macho

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish macho (“male”), from Latin masculus. Doublet of male.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmætʃəʊ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑtʃoʊ/
• Rhymes: -ætʃəʊ, -ɑːtʃəʊ

Adjective

macho (comparative more macho, superlative most macho)

1. (informal) tending to display masculine characteristics, such as domineering, fierceness, bravado, etc., in ways that are showily and histrionically tough

Noun

macho (plural machos)

1. A macho person; a person who tends to display masculine characteristics, such as domineering, fierceness, and bravado.
2. The striped mullet of California (Mugil cephalus, syn. Mugil mexicanus).
3. A male llama.

Related terms

Anagrams

• mocha

Adjective

macho (comparative machompi, superlative machoin)

1. macho

Noun

macho

1. macho

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish macho, from Latin masculus. Doublet of mâle.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mat.ʃo/

Noun

macho m (plural machos)

1. One who is excessively or aggressively masculine or misogynistic; a chauvinist.

   Synonym: machiste

Further reading

• “macho” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• chôma

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish macho.

Adjective

macho (invariable)

1. macho

Noun

macho m (invariable)

1. macho

Etymology

From Old Portuguese macho, from Vulgar Latin masclus, contracted form of Latin masculus (“male”), from mās (“male, man”), -culus (“forms diminutives”). Doublet of másculo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈma.ʃu/
• (South Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈma.ʃo/

Adjective

macho m (feminine singular macha, masculine plural machos, feminine plural machas, comparable)

1. male (belonging or referring to the sex having the smaller gametes)

   Synonym: masculino

   Antonyms: fêmeo, feminino

2. macho; manly

   Synonyms: másculo, varonil, viril

   Antonyms: bicha, cagão, covarde, marica, mulherzinha

3. male (of instruments or tools: designed to fit into or penetrate a “female” counterpart)

Noun

macho m (plural machos)

1. male

   Antonym: fêmea

2. macho; manly man

   Antonyms: bicha, cagão, covarde, marica, mulherzinha

Etymology 1

From Vulgar Latin masclus, contracted form of Latin masculus (“male”). Doublet of másculo.

Etymology 2

Two alternative theories are:

• From Latin marculus (“hammer”), a diminutive of marcus, itself related to the base of malleus.
• Variant of mazo (“club”).

Noun

macho

1. plural of jicho