# Moran

/mɝˈæn/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/moran
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a young man who is a warrior in the Maasai or Samburu cultures of East Africa. This person usually goes through special ceremonies to reach this status.

For teachers: a warrior or young man belonging to a specific age grade in Maasai or Samburu society. Refers to a social stage involving specific cultural duties and rites of passage.

## Examples

- The moran stood tall with his traditional spear.
- After the ceremony, the young man was officially recognized as a moran within his community.
- The transition from childhood to the status of moran involves rigorous physical challenges and communal rituals that reinforce the cultural identity of the Maasai people.

## Usage notes

- Often used in ethnographic or travel contexts; usually capitalized in academic writing but lowercase in general prose.

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