Spanish Conversation · Level 37
74 words
Spanish word
maña
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈmaɲa/
Meaning
- feminine nounknack
Example
Ella tiene mucha maña para cocinar.
She has a natural knack for cooking.
More examples
Al principio fue difícil, pero pronto le cogió la maña.
At first it was difficult, but she soon got the knack of it.
Core concept
A practiced technique or routine learned from experience.
Common phrases
cogerle la maña a
get the knack of
Similar words
truco: Fast, clever shortcut that helps achieve a specific result quickly.
técnica: Systematic procedure or technique that standardizes a task for efficiency.
habilidad: Capacity to execute tasks competently after learning and practice.
destreza: Delicate motor skill involving precise, controlled movements of hands or fingers.
Definition in Spanish
Técnica o recurso práctico aprendido con la experiencia que permite realizar una tarea con más facilidad.
Word origin
Derived from an older dialectal form mañía attested in the literature, the word comes to mean a learned technique while its ultimate origin remains unclear.
Usage tips
- Common collocations are tener maña 'to be good at something' and coger maña 'to become skilled', so avoid translating maña simply as innate talent.
Other meanings
- abilitynoun
Opposites
- torpezaawkwardnessnoun
Related words
- mañosodexterousadjective