pareces un mono
/paɾeθes un mono/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you look like a monkey" is translated into Spanish as pareces un mono.
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone a mono can be used as a way to mock someone's behavior or appearance or even as a playful insult.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pareces (you look/seem), un (a) and mono (monkey).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form pareces is the second-person singular informal conjugation of the verb parecer. If you are speaking to a female, you must change the article and noun to the feminine form pareces una mona. If you change pareces to parece, the subject changes from "you" to "he" or "she" (parece un mono).
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾeθes un mono/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, mono can refer to a jumpsuit or overall, meaning pareces un mono could literally mean 'you look like a jumpsuit'.
- In Spain, the phrase tener mono is used to describe the feeling of drug withdrawal or an intense craving for something.
- In Spain, if you say eres un mono to a woman, she might think you are calling her 'cute' rather than insulting her. This is because mono is a common adjective for 'cute' or 'adorable' in many parts of Spain.
Examples in context
- Con ese disfraz, pareces un mono.With that costume, you look like a monkey.
- No te muevas tanto, pareces un mono.Don't move so much, you look like a monkey.
- Si te pones esa máscara, pareces un mono.If you put on that mask, you look like a monkey.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are looking at an old childhood photo.
- DanielMira esta foto de cuando era niño.Look at this photo from when I was a child.
- Lucía¡Ay, Daniel, pareces un mono!Oh, Daniel, you look like a monkey!
- Daniel¿De verdad lo parezco?Do I really look like one?
- LucíaSí, es muy gracioso.Yes, it is very funny.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
