Why is mano feminine if it ends in -o?

Mano comes from the Latin word manus, which was feminine. Spanish preserved the original gender even as the ending shifted to -o, making it one of the language's best-known exceptions.

What does mano a mano mean?

Mano a mano literally means hand to hand and refers to a direct, one-on-one confrontation or competition. In English it is often borrowed as a loanword with the same meaning.

How do you say left hand and right hand in Spanish?

Left hand is la mano izquierda and right hand is la mano derecha. Both adjectives must agree with the feminine gender of mano.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Hand in Spanish: Mano

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Mano · noun · MAH-noh

Mano means hand in Spanish. It is one of the most commonly cited exceptions to Spanish gender rules because it is feminine despite its -o ending.

MAH-noh (two syllables, stress on the first).

Dame la mano para cruzar la calle.

Give me your hand to cross the street.

hand in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for hand, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
mano	hand	MAH-noh	Default, widely understood
manita	hand		diminutive, Mexico
manito	hand		diminutive, Argentina

How Native Speakers Use Mano

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Asking for help

¿Me echas una mano con estas cajas?

Can you give me a hand with these boxes?

Echar una mano is an idiomatic expression meaning to help someone.

Describing craftsmanship

Este mantel está hecho a mano.

This tablecloth is handmade.

A mano means by hand and appears frequently in product descriptions.

Greeting someone

Le di la mano al profesor cuando nos presentaron.

I shook the professor's hand when we were introduced.

Dar la mano is the standard phrase for shaking hands.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Mano

Wrong gender article

Incorrect: El mano derecho me duele.

Correct: La mano derecha me duele.

Mano is feminine even though it ends in -o. Use la (not el) and feminine adjective forms like derecha.

Incorrect plural

Incorrect: Las manoes están sucias.

Correct: Las manos están sucias.

Mano follows standard pluralization: add -s to get manos, not -es.

Lock in hand Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Mano used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using mano in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Dame la mano para cruzar la calle. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About hand in Spanish

Why is mano feminine if it ends in -o?: Mano comes from the Latin word manus, which was feminine. Spanish preserved the original gender even as the ending shifted to -o, making it one of the language's best-known exceptions.
What does mano a mano mean?: Mano a mano literally means hand to hand and refers to a direct, one-on-one confrontation or competition. In English it is often borrowed as a loanword with the same meaning.
How do you say left hand and right hand in Spanish?: Left hand is la mano izquierda and right hand is la mano derecha. Both adjectives must agree with the feminine gender of mano.