manhood
gb/mˈænhˌʊd/ us/mˈænhˌʊd/
B2
English
~ 5100
férfikor, férfiasság, potencia, férfilakosság
NOUN
B2
1
férfikor
B2
Usage pattern:
reach [manhood]; in [early/late] manhood
He reached manhood during the war.
A háború idején lépett férfikorba.
In his early manhood, he moved to the city to find work.
Férfikora elején a városba költözött, hogy munkát találjon.
The ceremony marked his passage from boyhood to manhood.
Responsibilities multiplied as he entered manhood.
Learner examples
He reached manhood at eighteen.
Tizennyolc évesen lépett férfikorba.
In his early manhood, he started a job.
Férfikora elején munkába állt.
The story shows his path from boyhood to manhood.
The village held a rite to mark his manhood.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use manhood to mean 'masculinity' or 'bravery.' For the general state of being an adult man, use this sense: 'reach manhood,' 'in his manhood.'
Meaning
the state of being a man
Collocations
reach manhood
|attain manhood
|early manhood
|in his manhood
|from boyhood to manhood
|come to manhood
Synonyms
adulthood (General term for being an adult; not male-specific.)
|
maturity (Focuses on full development rather than legal or social status.)
Antonyms
boyhood (The period or state of being a boy.)
|
childhood (The period or state of being a child; not gender-specific.)
Themes
gender
|life stages
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The time or state when a boy has become a grown man.
The condition or status of being an adult male.
NOUN
B2
2
férfiasság
B2
Usage pattern:
prove/show [one's] manhood; a test of [one's] manhood
He felt he had to prove his manhood by taking the risk.
Úgy érezte, azzal kell bizonyítania a férfiasságát, hogy vállalja a kockázatot.
The brutal initiation was called a test of manhood.
A brutális beavatást a férfiasság próbájának nevezték.
The comment unfairly questioned his manhood.
She rejects the idea that crying threatens a man's manhood.
Learner examples
He tried to prove his manhood by fighting.
Verekedéssel próbálta bizonyítani a férfiasságát.
They set a 'test of manhood' for new members.
Az új tagoknak egy „férfiasságpróbát” találtak ki.
His friends joked about his manhood, which was rude.
Common mistake:
Do not use this sense when you mean the life stage of being an adult man (use sense #1). Also, avoid assuming these traits are required; the term can be culturally sensitive.
Meaning
masculine qualities or bravery
Collocations
prove one's manhood
|question his manhood
|test of manhood
|show his manhood
|challenge his manhood
Synonyms
masculinity (Neutral, widely used term for male-associated traits.)
|
manliness (More traditional; can sound old-fashioned or value-laden.)
Antonyms
femininity (Traits culturally associated with women; used as a conceptual opposite in gender terms.)
Themes
gender
|character
|society
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Qualities people often expect from men, like courage or strength.
Qualities culturally associated with adult men, especially courage, strength, and resolve.
NOUN
B2
LITERARY
3
férfiasság
C1
Usage pattern:
cover/expose [his] manhood
He grabbed a towel to cover his manhood.
Fogott egy törölközőt, hogy eltakarja a férfiasságát.
The doctor asked if he had any pain in his manhood.
Az orvos megkérdezte, érez-e fájdalmat a nemi szervében.
The novel described him baring his manhood in the icy river.
Learner examples
He used a towel to cover his manhood.
Törölközővel takarta el a férfiasságát.
The doctor checked his manhood for injury.
Az orvos megvizsgálta a nemi szervét, nem sérült-e meg.
In the book, 'manhood' means penis.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this word in medical or formal contexts. Doctors usually say 'penis,' not 'manhood.' Do not confuse this with 'manhood' meaning masculinity or adult status.
Meaning
euphemism for penis
Collocations
cover his manhood
|expose his manhood
|injury to his manhood
|pain in his manhood
Synonyms
penis (Clinical, direct anatomical term.)
|
member (Euphemistic or literary, similar tone.)
Antonyms
vagina (The female internal genital organ; anatomical counterpart, not a strict opposite.)
Themes
health
|sexuality
|anatomy
|body
Definition
A polite or literary word for a man's penis.
A euphemistic or literary term for the penis.
NOUN
C1
4
potencia
C1
férfiasság
C1
Usage pattern:
lose/regain/restore [one's] manhood
The clinic claimed it could restore a man's manhood.
A klinika azt állította, hogy helyre tudja állítani a férfiak potenciáját.
After the accident, he feared the loss of his manhood.
A baleset után attól félt, hogy elveszíti a potenciáját.
The article discussed how stress can affect a man's manhood.
