Hello, little storytellers! Every good story has a hero, and most stories have a "bad guy" for the hero to fight. A female bad guy is called a villainess. What do we call a male bad guy? Let's find out who the real villains are!
Villainess Opposite Gender
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Villainess vs. Villain: A Clear Comparison
This table explains the terms for the "bad guys" in a story.
| Term | Gender | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Villainess | Female | A female evil character. |
| Villain | Male / Neutral | A male evil character; also the modern neutral term. |
What is a Villainess?
A villainess is a female villain. This word is used to specifically point out that the evil character in a story is a woman. Famous villainesses include the Evil Queen in "Snow White" and Cruella de Vil.
What is a Villain?
A villain is the masculine equivalent of a villainess. He is the main male "bad guy" in a story. More commonly, 'villain' is used as a gender-neutral term for any evil character.
Characters in Stories: Heroes and Villains
Most stories are about the conflict between a hero and a villain. The villain creates the problem that the hero must solve. While the word 'villainess' is correct, you will often hear movie critics and readers refer to any evil character as a 'villain'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Villainess Masculine Gender
The masculine gender of 'Villainess' is Villain.
Villainess Opposite Gender
The opposite gender of a Villainess is a Villain. Villainess is a female gender term and Villain is the male gender and neutral term.
Male equivalent of Villainess
The male equivalent of a Villainess is a Villain.
Practice Exercises
Worksheet: Choose the Correct Term
Fill in the blanks with the correct term.
- In the Batman movies, the Joker is a famous _______.
- The sea witch Ursula in 'The Little Mermaid' is a classic _______.
- Every superhero needs a great _______ to fight against.
Discover More Feminine Genders
Curious about other Male/Female Genders? Dive into our collection!