Man

A man is an adult male human. The term is generally used to distinguish males from females when considering both biological sex and social role. Male children who have not yet reached adulthood are commonly called boys.

Recognition of manhood rests on two distinct aspects: the physical (such as reproductive organs and hormones) and the social (such as role, dress, occupation, and social concepts of masculinity). Modern scholarship has made it standard practice to distinguish biological sex from gender role, since the latter varies across place and time.

Biological aspects

In most humans, male sex is associated with XY chromosomes, while female sex is typically associated with XX. During puberty, testosterone levels rise, and visible changes occur such as voice deepening, body hair growth, and changes in stature and muscle. Male reproductive organs include the testes, which produce sperm and hormones.

Social role

Many societies assign men particular roles: economic responsibility, leadership of household or clan, and roles outside the home. These roles are historical and change over time: advances in education, women's employment, and family law have made the division of labour vary from place to place. Generally, social science compares how ideas about manhood shape education, health, and work.

Somali terminology

In Somali, "nin" in the plural is "rag" or "niman". The term also carries a social meaning, for example when referring to an adult male who bears responsibility. Related words include "wiil" (boy), "odey" (an older man usually holding respect), and "lab", a sex designation used broadly for both animals and humans.