macho
/MAH-choh/
male
Macho can refer to the male of an animal or plant species, such as this rooster.
📝 In Action
El león macho está a cargo de proteger la manada.
A2The male lion is in charge of protecting the pride.
Solo los árboles machos producen polen.
B1Only the male trees produce pollen.
⭐ Usage Tips
Gender Match
Remember that 'macho' is a masculine word, so it always pairs with masculine nouns and articles (el, un, etc.), even when used as an adjective for an animal.
When referring to a person, macho describes exaggerated or aggressive masculinity.
macho(noun)
macho man
?exaggerated or aggressive masculinity
chauvinist
?negative connotation regarding gender roles
📝 In Action
No seas tan macho, ayúdale a lavar los platos.
B1Don't be such a macho man, help her wash the dishes.
Su actitud de macho le impide admitir sus errores.
B2His macho attitude prevents him from admitting his mistakes.
⭐ Usage Tips
Cultural Weight
This meaning of 'macho' is loaded with cultural history and usually carries a negative connotation, referring to rigid or outdated gender roles.
As an adjective, macho can mean tough, resilient, or sturdy.
macho(adjective)
tough
?resilient, sturdy
strong
?referring to objects or people
,brave
?courageous (regional)
📝 In Action
Ese tornillo es más macho, aguantará más peso.
B1That screw is tougher, it will hold more weight.
Fue muy macho al enfrentarse solo al problema.
B2He was very brave/tough in facing the problem alone.
In mechanics, macho refers to a tap, a tool used to cut screw threads inside a hole.
macho(noun)
tap
?tool for cutting internal screw threads
plug
?male connector part in electronics
📝 In Action
Necesitamos un macho de métrica 8 para hacer la rosca.
B2We need an M8 tap to make the thread.
El cable tiene un macho que se conecta a la hembra del enchufe.
C1The cable has a plug (male connector) that connects to the socket (female connector).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: macho
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'macho' with its negative, cultural meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'macho' always a negative word?
Not always. While it often has a strong negative connotation tied to 'machismo' (exaggerated masculinity), it is a neutral, technical term for the male sex of an animal or plant, and sometimes used informally (especially regionally) to mean 'strong' or 'brave' in a positive way.
How is 'macho' different from 'varón'?
'Macho' refers to the male sex of animals (and sometimes humans in a derogatory or technical sense). 'Varón' is the standard, neutral word specifically for a human male.