Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| macho | /ˈmat͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| varón | /baˈɾon/ | masculine |
| hombre | /ˈombɾe/ | masculine |
The word for 'male' depends on whether you are describing biological sex, an adult human or a technical component. macho is used to describe a male of any species or, in technical and electrical contexts, a connector that has an external plug. varón is used specifically to denote biological sex. hombre refers to an adult male human. Additionally, masculino is the adjective used to describe things belonging to the masculine sex or gender.
Which one should you use?
Use varón when referring to biological sex in formal, medical or legal contexts, such as census data or police reports. Use hombre to refer to an adult male human, focusing on his stage of life rather than just his biological sex. While macho can describe a male animal or a technical plug, it is not the standard neutral term for an adult human man.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the informal term pibe may be used to refer to young males.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmatʃo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using macho to refer to an adult human man in polite or neutral settings, as it can sound derogatory or imply aggressive masculinity.
Did you know?
- The term varón is a doublet of barón. While the former denotes a male human, the latter refers to a nobleman or a 'baron'.
Examples in context
- Tom es un macho alfa.Tom is an alpha male.This sentence is useful for showing how to use macho in the phrase 'alpha male'.Tatoeba #1542382 by marcelostockle, translation #1542324 by Spamster
- Un garañón es un caballo macho.A stallion is a male horse.This sentence demonstrates the use of macho when referring to a male horse.Tatoeba #5410233 by albrusgher, translation #2535224 by Balamax
- El sospechoso es un varón de raza negra.The suspect is a black male.This sentence shows how to use varón in a formal descriptive context.Tatoeba #1779784 by Shishir, translation #1779776 by Spamster
- Los hombres son altosMen are tall
- El bebé es un varónThe baby is a boy
- Ese chico es muy simpáticoThat guy is very nice
- ¡Hola, chicos!Hi, guys!
- Los muchachos están jugando fútbolThe boys are playing soccer
- ¡Hey, muchacho! ¿Necesitas ayuda?Hey, lad! Do you need help?
- Pedro es un hombre altoPedro is a tall man
- Lucía tiene un hermano italianoLucía has an Italian brother
- Los libros de los hombresThe men's books
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A veterinarian's office while discussing a new pet.
- Lucía¿Es un cachorro macho o hembra?Is it a male puppy or female?
- AlejandroEs un macho, lo acabo de comprar.It is a male, I just bought him.
- Lucía¡Qué bueno! Es un cachorro muy bonito.That's great! He is a very pretty puppy.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía, es muy juguetón.Thanks, Lucía, he is very playful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “male” translations and entries macho, varón, hombre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hombre, macho, varón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
