simios
/simjos/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for "apes" is simios.
The term simios refers to large primates that do not have tails. In casual conversation, people often use simios in a broader sense to include monkeys, even though it technically refers specifically to apes.
Which one should you use?
While simios specifically refers to apes, the more precise and formal term for "great apes" is Grandes simios.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word simios is a masculine noun. Its singular form is simio.
How do you pronounce it?
/simjos/
Did you know?
- The Spanish phrase hacer el mono literally means 'to do the monkey' but is used to describe someone acting silly or fooling around to get attention.
- In Spanish, the word simio is frequently used as a sharp insult to describe someone as primitive, uncivilized or brutish.
- In Spanish literature, authors often use the adjective simiesco to describe a character's appearance. This word carries a stronger connotation of being brutish or uncivilized than the English word 'ape-like'.
Examples in context
- Los simios son monos.Apes are monkeys.This sentence is useful for showing how to differentiate between simios and monkeys.Tatoeba #11903048 by Seael, translation #11903038 by shekitten
- Somos simios, no vacas.We are apes and not cows.Tatoeba #10544750 by Seael, translation #6713550 by Eccles17
- Los humanos son simios con ropa.Humans are apes with clothes.Tatoeba #10544749 by Seael, translation #10466321 by DJ_Saidez
- Los simios son nuestros parientes más cercanos en el reino animal.Apes are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.
- En el bosque vimos unos changuitos trepando los árboles.In the forest, we saw some small apes climbing trees.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are visiting a zoo.
- ElenaMira esos simios, son enormes.Look at those apes, they are huge.
- DanielSí, me pregunto qué comen.Yes, I wonder what they eat.
- ElenaLos simios comen fruta y hojas.Apes eat fruit and leaves.
- DanielSon animales muy inteligentes.They are very intelligent animals.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
