A common term for a “feminine man” today is femboy , but context, tone, and respect matter a lot when choosing words.

Quick Scoop

1. The most common modern term

  • Femboy : Usually refers to a young man (often cisgender) who presents in a consciously feminine way through clothing, makeup, or mannerisms.
  • It’s about gender expression , not about sexual orientation or whether someone is trans or cis.
  • The term started out as slang and can be used positively in some online communities, but it can also be sexualized or used insultingly, depending on who says it and how.

In many forums, people will say: “He’s a femboy” when they mean a guy who enjoys leaning into a cute, feminine aesthetic rather than just “a straight guy who’s a bit soft.”

2. Other words you’ll see

  • Feminine man : Neutral, descriptive, and generally the safest phrase to use in normal conversation.
  • Effeminate man : More formal, and historically used as a put‑down; some dictionaries still mark it as potentially derogatory.
  • Fem / femme guy : In queer spaces, “fem” or “femme” can describe a man whose style or energy is more feminine, similar to how “tomboy” describes a masculine girl.

None of these automatically imply that someone is gay, bi, or trans; they’re mostly about appearance and vibe rather than identity.

3. Respectful vs. rude usage

  1. Ask what they prefer
    • Some people proudly call themselves a femboy or femme guy.
 * Others just want to be seen as a man without labels attached to how masculine or feminine they look.
  1. Avoid using labels as insults
    • Words like “effeminate” or “femboy” have been used to mock men who don’t fit rigid masculinity, especially queer men.
 * In a respectful tone among friends or self‑description, they can be empowering; as a joke at someone’s expense, they’re likely to hurt.
  1. When in doubt
    • Say “He has a more feminine style” or “He’s a feminine guy” instead of assigning a slang label.

4. Example to make it concrete

  • If a guy wears skirts, makeup, and likes a cute, soft aesthetic and calls himself a femboy online, “femboy” fits and is usually fine in that context.
  • If you’re just describing a coworker who’s gentle, soft‑spoken, and stylish, “he’s a bit more feminine” is safer and more polite than using slang he may not identify with.

TL;DR:
There isn’t one official word, but the internet‑popular term is “femboy” for a man who intentionally presents in a feminine way. In everyday respectful speech, “a feminine man” or “a man with a feminine style” is usually better, unless you know the person likes a specific label.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.