MANO

Mano is a term with several related meanings in Romance-language contexts. It derives from the Latin manus and is most commonly seen in Spanish and Italian. In both languages, mano means “hand,” with la mano forming the definite article noun in Spanish, and in Italian simply mano. In everyday speech, mano appears in phrases such as hacer algo a mano (to do something by hand) and mano a mano (hand to hand, in direct competition or exchange). In Spanish, de la mano de can mean under the guidance or involvement of someone.

In archaeology and anthropology, mano refers to a specific grinding tool. The mano is a small, handheld stone used to grind or crush grains against a larger, flat stone called a metate. This paired implements system is characteristic of many traditional food-processing techniques in Mesoamerican and some Andean cultures, particularly for processing maize and other staples. The technique is ancient and continues to be used in some communities today.

The word also appears in proper names and cultural uses, reflecting its meaning of “hand” in various contexts. While the primary senses are linguistic and archaeological, mano is encountered in literature and everyday speech as part of established phrases and idioms, illustrating the broad influence of the term across languages and practices.