How To Say Monkey In French

Learning how to say simple words in another language can be both fun and helpful. French, known as the language of love, has many unique words and phrases that you can use every day. If you like animals, learning their names in French is a great place to start. For example, do you know how to say “monkey” in French?

This article will teach you the word for monkey in French, along with other ways to say it. You will also learn how to use it in sentences, how to respond, and even some fun exercises to practice. Let’s jump in and learn something new together!

Ways to Say Monkey in French

The word “monkey” in French is “singe” (pronounced: sahnzh). French has many ways to talk about monkeys depending on the context, tone, or type of monkey. Below, you’ll find common ways to say monkey in French, along with their meanings and examples. Let’s explore these!

1. Singe

Pronunciation: sahnzh
Meaning: Monkey (general term).
In a Sentence:

• Le singe mange une banane. (The monkey is eating a banana.)
• As-tu vu le singe dans l’arbre? (Did you see the monkey in the tree?)

2. Petit singe

Pronunciation: puh-tee sahnzh
Meaning: Little monkey (affectionate or descriptive).
In a Sentence:

• Regarde ce petit singe! (Look at that little monkey!)
• Les petits singes adorent jouer. (The little monkeys love to play.)

3. Grand singe

Pronunciation: grahn sahnzh
Meaning: Great ape (scientific term for large primates).
In a Sentence:

• Le gorille est un grand singe. (The gorilla is a great ape.)
• Les grands singes partagent beaucoup de traits avec les humains. (Great apes share many traits with humans.)

4. Singe hurleur

Pronunciation: sahnzh uur-luhr
Meaning: Howler monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Le singe hurleur vit dans les forêts tropicales. (The howler monkey lives in tropical forests.)
• As-tu entendu le cri du singe hurleur? (Did you hear the howler monkey’s call?)

5. Singe araignée

Pronunciation: sahnzh ah-rah-nyay
Meaning: Spider monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Le singe araignée est très agile. (The spider monkey is very agile.)
• Nous avons vu un singe araignée au zoo. (We saw a spider monkey at the zoo.)

6. Babouin

Pronunciation: bah-bwan
Meaning: Baboon.
In a Sentence:

• Le babouin est assis sur un rocher. (The baboon is sitting on a rock.)
• Les babouins vivent souvent en groupes. (Baboons often live in groups.)

7. Orang-outan

Pronunciation: oh-rahn oo-tahn
Meaning: Orangutan.
In a Sentence:

• L’orang-outan est un singe très intelligent. (The orangutan is a very intelligent monkey.)
• Les orangs-outans habitent dans les forêts de Bornéo. (Orangutans live in the forests of Borneo.)

8. Capucin

Pronunciation: kah-poo-sahn
Meaning: Capuchin monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Le singe capucin est connu pour sa curiosité. (The capuchin monkey is known for its curiosity.)
• Nous avons observé un capucin dans la nature. (We observed a capuchin in the wild.)

9. Singe écureuil

Pronunciation: sahnzh ay-kew-ray
Meaning: Squirrel monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Les singes écureuils sautent de branche en branche. (Squirrel monkeys jump from branch to branch.)
• Un singe écureuil a volé ma casquette! (A squirrel monkey stole my hat!)

10. Mandrill

Pronunciation: mahn-dreel
Meaning: Mandrill.
In a Sentence:

• Le mandrill est connu pour son visage coloré. (The mandrill is known for its colorful face.)
• Nous avons vu un mandrill au parc animalier. (We saw a mandrill at the wildlife park.)

11. Gibbon

Pronunciation: gee-bohn
Meaning: Gibbon.
In a Sentence:

• Les gibbons chantent pour communiquer. (Gibbons sing to communicate.)
• Le gibbon a des bras très longs. (The gibbon has very long arms.)

12. Chimpanzé

Pronunciation: sheem-pahn-zay
Meaning: Chimpanzee.
In a Sentence:

• Le chimpanzé utilise des outils pour chercher de la nourriture. (The chimpanzee uses tools to look for food.)
• Les chimpanzés vivent en communautés. (Chimpanzees live in communities.)

13. Singe capuchon

Pronunciation: sahnzh kah-poo-shohn
Meaning: Monk saki or capuchin monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Ce singe capuchon est très mignon. (This capuchin monkey is very cute.)
• Les singes capuchons sont souvent utilisés dans les films. (Capuchin monkeys are often used in movies.)

14. Macaque

Pronunciation: mah-kahk
Meaning: Macaque.
In a Sentence:

• Les macaques vivent en Asie et en Afrique. (Macaques live in Asia and Africa.)
• Un macaque a volé des fruits du marché. (A macaque stole some fruits from the market.)

15. Singe laineux

Pronunciation: sahnzh lay-nuh
Meaning: Woolly monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Le singe laineux est une espèce menacée. (The woolly monkey is an endangered species.)
• Les singes laineux vivent dans les Andes. (Woolly monkeys live in the Andes.)

