monigote
/moniˈɡote/masculine
The English phrase stick figure can be translated into Spanish as monigote. Wiktionary also lists figura de / a palitos.
Meaning: simple line drawing (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| monigote | /moniˈɡote/ | masculine |
| figura de / a palitos | feminine |
The terms in this pack refer to a simple line drawing of a person. You can use dibujo de palitos (stick drawing) to describe the actual act or the resulting drawing itself.
Which one should you use?
While monigote can mean a stick figure, it often carries a slightly derogatory connotation, implying a poorly drawn or ridiculous figure. In contrast, the feminine forms figura de / a palitos provide a way to describe the figure.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, monigote may be used interchangeably with muñeco de palitos. In other regions, the word monito may also be used interchangeably with muñeco de palitos.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of monigote is monigotes.
How do you pronounce it?
/moniˈɡote/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, monigote refers to the large effigies burned during festivals, such as the Fallas in Valencia.
- In Spanish, monigote is frequently used as a metaphor for a person who has no will of their own and is manipulated by others, like a puppet.
- The word monigote is a morphological relative of the archaic Spanish word monago, which is the historical root of this term.
Examples in context
- Ella siempre dibuja muñecos de palitos en sus notas de clase.She always draws stick figures in her class notes.
- Dibujó un monigote en la pizarra.He drew a stick figure on the blackboard.
- Ese monigote parece un poco gracioso.That stick figure looks a bit funny.
- Solo es un monigote en el papel.It is just a stick figure on the paper.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a child's drawing in a sketchbook.
- Sofía¿Qué es este monigote que hizo tu hijo?What is this stick figure your son made?
- DanielEs un monigote muy simple, pero lo hizo solo.It is a very simple stick figure, but he did it by himself.
- Sofía¡Qué lindo es su primer monigote!How cute is his first stick figure!
- DanielSí, pronto dibujará cosas más reales.Yes, soon he will draw more realistic things.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stick figure” translations and entries monigote, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, de, figura, monigote, CC BY-SA 4.0.
