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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mana.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- manas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Rhymes for mana
See all rhymes for mana →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.