Learner examples
The ad promised to restore his manhood.
A hirdetés azt ígérte, hogy visszaadja neki a potenciáját.
He worried about the loss of his manhood after surgery.
Aggódott, hogy a műtét után elveszíti a potenciáját.
Stress can hurt a man's manhood.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this with the body part (sense #3). Here, 'manhood' is about sexual ability, not the organ itself.
Meaning
male sexual potency
Collocations
loss of manhood
|restore his manhood
|regain his manhood
|threat to his manhood
Synonyms
virility (Broader idea of male sexual energy; can include fertility.)
|
potency (More technical term for sexual function.)
Antonyms
impotence (Lack of male sexual potency, especially erectile dysfunction.)
Themes
health
|sexuality
|body
Definition
A man's ability to have sex, especially to get and keep an erection.
A man's sexual potency or virility, especially the ability to have erections and sexual intercourse.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
5
Usage pattern:
the [nation/region]'s manhood
The war claimed much of the country's manhood.
A háború az ország férfilakosságának nagy részét követelte áldozatul.
Poets wrote of the flower of the nation's manhood lost in battle.
A költők a nemzet csatában elveszett férfiainak színe-javáról írtak.
The decree called up the manhood of the valley.
Learner examples
The war took much of the nation's manhood.
A háború elvitte a nemzet férfilakosságának nagy részét.
Many poems mourn the nation's manhood lost in war.
Sok vers siratja a nemzet háborúban elveszett férfiainak színe-javát.
The army called up the region's manhood.
Common mistake:
This sense is literary and sounds dated in everyday writing. In modern neutral style, say 'adult men' or 'male population.'
Meaning
the adult male population
Collocations
the nation's manhood
|the flower of its manhood
|call up the manhood
|much of the country's manhood
Synonyms
male population (Neutral description; lacks the literary tone and war focus.)
Antonyms
womanhood (Collective term for women as a group; counterpart rather than strict opposite.)
Themes
society
|history
|war
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
All the adult men in a place, often used in writing about war.
The adult male population of a country or community, especially as fighting men.
Grammar
Dictionary form
manhood
IPA
GB/mˈænhˌʊd/
US/mˈænhˌʊd/
Syllables & stress
man - hood (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (man)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: manhood
- Plural: manhood
Word family
Expressions
a test of manhood
1/ə tˈɛst əv mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
ordeal proving masculinity
A difficult thing used to judge if someone has 'manly' qualities.
Examples
- The long march was seen as a test of manhood.
- They called the initiation a test of manhood, which many criticized.
attain manhood
1/ətˈeɪn mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
formal
achieve adult male status
To become an adult man (formal style).
Examples
- He attained manhood far from home.
- In that culture, a public ritual marks the moment a boy attains manhood.
come to manhood
1/kˈʌm tə mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
literary
grow into a man
To grow up and become a man (literary).
Examples
- He came to manhood in a time of unrest.
- Three brothers came to manhood under their aunt's care.
from boyhood to manhood
1/fɹˈʌm bˈɔɪhˌʊd tə mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
transition from boy to man
The change from being a boy to being a man.
Examples
- The memoir follows him from boyhood to manhood.
- The rite marks the step from boyhood to manhood.
in his early manhood
1/ˈɪn hˈɪz ˈɚli mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
during early adult manhood
At the beginning part of his adult life as a man.
Examples
- In his early manhood, he traveled widely.
- The letters are from his early manhood.
loss of manhood
1/lˈɔs əv mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
becoming impotent
Becoming unable to have an erection or to have sex.
Examples
- The ad warned about the loss of manhood.
- He feared the loss of manhood after the treatment.
prove one's manhood
1/pɹˈuv wˈʌnz mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
show masculine qualities
To try to show bravery or other traits people expect from men.
Examples
- He risked everything to prove his manhood.
- No one should have to prove their manhood to be respected.
question someone's manhood
1/kwˈɛst͡ʃən sˈʌmwˌʌnz mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
doubt someone's masculinity
To say or suggest that someone lacks 'manly' qualities.
Examples
- The coach's remarks questioned his manhood.
- She refused to let anyone question her son's manhood over a mistake.
reach manhood
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ mˈænhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
become an adult man
To become a grown man.
Examples
- He reached manhood while working on the farm.
- Many cultures have ceremonies for boys who reach manhood.
the flower of a nation's manhood
1/ðə flˈaʊɚ əv ə nˈeɪʃənz mˈænhˌʊd/
idiom
literary
the finest adult men
The best or most promising adult men in a country.
Examples
- The war cost the flower of the nation's manhood.
- Poets mourned the flower of their manhood lost overseas.