mynah

noun

my·​nah ˈmī-nə How to pronounce mynah (audio)
variants or myna
: any of various Asian starlings (especially genera Acridotheres and Gracula)
especially : a dark brown slightly crested bird (A. tristis) of southeastern Asia with a white tail tip and wing markings and bright yellow bill and feet compare hill mynah

Illustration of mynah

Illustration of mynah

Examples of mynah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The passengers want the train to stay there, because a mynah is singing in the branches of a mahua tree. James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024 An Asian exhibit in the birdhouse includes hornbills and Bali mynahs. Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Folktales and royal texts are replete with mynahs, parrots, and pigeons that adorned imperial courts and entertained wealthy families. National Geographic, 10 Sep. 2016

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu mainā hill mynah, from Sanskrit madana, a kind of bird

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mynah was in 1620

Dictionary Entries Near mynah

Cite this Entry

“Mynah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mynah. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mynah

noun
my·​nah
variants or myna
: any of various Asian starlings
especially : one that is mostly black and is often tamed and trained to mimic words

More from Merriam-Webster on mynah

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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