# mane

/ˈmeɪn/ (US) · /mˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mane
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. animal hair

noun · CEFR B2

the long, thick hair that grows on the neck of animals like horses or male lions.

For teachers: the long and heavy hair growing about the neck and head of certain mammals, such as the lion or the horse.

- The male lion shook his thick mane as he stood up to roar.
- The groom spent nearly an hour brushing the horse's mane until it shone in the afternoon sun.

### 2. thick human hair

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary · Humorous

a person's long, thick, or messy hair.

For teachers: a person's head of hair, especially when remarkably thick, long, or unruly.

- She spent all morning trying to brush her wild mane of curls into place.
- After weeks in the wilderness without a haircut, he returned with a tangled mane that shocked his family.

### 3. slang for man

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Dialect

a way of saying 'man' or 'friend' in some specific local accents.

For teachers: a dialectal or eye-dialect spelling of 'man', typically used as a term of address or to refer to a male individual.

- What's going on, mane? I haven't seen you in weeks.
- The lyrics featured the word 'mane' frequently, reflecting the specific regional dialect of the Southern hip-hop scene.

Usage: Commonly used in African American Vernacular English, particularly in the Southern United States.

Teaching tip: Learners should recognize this as a regional pronunciation of 'man' rather than a separate vocabulary word in standard English.

## Examples

- The lion shook his golden mane and roared.
- The rider spent the morning brushing the horse's mane until it was smooth and shiny.
- The actor was famous for his wild mane of silver hair, which became his most recognizable feature during his long career in the theater.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.