16. Tamarin

Pronunciation: tah-mah-ran
Meaning: Tamarin.
In a Sentence:

• Le tamarin empereur a une moustache distinctive. (The emperor tamarin has a distinctive mustache.)
• As-tu déjà vu un tamarin doré? (Have you ever seen a golden tamarin?)

17. Colobus

Pronunciation: koh-loo-boos
Meaning: Colobus monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Le colobus est souvent noir et blanc. (The colobus monkey is often black and white.)
• Nous avons vu un colobus grimper dans les arbres. (We saw a colobus climbing in the trees.)

18. Singe domestique

Pronunciation: sahnzh doh-mes-teek
Meaning: Pet monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Avoir un singe domestique demande beaucoup de soins. (Having a pet monkey requires a lot of care.)
• Ce singe domestique joue avec des enfants. (This pet monkey is playing with children.)

19. Bonobo

Pronunciation: boh-no-boh
Meaning: Bonobo (a type of great ape).
In a Sentence:

• Les bonobos vivent dans les forêts de la République démocratique du Congo. (Bonobos live in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.)
• Le bonobo est connu pour ses comportements sociaux. (The bonobo is known for its social behavior.)

20. Singe danseur

Pronunciation: sahnzh dahn-suh
Meaning: Dancing monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Les singes danseurs sont souvent vus dans les fêtes traditionnelles. (Dancing monkeys are often seen in traditional festivals.)
• Un singe danseur amusait les passants dans la rue. (A dancing monkey entertained passersby on the street.)

21. Magot

Pronunciation: mah-go
Meaning: Barbary macaque (specific species of monkey).
In a Sentence:

• Les magots vivent dans les montagnes du Maroc. (The Barbary macaques live in the mountains of Morocco.)
• J’ai vu un magot au parc national. (I saw a Barbary macaque at the national park.)

22. Singe nocturne

Pronunciation: sahnzh nok-tyrn
Meaning: Night monkey or owl monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Le singe nocturne est actif la nuit. (The night monkey is active at night.)
• Nous avons vu un singe nocturne lors de notre promenade nocturne. (We saw a night monkey during our night walk.)

23. Douc

Pronunciation: dook
Meaning: Douc langur (a colorful monkey species).
In a Sentence:

• Le douc est un singe aux couleurs vives. (The douc is a brightly colored monkey.)
• Les doucs vivent principalement en Asie du Sud-Est. (Douc monkeys primarily live in Southeast Asia.)

24. Singe vert

Pronunciation: sahnzh vehr
Meaning: Green monkey (a type of monkey found in Africa).
In a Sentence:

• Le singe vert est souvent aperçu dans les forêts africaines. (The green monkey is often spotted in African forests.)
• As-tu pris une photo du singe vert? (Did you take a picture of the green monkey?)

25. Cercopithèque

Pronunciation: sehr-koh-pee-tehk
Meaning: Guenon or Old World monkey.
In a Sentence:

• Le cercopithèque est commun en Afrique. (The guenon is common in Africa.)
• Nous avons étudié le comportement du cercopithèque dans son habitat naturel. (We studied the guenon’s behavior in its natural habitat.)

Other Ways to Say Monkey in French

Here are some alternative ways to say “monkey” in French. Each option has a unique meaning or context in which it is used. This table summarizes the pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences for each term.

Other Ways to Say	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentences
Guenon	guh-non	Female monkey or guenon	La guenon joue avec ses petits. (The female monkey is playing with her young ones.)
Sapajou	sah-pah-zhoo	A type of New World monkey	Le sapajou grimpe rapidement aux arbres. (The New World monkey climbs trees quickly.)
Ouistiti	weest-tee-tee	Marmoset (a small monkey)	As-tu vu un ouistiti au zoo? (Did you see a marmoset at the zoo?)
Singe arboricole	sahnzh ar-bor-ee-kohl	Tree-dwelling monkey	Le singe arboricole se déplace de branche en branche. (The tree-dwelling monkey moves from branch to branch.)
Singe espiègle	sahnzh es-pyeh-gluh	Mischievous monkey	Ce singe espiègle a volé une pomme! (This mischievous monkey stole an apple!)

Responses to “Monkey” in French

When someone talks about monkeys or mentions “singe” in French, there are various ways to respond depending on the context. These responses can show interest, add fun to the conversation, or keep it going. Below are some common responses you can use.

1. Vraiment? Quel singe?

Pronunciation: vray-moh? kel sahnzh
Meaning: Really? Which monkey?
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: J’ai vu un singe aujourd’hui. (I saw a monkey today.)
  Person 2: Vraiment? Quel singe? (Really? Which monkey?)

