mono
standard
Monkey is mono in standard Spanish, and Mexicans very often say chango as well. A female is mona or changa.
Meaning: the animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| mono | standard |
| chango | everyday, Mexico |
Chango is common in Mexico for the animal, and in the plural for a bunch of monkeys, los changos.
Which one should you use?
Mono is the textbook word. Chango is the familiar Mexican one, so a child in Mexico may say chango at the zoo.
What mistakes should you avoid?
In Mexico mono can also mean cute or pretty in some talk, as in qué mono, so keep context in mind.
Did you know?
- The Mexican word chango is also used in the saying el mismo chango, con distinto mono, meaning "same thing in a different form".
Examples in context
- El mono come plátano.The monkey eats a banana.
- Ese chango es muy travieso.That monkey is very naughty.
- Fuimos a ver los changos al zoológico.We went to see the monkeys at the zoo.
Example conversation
A father and his son Mateo visit the zoo in Chapultepec.
- MateoPapá, mira el chango.Dad, look at the monkey.
- PapáEstá comiendo un plátano.It is eating a banana.
- MateoQuiero uno igual.I want one too.
