Italian · Body & Health
"Hand" in Italian: mano
la mano
Note: plural: le mani
Hand in Italian is la mano (MAH-noh). It looks masculine because of -o, but it is feminine, and the plural is le mani. Wave with la mano and hold hands with tenersi per mano.
Offering help
Ti do una mano con le valigie.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mano
Say it
MAH-noh
/ˈma.no/
Mano is MAH-noh with stress on MAH. Plural mani is MAH-nee. Keep the vowels pure.
"Hand" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la mano | hand Singular; feminine despite -o. | Singular; feminine despite -o. |
| le mani | hands Irregular plural ending in -i. | Irregular plural ending in -i. |
| a mano | by hand Handmade or done manually. | Handmade or done manually. |
| dare una mano | to give a hand / help Common offer of help. | Common offer of help. |
How to use mano in real life
- 1Offering help
Ti do una mano con le valigie.
I'll give you a hand with the bags.
Dare una mano means to help.
- 2Washing up
Lavati le mani prima di cena.
Wash your hands before dinner.
Le mani is the plural form.
- 3Cold weather
Ho la mano gelata senza guanti.
My hand is freezing without gloves.
La mano stays feminine.
Mistakes English speakers make with mano
Incorrect: Il mano destro.
Correct: La mano destra.
Mano is feminine, so la mano destra.
Incorrect: Le mano sono fredde.
Correct: Le mani sono fredde.
Plural is le mani, not le mano.
Good to know
La mano is a classic gender trap for learners because -o usually signals masculine. Memorise la mano / le mani as a pair. Handmade goods are often labelled fatto a mano.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Carrying shopping bags home
ChatPal
Questa borsa pesa. Mi dai una mano?
This bag is heavy. Can you give me a hand?
You
Certo. Dammi la mano sinistra, prendo io.
Sure. Give me the left hand one, I'll take it.
ChatPal
Grazie. Ora ho una mano libera per le chiavi.
Thanks. Now I have one hand free for the keys.
You
Perfetto. Attento a non sbattere la mano sulla porta.
Perfect. Careful not to bang your hand on the door.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hand" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hand" in Italian
Why is mano feminine?
It is an irregular noun from Latin. Learn it as la mano even though it ends in -o.
What is the plural of mano?
Le mani. Both the article and the ending change.
How do I say left and right hand?
La mano sinistra and la mano destra.
What does fatto a mano mean?
Handmade / made by hand, common on crafts and food labels.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
