Words / A2

MAYL/meɪl/

Male describes men or boys, or male animals: a male passenger, male or female, a male voice. Man is the everyday noun. Female is the contrast. Mail (post) sounds the same. Do not write male when you mean mail, or meal.

Meaning

Connected with men or boys, not women or girls.

Examples

• “The form asks if the passenger is male or female.”
• “The changing rooms are marked male and female.”
• “A male nurse helped us at the clinic.”

Good to know

male or female / a male voice. Noun cousin: man. Mix-up: mail (post).

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