manos
/manos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hands" is translated into Spanish as manos.
manos refers to the parts of the body located at the end of the arms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun mano is an exception to the general rule for gender in Spanish. Even though it ends in o, it is a feminine noun. Because of this, it requires feminine articles such as la or las.
How do you pronounce it?
/manos/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When talking about your own body parts, avoid using possessive adjectives like mis (my). Instead, it is more natural in Spanish to use the definite article las when the owner is already clear from the context or the use of a reflexive verb.
Did you know?
- To describe someone who is clumsy, Spanish speakers might say they have manos de mantequilla, which literally means 'hands of butter'.
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, if you want to say something is 'easy' or 'a piece of cake', you might say it is una mano de santo if it is a simple remedy.
- While English uses 'hand in hand' to describe closeness, in Spanish, the expression mano a mano can specifically imply a face-to-face confrontation or a direct competition.
Examples in context
- Me lavo las manos.I wash my hands.This sentence is useful for practicing the present tense with the reflexive verb.Tatoeba #1305230 by Shishir, translation #646252 by aandrusiak
- Me lavé las manos.I washed my hands.This sentence is useful for practicing the past tense with the reflexive verb.Tatoeba #8619185 by cueyayotl, translation #2206395 by Ploomich
- Como con las manos.I eat with my hands.This sentence is useful for describing how you eat.Tatoeba #1131470 by cueyayotl, translation #1131189 by CM
- La profesora le pidió al estudiante que mantuviera las manos sobre la mesa durante el examen.The teacher asked the student to keep their hands on the table during the exam.
- Me lavo las manos antes de comer.I wash my hands before eating.
- 371 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are preparing to eat dinner.
- SofíaMateo, por favor lávate las manos.Mateo, please wash your hands.
- MateoYa lo hice, Sofía.I already did, Sofía.
- SofíaTus manos todavía parecen sucias.Your hands still look dirty.
- MateoEstá bien, me las lavo otra vez.Okay, I will wash them again.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
