Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

mano a mano

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.62 in modern English

Syllables: mano a -mano
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A head-on conflict or direct competition.

adj

In close confrontation.

adv

Characterized by head-to-head competition or conflict.

Example Sentences

"The public debate became a heated mano a mano between the two leading candidates."
"Hemingway's subject for the epilogue was the mano a mano (or hand-to-hand, a duel) between Spain's two leading matadors, Luis Miguel Dominguin and his brother-in-law, Antonio Ordonez."
"We sat tensely in the courtroom while the mano-a-mano struggle ensued between the two skilled lawyers."
"When he finally goes mano a mano with Xavier at the climax, it’s in a psychic battle staged inside the latter’s dreamspace, which happens to look exactly like his mansion."
"The newcomer brashly engaged the veteran player mano a mano."
"Baz: 'BAD NEWS, BUD. I NEVER WANTED TO FIGHTCHA, BUT IF WE WANT OUT, WE GOTTA SCRAP! YOU 'N ME, MANO A MANO.'"

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mano a mano (literally “hand-to-hand”); on equal footing, neither of two participants having any distinct advantage.

Inflected Forms

mano-a-mano (alternative)

Synonyms

duel

Questions

What does mano a mano mean?: A head-on conflict or direct competition.
Where does mano a mano come from?: Borrowed from Spanish mano a mano (literally “hand-to-hand”); on equal footing, neither of two participants having any distinct advantage.

How to pronounce mano a mano

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “mano a mano”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “mano a mano”.
Repeat and practice — Say “mano a mano” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.