox
Horse (Stallion)
Colt (young male horse)
Jack (male donkey)
Ram (male sheep)
Billy goat (male goat)
Buck (male deer)
Gander (male goose)
Drake (male duck)
Rooster (Cock)
Dog
Fox
Boar (male pig)
Drone (male bee)
Peacock
He-goat

Professions & Roles (Traditional Masculine Terms)

Actor
Waiter
Host
Landlord
Policeman
Salesman
Fisherman
Workman
Horseman

Don't Miss Out: Feminine Gender: Rules and Practices

Practice Exercise on Masculine Gender

Exercise 1: Select the suitable noun for each blank from the given list. Change its gender and write it in the blank:

1. The peacock is our national bird. It stands for pride and beauty.

2. The tiger is our national animal. It stands for bravery,

strength and power.

3. The cow is grazing on the bank of the river.

4. The cock crows early in the morning every day.

5. The emperor had twenty sons.

6. The rich uncle sent a handsome present to me.

7. The letter began, “Dear Sir”.

8. The duke is eighty years old.

9. The gander hissed at the children.

10. The hunter shot the huge tiger.

11. Prince walked in the garden in the evening.

12. The drake swam on the pond.

13. I am afraid of red bulls.

14. The wool on the ram was white as snow.

15. The actor was really good.

16. I gave my nephew 10 taka.

17. To hunt a buck is not allowed in Bangladesh.

18. The mouse came to the lion.

Answers:

The peahen is our national bird. It stands for pride and beauty.
The tigress is our national animal. It stands for bravery, strength and power.
The bull is grazing on the bank of the river.
The hen crows early in the morning every day.
The empress had twenty sons.
The rich aunt sent a handsome present to me.
The letter began, “Dear Madam”.
The duchess is eighty years old.
The goose hissed at the children.
The hunter shot the huge tigress.
Princess walked in the garden in the evening.
The duck swam in the pond.
I am afraid of red cows.
The wool on the ewe was white as snow.
The actress was really good.
I gave my niece 10 taka.
Hunting a doe is not allowed in Bangladesh.
The mouse came to the lioness.

Exercise 2: Complete each sentence by using a noun of the opposite gender to that in bold type:

Farmer Moti keeps two bulls and eight ___________.
The drake swam on the pond while the ___________ waddled round the farmyard with her little ones.
A record price was paid for the ___________ and the cows.
The wool on the ewe was thicker than that on the ___________.
The Prince and ___________ are on holiday.
There were three puppies; one bitch and three ___________.
The red deer had antlers; the___________ had none.
Last year we made a visit to our uncle and ___________ in Narsingdi.

Answers:

Cows

Duck

Bull

Ram

Princess

Dogs

Doe

Aunt

Exercise 3: Change the gender of each noun in the following sentences and rewrite them:

1. The king gave away all his wealth to a poor woman.

Answer: The queen gave all her wealth to a poor man.

2. The huntress aimed at the buck and shot an arrow.

Answer: The hunter aimed at the doe and shot an arrow.

3. My uncle sent me a beautiful birthday present.

Answer: My aunt sent me a beautiful birthday present.

4. Mother bought a special sweet dish for the guests.

Answer: Father bought a special sweet dish for the child.

5. On seeing a heifer, the tigress growled loudly.

Answer: On seeing a bullock, the tiger growled loudly.

6. The wedding of my niece is tomorrow.

Answer: The wedding of my nephew is tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions on Masculine Gender

Q1. What is masculine and feminine?

Answer: Masculine and feminine can refer to grammatical gender, where words are classified as masculine (male-related) or feminine (female-related), or to socially constructed characteristics associated with men and women, such as traditional roles, behaviours, and traits like sensitivity or strength. While grammatical gender is a linguistic classification, social masculinity and femininity are learned norms that can vary between individuals and cultures, with some people exhibiting a blend of traits that defy conventional stereotypes.

Q2. What is the masculine gender of goose?

Answer: The masculine gender of the word "goose" is gander. A gander is a male goose, while a female goose is called a goose

Q3.What is the masculine gender of mare?

Answer: The masculine gender of the word "mare" (which refers to an adult female horse) is stallion, which refers to an adult male horse.

Q4. What is the masculine gender of a cow?

Answer: The masculine gender of a cow is a bull. While a "cow" refers to a female bovine, a "bull" is the male counterpart.

Q5. What is the masculine gender of witch?

Answer: The masculine gender of a cow is a bull. While a "cow" refers to a female bovine, a "bull" is the male counterpart.

Q6. What is the masculine gender of a spinster?

Answer: The masculine gender equivalent of the word spinster is bachelor. A spinster is an unmarried woman, often an older one, while a bachelor is an unmarried man.

Q7. What is the masculine gender of the bride?

Answer: The masculine gender of the word "bride" is groom or bridegroom. A bride is a woman who is about to get married, while a groom (or bridegroom) is the man who is about to get married or has recently gotten married.

Q8. What is the masculine gender of hen?

Answer: The masculine gender of a hen is a rooster. A hen is a female chicken, and a rooster is a male chicken, making "rooster" the masculine counterpart.