How to Say “Monkey” in Ilocano

By Gregory Jackson • Updated October 2, 2026

sunggo

The Ilocano word for monkey is sunggo.

sunggo is a noun used to refer to a primate.

Meaning: primate (noun)

Did you know?

In Ilocano, calling a person sunggo is a common insult used to describe someone who is behaving foolishly or lacks common sense.
The phonetic structure of sunggo uses a geminate or doubled 'g' sound, which is a common characteristic of the Ilocano language's rhythmic cadence.
If you are describing a child who is climbing everywhere, an Ilocano speaker might affectionately call them a little sunggo.

Examples in context

Adda sunggo iti kayo.
There is a monkey in the tree.

Example conversation

Maria and Antonio are visiting a zoo.

Maria

Kitaem dayta a sunggo, Antonio!
Look at that monkey, Antonio!
Antonio

Kasta unay ti kinalaing na.
It is very clever.
Maria

Kayat ko nga agala ti retrato iti sunggo.
I want to take a photo of the monkey.
Antonio

Sige, alaem ti retrato.
Go ahead, take the photo.

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About The Author

Gregory Jackson

Kumusta! I'm Gregory, your friendly guide to the Filipino language, Tagalog. My passion for languages, especially Tagalog, propels me into writing posts filled with formal and informal ways of expressing yourself in this vibrant language. From everyday greetings like "Good Evening", to unusual phrases such as "pak" or "nga", I've got you covered! I also have an obsession with food which often reflects in my posts — from "cereal" to "spaghetti", expect a dash of yummy in my content. I also write about Ilocano, the language of northern Luzon, sharing how everyday words are said in it. Mabuhay!

Gregory JacksonHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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