How to Say "ape" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “ape” is “mono” — use 'mono' for any primate, especially when referring to monkeys or in a general context, as it's the most common and broadest term.
mono
MOH-nohˈmo.no
Examples
El mono salta de rama en rama con agilidad.
The monkey jumps from branch to branch with agility.
El mono come plátanos muy rápido en el zoológico.
The monkey eats bananas very quickly at the zoo.
Dicen que el mono es el animal más inteligente del bosque.
They say the monkey is the most intelligent animal in the forest.
Feminine Form
To talk about a female monkey, you use 'la mona', though 'el mono' can refer to the species generally.
simio
SEE-mee-ohˈsimjo
Examples
Los orangutanes son simios inteligentes que viven en Borneo.
Orangutans are intelligent apes that live in Borneo.
El gorila es el simio más grande del mundo.
The gorilla is the largest ape in the world.
Los científicos observaron cómo el simio usaba una herramienta.
The scientists observed how the ape used a tool.
En la película, los simios toman el control del planeta.
In the movie, the apes take control of the planet.
Always Masculine
Even if you are talking about a female ape, the word 'simio' stays masculine. To specify gender, you say 'el simio hembra' (the female ape) or 'el simio macho' (the male ape).
Simple Plurals
Just add an 's' to make it plural: 'los simios'. No accent changes are needed.
Simio vs. Mono
Mistake: “Using 'simio' for a small pet monkey.”
Correction: Use 'mono' for everyday monkeys. 'Simio' is better for large, tail-less primates like orangutans or in a science book.
General vs. Specific Apes
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