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Can we use the word "voluptuous" to describe a man?  Can  we  say  that  a  man  is voluptuous?   Does  a  man  feel  happy  or  offensive  to  be described as  a voluptuous man?
1 Eyl 2016 06:09
Yorumlar · 9
4
Voluptuous means a woman has a curvy, beautiful body. She has an "hourglass figure" (big chest, skinny waist, big bottom). I have never heard anyone ever call a man "voluptuous". I think a man would want to be called "muscular" or "buff" or something.
1 Eylül 2016
3

No. It's an example of sexism built into the English language. The word "voluptuous" has several meanings, one meaning "related to sensual pleasure." However, when describing a person, it is applied only to women. It is a synonym of "curvaceous." "Curvaceous" means "having big breasts and buttocks," so that seen in silhouette from the side--when casting a shadow, for example--the outline of the body is curvier rather than straighter.

There is a fairly rare and outdated word, "a voluptuary," meaning a person whose life is devoted to sensual pleasures. A man can be "a voluptuary." In theory, a woman can be, but, in fact--sexism again--the word would much more likely refer to a man than to a woman. 

"Sensuous" can apply to either a woman or a man, and can mean either someone who enjoys sensual pleasure or someone who is attractive in a sexual way. 

I don't know of any ordinary, standard English word that can apply to a man and corresponds to "voluptuous" in a woman.

1 Eylül 2016
2
 
1 Eylül 2016
2

As has already been commented, it's most commonly used to describe a woman, particularly regarding the chest. I have used it to describe male friends before, but that's usually been in a joking fashion. No one I know would be personally offended if you were to call them 'voluptuous,' but I think it sounds a bit strange when referring to a man. More suitable words in my opinion would be: stocky, well-built, or, depending on how well you know him, you could use 'curvy' (although 'curvy,' like 'voluptuous,' is somewhat feminine). Of course, talking about someone's weight is always a bit of an awkward topic, so you may want to avoid being too direct if they're sensitive about it! 

1 Eylül 2016
2

English is not my mother tongue, so I could be corrected.

I think you shouldn't refer to a man as voluptuous in common Language, although, yes, you could do it. Voluptuous doesn't really mean buxom or something like that, it derives from voluptas, a voluptuous thing/person is something/someone that gives sensual pleasure. So a voluptuous woman is curvy. You can also say "a voluptuous life", "a voluptuous desire" etc. Anyway, as I said, you don't hear "a voluptuous man" in common Language, even if it's not wrong. Maybe you can use it in some kind of poem...

1 Eylül 2016
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