# mana

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɑː.nə/ · frequency rank #19,892

## Definitions
1. Power, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people.
2. Magical energy.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Māori mana, ultimately from Proto-Polynesian *mana, from Proto-Oceanic *mana.
The use of "mana" for "magical energy" in role-playing games originated from Larry Niven, when he wrote the short story, "Not Long Before the End", in 1969. It was later popularised by his The Magic Goes Away setting.

## Easily confused with
- **MN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mn)
- **may** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-may)
- **men** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-men)
- **map** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-map)
- **max** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-max)
- **min** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-min)
- **mar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mar)
- **MIA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mia)
- **mon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mon)
- **mat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mat)
- **mao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mao)
- **MMA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mma)
- **MLA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mla)
- **Mau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mau)
- **mun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mun)
- **moa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-moa)
- **MSN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-msn)
- **maw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-maw)
- **MSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-msa)
- **MTA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mana-vs-mta)

## Common misspellings (4)
`amna`, `maan`, `mmana`, `mnaa`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mana