Word: man (noun)

Associations

The word "man" refers to an adult human male. It can also be used more broadly to refer to humanity in general.

• Example 1: "He is a kind man." This shows a specific adult male who has a good character.
• Example 2: "Man has always sought to explore the unknown." Here, "man" refers to human beings as a whole.
• Example 3: "The man at the store helped me find what I needed." In this case, it specifies an adult male who provides assistance.

A well-known synonym for "man" is "male." The important difference is that "male" refers specifically to the biological sex, while "man" refers to an adult male human and can carry social and cultural meanings.

Substitution

Instead of "man," you could use:

• "guy" – more informal, often used among friends.
• "male" – more formal and biological.
• "human" – when referring to humanity in general.

Each substitution changes the tone and context slightly. For example, "guy" feels casual, while "male" feels more clinical.

Deconstruction

The word "man" comes from Old English "mann," which means a person or human being. Over time, it has come to specifically refer to adult males. The root is "man," with no prefixes or suffixes in its modern form.

Inquiry

• How do you feel when you hear the word "man"? Does it bring to mind any specific people in your life?
• Can you think of a situation where "man" might be used differently, such as in literature or in discussions about gender?
• How do you think the meaning of "man" changes in different cultures?