A tropical bird native to Asia, known for its ability to mimic human speech and other sounds. Mynahs are intelligent, social birds often kept as pets.
From Hindi मैना (mainā) and Urdu مینا (mainā), both meaning 'mynah bird.' The word ultimately derives from Sanskrit मदन (madana). It entered English in the 18th century through British colonial contact with India, appearing in English texts as early as the 1760s.
Mynahs are such skilled mimics that in their native India, they're often called 'feathered parrots' and have been taught to recite entire prayers and poems! British colonists were so amazed by these talking birds that they brought both the birds and their Hindi name back to England, where 'mynah' became one of the first Indian bird names to enter English.
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