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mona

MOH-nahˈmo.na

female monkey

Also: ape
NounfA2
A friendly brown female monkey with large eyes sitting calmly on a bright green jungle leaf.

📝 In Action

La mona del zoológico estaba jugando con su cría.

A2

The female monkey at the zoo was playing with her baby.

Vimos una mona muy grande trepando el árbol.

B1

We saw a very large monkey climbing the tree.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • simia (female ape)

Common Collocations

  • jaula de la mona – monkey cage

cute, pretty

Also: lovely, dainty
AdjectivefB1informal
A very small, innocent white kitten with large blue eyes, sitting comfortably on a soft pink blanket.

📝 In Action

¡Qué casa tan mona! Me encanta la decoración.

B1

What a cute house! I love the decoration.

Ella es una chica muy mona, siempre sonríe.

B1

She is a very pretty girl, she always smiles.

Llevas una camiseta muy mona.

A2

You are wearing a very cute t-shirt.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ponerse mona – to dress up nicely

hangover

Also: tipsiness
NounfC1slang
Spain
A person lying in a dark room, covering their eyes with an arm, looking pale and unwell, indicating a headache or nausea.

📝 In Action

Después de la boda, tenía una mona que no me dejaba levantarme.

C1

After the wedding, I had a hangover that wouldn't let me get up.

Todavía tiene la mona de anoche, no puede ni hablar.

C1

She still has the tipsiness from last night, she can't even speak.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • resaca (hangover (standard term))

Common Collocations

  • coger la mona – to get drunk

Easter cake

Also: Mona de Pascua
NounfB1
Spain (Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia)
A rich, round chocolate cake decorated with colorful chocolate eggs and small decorative yellow chicks, representing a traditional Spanish Easter cake.

📝 In Action

Vamos a comprar una mona para la Pascua con figuras de chocolate.

B1

We are going to buy an Easter cake with chocolate figures for Easter.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • Mona de Pascua – Easter dessert

Vocabulary Collections

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mona

Question 1 of 2

Which of the following sentences uses 'mona' to mean 'cute'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
mono(male monkey, cute (masc.)) — Noun / Adjective
monada(cuteness, cute thing) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Likely comes from the Arabic word *maymūn*, which meant 'monkey' or 'good fortune.' The meaning 'cute' developed in Spanish because monkeys were often kept as pets and dressed up, giving them a charming, doll-like appearance.

First recorded: 15th century (as 'mono')

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: mona

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'mona' mean both 'monkey' and 'cute'?

The meaning 'cute' developed because small monkeys were historically popular pets, often dressed in tiny clothes. This practice made them seem charming or quaint, leading to the adjective 'mono/mona' meaning 'cute' or 'pretty' based on that association.

Is 'mona' used to describe men as well?

Yes, but you must use the masculine form, 'mono.' For example, 'Él es muy mono' means 'He is very cute.'