mico
/ˈmiko/Spain, colloquial, masculine
In Spanish, the English phrase "munchkin" can be translated as mico. If unsure, use mico. Wiktionary also lists monicaco and pitufo.
Meaning: child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mico | /ˈmiko/ | Spain, colloquial, masculine |
| monicaco | /monikako/ (from spelling rules) | Spain, colloquial, masculine |
| pitufo | /piˈtufo/ | Spain, colloquial, masculine |
These terms are used colloquially to refer to a child.
Which one should you use?
While all three terms are colloquial ways to refer to a child, they are all masculine nouns.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
All forms provided, mico, monicaco and pitufo, are colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The terms mico, monicaco and pitufo are used specifically in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
All provided forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmiko/
Did you know?
- The word mico is not originally Spanish but was borrowed from Cumanagoto, an indigenous language of Venezuela.
- If you are in a bakery in Spain, you might encounter pitufo used to describe small bread rolls instead of a person.
- The word pitufo is actually the Spanish name for the 'Smurfs' cartoon characters.
Examples in context
- Javier, ven aquí, niñito.Javier, come here, little one.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are babysitting a toddler.
- LucíaEl mico se ha quedado dormido.The little munchkin has fallen asleep.
- MateoPor fin tenemos un momento de paz.Finally we have a moment of peace.
- LucíaEs un mico muy inquieto.He is a very restless munchkin.
- MateoSí, pero es muy cariñoso.Yes, but he is very affectionate.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “munchkin” translations and entries mico, pitufo, 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 mico, pitufo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
