maimuță
/majˈmu.t͡sə/feminine
The English word monkey is translated into Romanian as maimuță. Wiktionary also lists simie.
Meaning: primate (noun)
Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| maimuță | /majˈmu.t͡sə/ | feminine |
| simie | feminine |
The term refers to a primate.
Which one should you use?
maimuță is the common, everyday word for monkey. In contrast, simie is a more formal or scientific term used in biological contexts to refer to a monkey or an ape.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the feminine noun maimuță is maimuțe, and the plural of simie is simii.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA is /majˈmu.tsə/.
Did you know?
- The word maimuță is derived from the Arabic word maymūn, which historically meant 'blessed' or 'fortunate'.
- Calling someone a maimuță in Romanian is often a playful or affectionate way to describe a mischievous child, rather than a literal comparison to an animal.
- In Romanian folk expressions, the monkey is often associated with mimicry and imitation, used to describe someone who blindly copies others.
Examples in context
- Hei, uite, o maimuță cu trei capete!Hey, look, a three-headed monkey!This sentence shows how to use maimuță when pointing out a monkey.Tatoeba #2568429 by ijikure, translation #1839 by Zifre
- Acest parc zoologic găzduiește multe specii de maimuțe.This zoo houses many species of monkeys.
- Maimuța este cunoscută pentru inteligența sa remarcabilă.The monkey is known for its remarkable intelligence.
- O maimuță stă pe o ramură.A monkey is sitting on a branch.
- Am văzut o maimuță la zoo.I saw a monkey at the zoo.
Example conversation
Maria and Gabriel are looking at animals at the zoo.
- MariaUite, Gabriel, ce maimuță amuzantă!Look, Gabriel, what a funny monkey!
- GabrielDa, se mișcă foarte repede.Yes, it moves very quickly.
- MariaCrezi că maimuța vrea să se joace?Do you think the monkey wants to play?
- GabrielNu cred, e prea departe de noi.I don't think so, it is too far from us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monkey” translations and entries maimuță, simie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maimuță, simie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
