masseur
/'mæsə:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A masseur is a man whose job is to give massages. A massage is the action of rubbing and kneading a person's body with the hands to relieve tension or pain.
Usage
The word "masseur" is used specifically to refer to a male professional who performs massage therapy. It is the masculine counterpart to "masseuse" (a female professional). The term is neutral and professional.
Examples
- The athlete visited his masseur after the intense match to help with muscle recovery.
- He trained for years to become a licensed masseur at the spa.
- The hotel offers services from a skilled masseur specializing in deep tissue techniques.
Advanced Usage
- The term can sometimes be used in a broader, sometimes humorous, sense to describe a man who gives a massage, even if not professionally.
- My husband is a wonderful masseur when my shoulders are sore.
Variants and Related Words
- Masculine/Feminine Forms:
- Masseur (noun): A male massage therapist.
- Masseuse (noun): A female massage therapist.
- Massage (noun/verb): The treatment itself, or the act of performing it.
- Massage Therapist (noun): A modern, gender-neutral professional term that is often preferred over "masseur" or "masseuse."
- Massager (noun): A general term for a person or device that gives a massage.
Synonyms
- Rubber (archaic/informal): An old-fashioned or informal term for someone who gives rubdowns.
- Bodyworker: A broader term for a professional who practices various manual therapies on the body.
Notes on Usage
- In contemporary professional contexts, the gender-specific terms "masseur" and "masseuse" are sometimes considered dated. The gender-neutral term "massage therapist" is widely preferred and used regardless of the practitioner's gender.
- The word focuses solely on the person performing the action. It does not describe the type of massage (e.g., Swedish, sports, therapeutic).