01
die Mähne
mane
The long, thick hair on the neck and back of the neck of certain animals, especially horses or lions.
example
Das Pferd schüttelte seine prächtige Mähne.
The horse shook its magnificent mane.
die Mähne
mane
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
You can always tell from the context whether the hair of an animal or a person is meant. If people are talking about a horse or a lion, the meaning is literal. If they are talking about a person, it is a colloquial exaggeration.
EXAMPLE
Der Löwe im Zoo hatte eine beeindruckende Mähne.
The lion at the zoo had an impressive mane.
Register and style
Using 'Mähne' (mane) for human hair is colloquial and often meant slightly jokingly or admiringly. In formal texts, you would not use it for people.
EXAMPLE
Deine Tochter hat ja eine richtige Löwenmähne!
Your daughter really has a lion's mane!
Typical collocations
In connection with animals, 'Mähne' (mane) is often used with verbs like 'schütteln' (to shake) or 'kämmen' (to comb), and adjectives like 'dicht' (thick), 'lang' (long), or 'prächtig' (magnificent).
EXAMPLE
Die Reiterin bürstete die dichte Mähne ihres Pferdes.
The rider brushed her horse's thick mane.
Typical expressions
When 'Mähne' (mane) is used for human hair, typical expressions are 'seine Mähne bändigen' (to tame one's mane) or 'eine wilde Mähne haben' (to have a wild mane).
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Kamm versuche ich jeden Morgen, meine wilde Mähne zu bändigen.
With this comb, I try every morning to tame my wild mane.
Compare with
Mähne vs Haar
hair
'das Haar' and 'die Mähne' both refer to hair, but they have a different focus. 'Haar' is the neutral, general word for a person's head hair. 'Mähne' actually means the long, thick hair on the neck of animals such as horses or lions. For people, 'Mähne' is only used colloquially, often slightly jokingly, for very full or long hair. The words can be confused when the topic is a lot of hair or long hair. For normal situations, 'Haar' is safer; 'Mähne' sounds more figurative and more striking.
Mähne
Nach dem Wind im Park sieht Toms Mähne völlig wild aus.
After the wind in the park, Tom's mane looks completely wild.
Haar
Zu Hause kämmt sie ihr Haar vor dem Spiegel.
At home, she combs her hair in front of the mirror.
In real life
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