noun Uncommon

mana

MAH-nuh

Mana (noun) means In Polynesian belief, a spiritual power or prestige said to reside in people, objects, or places. Example: “Elders spoke of the mountain's mana with quiet respect.”

noun

In Polynesian belief, a spiritual power or prestige said to reside in people, objects, or places.

"Elders spoke of the mountain's mana with quiet respect."

In fantasy fiction and games, a supply of magical energy that a character draws on to cast spells.

"The wizard's mana was almost drained after the third spell."

"Players regenerate mana slowly while resting."

How to use mana

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a real spiritual/cultural concept of power and prestige (Polynesian) or a game mechanic representing magical energy.

Common pairings

mana pool restore mana out of mana

Word forms

manas plural

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Fill the gap

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Elders spoke of the mountain's _____ with quiet respect.

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori mana, from a much older Polynesian root with the same meaning. Its now-common gaming sense ("magic points") was popularized by science-fiction writer Larry Niven in 1969 and later spread through tabletop and video games.

· First attested 1969

Class of 1969 mana joined the language around 1969.

parton

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Rhymes for mana

ana kana Dana nana Cana Rana Tana lana Yana Jana Hana Sana

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mana” mean?

The word “mana” means in Polynesian belief, a spiritual power or prestige said to reside in people, objects, or places. In plain terms, either a real spiritual/cultural concept of power and prestige (Polynesian) or a game mechanic representing magical energy.

How do you pronounce “mana”?

“Mana” is pronounced MAH-nuh (/ˈmɑ.nə/ in IPA).

How do you use “mana” in a sentence?

Here is “mana” used in a sentence: “Elders spoke of the mountain's mana with quiet respect.”

What part of speech is “mana”?

“Mana” is a noun.

Where does the word “mana” come from?

The word “mana” dates back to around 1969.

Is “mana” a common word?

“Mana” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “mana” have?

“Mana” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Polynesian belief, a spiritual power or prestige said to reside in people, objects, or places.