2. Les singes sont fascinants!

Pronunciation: lay sahnzh sohn fah-see-nahn
Meaning: Monkeys are fascinating!
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: Le singe capucin est très intelligent. (The capuchin monkey is very smart.)
  Person 2: Oui, les singes sont fascinants! (Yes, monkeys are fascinating!)

3. Moi aussi, j’aime les singes!

Pronunciation: mwah oh-see, zhem lay sahnzh
Meaning: I like monkeys too!
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: J’adore les singes. (I love monkeys.)
  Person 2: Moi aussi, j’aime les singes! (I like monkeys too!)

4. Quel est ton singe préféré?

Pronunciation: kel ay tohn sahnzh pray-fay-ray
Meaning: What is your favorite monkey?
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: Les singes écureuils sont amusants. (Squirrel monkeys are fun.)
  Person 2: Quel est ton singe préféré? (What is your favorite monkey?)

5. Les singes sont si drôles!

Pronunciation: lay sahnzh sohn see drohl
Meaning: Monkeys are so funny!
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: Ce singe a volé une banane. (That monkey stole a banana.)
  Person 2: Les singes sont si drôles! (Monkeys are so funny!)

6. Ah oui, j’ai vu ça dans un documentaire.

Pronunciation: ah wee, zhay vu sah dahn zuh doh-kyoo-mahn-tair
Meaning: Oh yes, I saw that in a documentary.
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: Les singes hurleurs sont très bruyants. (Howler monkeys are very loud.)
  Person 2: Ah oui, j’ai vu ça dans un documentaire. (Oh yes, I saw that in a documentary.)

7. Ils sont vraiment intelligents!

Pronunciation: eel sohn vray-mohn ahn-teh-lee-zhahn
Meaning: They are really intelligent!
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: Les chimpanzés utilisent des outils. (Chimpanzees use tools.)
  Person 2: Oui, ils sont vraiment intelligents! (Yes, they are really intelligent!)

8. C’est incroyable!

Pronunciation: say an-kruh-yah-bluh
Meaning: That’s incredible!
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: Le singe capucin peut résoudre des puzzles. (The capuchin monkey can solve puzzles.)
  Person 2: C’est incroyable! (That’s incredible!)

9. J’aimerais voir un singe un jour.

Pronunciation: zhem-ray vwar uh sahnzh uh zhoor
Meaning: I’d love to see a monkey someday.
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: J’ai vu des singes en Thaïlande. (I saw monkeys in Thailand.)
  Person 2: J’aimerais voir un singe un jour. (I’d love to see a monkey someday.)

10. Les singes me font toujours rire.

Pronunciation: lay sahnzh muh fohn too-zhoor reer
Meaning: Monkeys always make me laugh.
In a Sentence:

• Person 1: Le singe jouait avec une corde. (The monkey was playing with a rope.)
  Person 2: Les singes me font toujours rire. (Monkeys always make me laugh.)

Exercise to Practice Saying “Monkey” in French

Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to help you practice different ways to say “monkey” in French. Try to fill in the blanks using the correct French terms. The sentences are fully in French, and the meaning of each is provided. Afterward, the answers are listed.

Fill-in-the-Blanks

1. J’ai vu un ______ dans un arbre au parc. (I saw a monkey in a tree at the park.)
2. Le ______ araignée est très rapide. (The spider monkey is very fast.)
3. Les enfants adorent observer le ______ au zoo. (The children love watching the monkey at the zoo.)
4. As-tu entendu le cri du ______ hurleur? (Did you hear the call of the howler monkey?)
5. L’orang-outan est un ______ très intelligent. (The orangutan is a very intelligent monkey.)
6. Nous avons vu un ______ vert dans la forêt tropicale. (We saw a green monkey in the tropical forest.)
7. Les ______ laineux habitent dans les Andes. (The woolly monkeys live in the Andes.)
8. Le ______ babouin s’assoit souvent sur des rochers. (The baboon often sits on rocks.)
9. Ce ______ capucin est vraiment curieux! (This capuchin monkey is really curious!)
10. Les ______ nocturnes sortent principalement la nuit. (The night monkeys mostly come out at night.)
11. As-tu vu le ______ gibbon avec ses longs bras? (Did you see the gibbon with its long arms?)
12. Le ______ magot est l’unique singe vivant en Europe. (The Barbary macaque is the only monkey living in Europe.)

Answers

1. singe
2. singe
3. singe
4. singe
5. grand singe
6. singe
7. singes
8. babouin
9. singe
10. singes
11. gibbon
12. magot

Conclusion

Learning how to say “monkey” in French, as well as exploring the variety of terms used for different species and contexts, can be both fun and educational. Whether you’re talking about a playful “singe” or a specific type like “babouin” or “ouistiti,” these words help you expand your French vocabulary while making your conversations more interesting.

By practicing these words and phrases regularly, you’ll feel more confident when speaking French. The exercises and examples provided in this article are great tools to help you remember and use these terms effectively. Keep learning, and soon you’ll be ready to describe monkeys and much more in French with ease!