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mano

mah-nohˈma.no

hand

NounfA1
A close-up view of a human hand, open and resting, clearly showing the fingers and palm.

📝 In Action

Lávate las manos antes de comer.

A1

Wash your hands before eating.

Tengo las manos frías.

A1

I have cold hands.

Escribe con la mano derecha.

A2

He writes with his right hand.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • a mano – by hand / handmade
  • dar la mano – to shake hands
  • tener algo a mano – to have something on hand / nearby

Idioms & Expressions

  • lavarse las manos – To avoid responsibility for a problem.
  • de primera mano – Getting information directly from the source.
  • se le fue la mano – He/she went too far or used too much of something.
  • mano a mano – Directly, one-on-one, or working closely together.

hand

Also: help
NounfA2informal
Two hands clasped together, one reaching down to pull the other up, symbolizing assistance or help.

📝 In Action

¿Me puedes echar una mano con estas bolsas?

A2

Can you give me a hand with these bags?

Siempre le doy una mano a mi abuela con el jardín.

B1

I always give my grandmother a hand with the garden.

Necesito una mano para mover este sofá.

A2

I need help to move this sofa.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • echar una mano / dar una mano – To help someone, to lend a hand.

coat

Also: layer
NounfB1
A paintbrush applying a single, smooth layer of blue paint onto a neutral wall, showing a distinct coat.

📝 In Action

La pared necesita una segunda mano de pintura.

B1

The wall needs a second coat of paint.

Con una mano de barniz será suficiente.

B1

One coat of varnish will be enough.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • dar una mano de pintura – to give a coat of paint

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mano" in Spanish:

coat→hand→layer→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mano

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence is correct?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
manual(manual (done by hand)) — Adjective
manija(handle / doorknob) — Noun
manotazo(a slap or swipe with the hand) — Noun
manga(sleeve) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word 'manus', which also meant 'hand'. It has kept its original meaning for thousands of years. The reason it's a 'la' word is that 'manus' was feminine in Latin, and Spanish kept the gender even though the ending changed to '-o'.

First recorded: Before the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: mãoFrench: mainItalian: mano

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'mano' feminine if it ends in -o?

It's a great question! 'Mano' is one of a few important words that break the usual gender rule. It comes from the Latin word 'manus', which was feminine. Spanish kept the original gender from Latin, even though the word's ending looks masculine now. You just have to memorize this one as special: it's always 'la mano'.