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
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
die Mähne
mane
Colloquially and often slightly jokingly used for long, thick, and sometimes messy hair on a person's head.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Aufstehen musste er erst einmal seine wilde Mähne bändigen.
After getting up, he first had to tame his wild mane.
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
Haar refers neutrally to the hair on a person’s head. Mähne is colloquial and slightly humorous, and can refer to hair that is especially long, thick, or somewhat messy. Without this striking or humorous effect, Haar is the better choice.
Mähne
Nach dem windigen Spaziergang hängt ihm seine lange Mähne wild ins Gesicht.
After his windy walk, his long mane hangs wildly over his face.
Haar
Nach dem Friseurbesuch fällt ihr langes Haar glatt über die Schultern.
After her visit to the hairdresser, her long hair falls smoothly over her shoulders.
In real life
Loading video examples...