monos
/MOH-nohs/
monkeys
Monos means 'monkeys' (primate animals).
📝 In Action
En el zoológico vimos muchos monos saltando en los árboles.
A1At the zoo, we saw many monkeys jumping in the trees.
Los monos son animales muy inteligentes y curiosos.
A2Monkeys are very intelligent and curious animals.
💡 Grammar Points
Pluralization Rule
Since 'mono' ends in a vowel ('o'), you just add an 's' to make it plural: mono → monos.
⭐ Usage Tips
Gender Consistency
Remember that 'mono' is always a masculine noun, even if you are referring to a group that includes females. You use 'los monos'.
Monos can be used as an adjective meaning 'cute' (plural masculine).
monos(adjective)
cute
?attractive or pleasing in appearance (plural masculine)
pretty
?attractive
,lovely
?charming
📝 In Action
¡Qué monos son tus cachorros!
A2How cute your puppies are!
Compramos unos vestidos muy monos para la fiesta.
B1We bought some very cute dresses for the party. (Note: 'vestidos' is masculine plural, hence 'monos')
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Key
As an adjective, 'monos' must match the noun it describes in both gender (masculine) and number (plural). Use 'monas' for feminine plural nouns.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up Adjective/Noun
Mistake: "Using 'mono' (singular) when describing multiple things: 'Tus zapatos son mono.'"
Correction: Correctly match the number: 'Tus zapatos son monos.' (Your shoes are cute.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Preference
While universally understood, 'mono/a' as 'cute' is much more common in Spain than in Mexico or the Southern Cone, where 'lindo/a' or 'bonito/a' are often preferred.
Monos also refers to 'overalls' or work clothing.
monos(noun)
overalls
?work clothing, dungarees
jumpsuits
?fashion garment
,boiler suits
?protective workwear
📝 In Action
Los mecánicos usan monos azules para no mancharse la ropa.
B1Mechanics wear blue overalls so they don't stain their clothes.
Ella tiene varios monos de vestir muy elegantes.
B2She has several very elegant jumpsuits.
💡 Grammar Points
Double Meaning
Context is everything! If you are talking about clothing, 'monos' means overalls or jumpsuits, not animals.
⭐ Usage Tips
Feminine Clothing Note
Even when referring to a woman's fashion jumpsuit, the word remains masculine plural: 'los monos'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: monos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'monos' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mono' (cute) used everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world?
While understood everywhere, the adjective 'mono' is most frequently used in Spain. In many Latin American countries, 'lindo' or 'bonito' are much more common ways to say 'cute'.
If I am talking about a group of female monkeys, do I say 'las monas' or 'los monos'?
You would generally say 'las monas' if the group is entirely female. However, if the group is mixed or if you are referring to the species generally, the masculine plural 'los monos' is the standard default.