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Definition of mano

mano

/ˈmɑːnoʊ/
ma · no

Plural:manos
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mano Lexical Profile

mano Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A close friend, companion, or brother (used colloquially as an informal term of address).

Example

"Hey, mano, it's been far too long since we last caught up."


2

North American A smooth, hand-held stone used for grinding grain, seeds, or other materials against a larger base stone known as a metate.

Example

"The archaeological team uncovered a basalt mano and metate near the remains of the ancient hearth."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mano

Word Nuance & Usage

The borrowed Spanish phrase 'mano a mano' is frequently misunderstood by English speakers as meaning 'man-to-man', but it literally translates to 'hand-to-hand', describing a direct, one-on-one confrontation.

• Rhymes for mano

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish 'mano' (hand), derived from Latin 'manus'. When used to mean 'friend' or 'brother' in colloquial English, it is a shortened form of the Spanish word 'hermano' (brother).

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mano. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mano
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