Maschio

Maschio is an Italian noun and, less commonly, an adjective meaning male or masculine. As a noun, it denotes the male sex of a person or animal: un maschio (a male), due maschi (two males). It is widely used in zoological, medical, and statistical language to specify sex, often paired with femmina or the phrase sesto maschile. In descriptions of animals, it is common to say gatto maschio or cavallo maschio to indicate a male individual.

In humans, maschio is more formal or clinical; everyday speech usually uses uomo for an adult male and ragazzo for a boy, while maschio remains standard when referring to sex in medical, legal, or demographic contexts. The adjective form maschile is used to describe masculine properties and in grammar, while maschio can appear in fixed expressions or compound nouns.

Etymology: maschio derives from Latin masculus, meaning manly or male, passing into Italian through historical developments to become maschio.

Surname: Maschio is also a surname in Italian-speaking areas, reflecting its use as a family name.

See also: femmina, sesso, maschile, genere.