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manía

mah-NEE-ah/maˈni.a/

“manía” means “quirk” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

quirk, obsession

Also: fixation, habit
NounfB1
A person carefully lining up their shoes in a perfect, identical row by the door.

📝 In Action

Tengo la manía de lavarme las manos cada diez minutos.

B1

I have the quirk of washing my hands every ten minutes.

Es una manía tonta, pero no puedo dormir con la puerta abierta.

B1

It's a silly obsession, but I can't sleep with the door open.

Su manía por el orden es un poco exagerada.

B2

His obsession with order is a bit exaggerated.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hábito (habit)
  • obsesión (obsession)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • tener la manía de – to have the habit of
  • una manía tonta – a silly quirk

grudge, dislike

Also: to have it in for someone
NounfB2informal
A person crossing their arms and looking away with a grumpy expression while someone else tries to offer a gift.

📝 In Action

Creo que el profesor me tiene manía porque siempre me pregunta a mí.

B2

I think the teacher has it in for me because he always asks me questions.

Le cogió manía a su vecino después de aquella discusión.

B2

She took a dislike to her neighbor after that argument.

No le tengas manía, en el fondo es buena persona.

B2

Don't hold a grudge against him, he's a good person deep down.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ojeriza (ill will)
  • aversión (aversion)

Antonyms

  • simpatía (liking)
  • cariño (affection)

Common Collocations

  • tener manía a alguien – to have it in for someone
  • coger manía – to develop a dislike for

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "manía" in Spanish:

dislike→quirk→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: manía

Question 1 of 3

If someone says 'Mi jefe me tiene manía,' what do they mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
maniático(obsessive/picky person) — Noun / Adjective
maníaco(maniac) — Noun / Adjective
melomanía(love for music) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
díatíaguía
📚 Etymology▼

From Ancient Greek 'mania', which means madness or frenzy. While it sounds intense, Spanish speakers softened the meaning over centuries to include everyday quirks.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: maniaFrench: manie

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'manía' always a bad thing?

Not necessarily! It often refers to harmless, funny quirks. However, if you say you have 'manía' toward a person, that is always negative.

What is the difference between 'manía' and 'hábito'?

A 'hábito' is just a routine (like brushing your teeth). A 'manía' usually has a slightly obsessive or 'weird' quality to it.

Can I use 'manía' in a medical context?

Yes, doctors use it to describe a state of high energy in bipolar disorder, but in 99% of daily Spanish, it just means a quirk or a grudge.