Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mono | /ˈmono/ | colloquial |
| monono | /monono/ (from spelling rules) |
mono is used to describe something or someone as attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way. For describing someone's good looks in a more formal manner, you might use atractivo (attractive) or encantador (charming). Guapo is also a common way to say someone is cute or handsome.
Which one should you use?
While mono means cute, it is also the Spanish word for "monkey", so context is important to avoid confusion. You may also encounter the form monono.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using mono to mean cute is colloquial and is not typically used in formal writing or highly formal speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The adjective mono is primarily used in Spain to mean cute or lovely. In Mexico, you can use chulo to say cute to a guy informally. In Argentina, divino is often used to describe someone as cute.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective mono must agree in gender with the noun it describes. Use the feminine form mona for feminine nouns. It takes the plural form monos when describing a group of masculine or mixed-gender nouns, and the form monas when describing a group of feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmono/
Did you know?
- Depending on the country, calling a man chulo can be a compliment meaning 'cute', but in other Spanish-speaking regions, it can be a slang term for a 'pimp' or a 'thug'.
- The word mono shares an etymological ancestor with the English word 'monkey'. Both words trace back to the Arabic word for a 'baboon' or 'mandrill'.
- Using mono to describe a baby is common, but describing an adult man as mono can sometimes come across as patronizing or infantalizing.
Examples in context
- El gato es muy mono.The cat is very cute.This sentence shows how to use mono to describe a cat.Tatoeba #1595264 by teskmon, translation #44566 by CK
- Los búhos son monos.Owls are cute.This sentence demonstrates the use of monos for multiple 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
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are looking at a gift shop window.
- SofíaMira ese peluche, es muy mono.Look at that stuffed animal, it is very cute.
- DanielSí, es un regalo muy mono para ella.Yes, it is a very cute gift for her.
- Sofía¿Crees que a ella le guste algo tan mono?Do you think she will like something so cute?
- DanielSeguro, le encantará lo mono que es.For sure, she will love how cute it is.
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.
