Spanish word

mano

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmano/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhand

Example

Lávate las manos antes de comer.

Wash your hands before eating.

Illustration for mano (hand)

More examples

Los voluntarios se pusieron manos a la obra para limpiar el parque.

The volunteers got to work to clean the park.

Core concept

Human palm with fingers curled around a tool to show manipulation.

Common phrases

  • lavarse las manos

    wash one's hands

  • echar una mano

    lend a hand

  • ponerse manos a la obra

    get to work

Similar words

dedo: Slender digit on the hand whose tip touches, feels, and pinches small things.
brazo: Long limb from shoulder to the hand base used for reaching, lifting, and carrying.
palma: Flat inner surface of the hand that supports, cups, and senses objects.
muñeca: Joint that links hand and arm, allowing the hand to bend and rotate.

Definition in Spanish

Extremidad manual con palma y dedos que sirve para sentir, sujetar y manipular cosas.

Word origin

Mano comes from Latin manus meaning 'hand', with the Latin -us ending lost through regular Romance sound changes.

Usage tips

  • Spanish commonly uses the definite article with body parts after verbs (Se lavó las manos rather than *se lavó sus manos), so expect mano to follow that pattern.

Related words

  • manualmanualnoun
  • manualmentemanuallyadverb
  • manosearhandleverb

Word lists with this word