weiblich

Weiblich is a German adjective meaning female or of the female sex. It is used to describe the sex of animals or plants, as well as the feminine characteristics of a noun. In everyday and scientific language it is commonly contrasted with männlich.

Etymology and usage context: Weiblich derives from the noun Weib, an old term for "woman," combined with the suffix -lich. The noun Weib is now typically considered archaic or informal, while weiblich remains the standard descriptor for female qualities or sex.

Grammar and examples: As with other adjectives, weiblich declines according to number, gender, and article. Examples include das weibliche Tier (the female animal), eine weibliche Stimme (a female voice), and in predicate position: Das Tier ist weiblich (The animal is female). In scientific contexts, the pair weiblich and männlich is routinely used to indicate sex, for instance in data labeling, anatomy, or breeding programs. In botany, the term helps distinguish the female reproductive role from the male, though specific organs are often named (pistil vs. stamen).

Related terms: For referring to a female animal, the diminutive Weibchen is used in biology. The term weiblich is not a gender identity label; it denotes biological sex and feminine qualities in German, and is frequently paired with männlich in descriptive or classificatory phrases.

See also: gendered language, männlich, Weibchen, Pistil and Stamen in botanical contexts.