Mas
Pronounced /MAHS/nounCarnival
Meaning
Short for masquerade. Mas means the costumed side of Carnival as a whole, from feathered 'pretty mas' bands to traditional characters, and it can also mean a single costume.
What mas you playing this year?
Where it comes from
Shortened from 'masquerade'.
Used in
- HistoryCanboulay: The Cane Fires and the 1881 Riots That Made Carnival
- HistoryJ'ouvert in Trinidad: Meaning, History and How to Play
- HistoryThe Evolution of Pretty Mas
- HistoryThe Origins of Trinidad Carnival: From Plantation Balls to a National Festival
- HistoryTraditional Mas Characters of Trinidad Carnival
- GuideTobago Carnival 2026: The Complete Guide
Sources
- Traditional Mas Archive: Carnival terms
- Discover Trinidad & Tobago: Twelve things you may not know about Trinidad & Tobago
Last verified 3 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.