Dear Steve,

as I understand, these words may be used interchangeably when
referring to 'man' as in a person or a people.

If we need the word 'man' in contrast to 'woman', it will be purisa.
If we need to refer to 'man' as in 'human being', human race or human
realm, it will be manussa.

'Nara' may be used less frequently in the Tipitaka, but I like to use
it to learn the first set of declension (masculine a).

I hope there is someone in to the group to concur my views.

metta,
Yong Peng

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, bodhi2500 wrote:
> Are Puriso,Manusso,Naro, (and the plurals) pretty much
> interchangable? Or is there any reason one would use one over the
> other ? Seems that Puriso is used mostly for single, and manussaa
for
> plural.
>
>
> Occurrences on the CSCD.
>
> puriso= 3469
> purisaa= 568
> manusso- 317
> manussaa- 2622
> Naro - 606
> Naraa - 241