Spanish · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Monkey" in Spanish: mono

el mono

Say it: MOH-nohmasculine · el mononoun/ˈmo.no/

A monkey is el mono (MOH-noh). It is masculine: un mono, los monos. A female monkey can be la mona.

At the zoo

El mono come una banana.
The monkey eats a banana.
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How to pronounce mono

Say it

MOH-noh

/ˈmo.no/

MOH-noh. Stress MOH. Clear o vowels. Keep mono short.

"Monkey" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
el monothe monkey

Default everyday word.

la monathe female monkey

Female animal; also slang elsewhere—use carefully.

los monosthe monkeys

Plural.

el mono aulladorthe howler monkey

A common Latin American species name.

How to use mono in real life

  1. 1At the zoo

    El mono come una banana.

    The monkey eats a banana.

    El mono as subject.

  2. 2In a forest park

    Hay un mono en el árbol.

    There is a monkey in the tree.

    Un mono for one animal.

  3. 3Watching a group

    Los monos saltan rápido.

    The monkeys jump quickly.

    Los monos is the plural.

Mistakes English speakers make with mono

Incorrect: La mono trepa alto.

Correct: El mono trepa alto.

Mono is masculine. Use el mono. Mona is female.

Incorrect: Vi muchas mono en el parque.

Correct: Vi muchos monos en el parque.

Plural is monos. Match muchos with monos.

Good to know

Mono is the usual zoo and nature word in Latin America. Mona can mean a female monkey, but mona is also slang in some countries—stick to mono for clear beginner talk.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Watching monkeys in a nature park

  1. ChatPal

    Mira ese mono en la rama.

    Look at that monkey on the branch.

  2. You

    El mono es muy rápido.

    The monkey is very fast.

  3. ChatPal

    Hay más arriba.

    There are more higher up.

  4. You

    No quiero asustarlos.

    I don't want to scare them.

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"Monkey" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Monkey" in Spanish

Is mono masculine or feminine?

Masculine: el mono. A female can be la mona.

Is mona always polite?

For the animal, mona is fine. In slang mona can mean other things—use mono if unsure.

How do you pronounce mono?

MOH-noh with stress on MOH.

How do I say monkeys in the plural?

Los monos.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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