Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mono | /ˈmono/ | colloquial |
| monono | /monono/ (from spelling rules) |
This term is used to describe someone or something that is attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way.
Which one should you use?
In Spain, mono is used to mean 'cute', but in many Latin American countries, mono refers to a 'monkey' and is not used to mean 'attractive' or 'cute'. To express that something is 'very cute', you can use the superlative form monísimo.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mono is a colloquial term. In Argentina, the informal feminine term divina is used to convey cuteness or charm.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The use of mono to mean 'cute' is characteristic of Peninsular Spanish in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use mona for feminine singular nouns, monas for feminine plural nouns and monos for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmono/
Did you know?
- The word mono is derived from the Arabic word maymūn, which originally referred to a baboon or mandrill.
- If you call a person mono in Mexico or Colombia, you might accidentally call them a 'monkey' instead of 'cute'.
- Because mono is a colloquialism, using it in a formal setting in Spain might feel slightly too casual or 'playful'.
Examples in context
- El gato es muy mono.The cat is very cute.This sentence demonstrates the use of mono to describe a cat.Tatoeba #1595264 by teskmon, translation #44566 by CK
- Los búhos son monos.Owls are cute.This sentence shows how to use monos to describe owls.Tatoeba #5391751 by albrusgher, translation #2038369 by Spamster
- Los koalas son monos.Koalas are cute.This sentence shows how to use monos to describe koalas.Tatoeba #3786306 by Seael, translation #2020509 by Spamster
- ¡Tu perro es copado!Your dog is cute/nice!
- ¡Estás divina con ese vestido!You look cute/gorgeous in that dress!
- ¡Mira qué divino es este gatito!Look at how cute/adorable this kitten is!
- ¡Qué vestido chiquito y coqueto tienes!What a cute and small dress you have!
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are looking at a picture of a puppy.
- Elena¡Qué mono es ese cachorro!That puppy is so cute!
- AlejandroSí, es muy mono.Yes, he is very cute.
- ElenaMe encanta su nariz.I love his nose.
- AlejandroEs un perro muy mono.He is a very cute dog.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cute” translations and entries mono, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mono, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
