macaco
LowFormal/Scientific (in zoology); Informal/Regional (in general use)
Definition
Meaning
A monkey, especially a small to medium-sized primate of the family Cebidae or Callitrichidae found in Central and South America.
In some contexts, used as a general term for a monkey or ape, particularly in regions influenced by Portuguese or Spanish. Can be used metaphorically for someone who is mischievous, agile, or imitative.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a direct borrowing from Portuguese/Spanish. In English, it is primarily used in zoological contexts or by speakers familiar with Latin American fauna. It is not a common everyday synonym for 'monkey' in general English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in American English due to greater geographical and cultural proximity to regions where the animal is found.
Connotations
Neutral/zoological. No significant difference in connotation between varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Almost exclusively found in specialized texts about wildlife.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJECTIVE] macaco [VERB].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common English usage.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, biology, and ecology papers discussing Neotropical primates.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by wildlife enthusiasts, travellers, or in regions near its habitat.
Technical
A taxonomic term for certain species of New World monkeys.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a picture of a macaco.
- The macaco is a small monkey from South America.
- During our Amazon expedition, we were fortunate to observe a family of woolly macacos in the canopy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MACAw and a monKEY had a baby – a MACAco. It's a colourful, tropical monkey.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGILITY IS MONKEY-LIKE; IMITATION IS MONKEY-SEE-MONKEY-DO.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian word for 'poppy' (мак). The words are unrelated.
- It is a specific zoological term, not the general word for monkey (обезьяна).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a general term for any monkey.
- Misspelling as 'macaque' (which is a different type of Old World monkey).
- Incorrect pluralisation ('macacoes' instead of 'macacos').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'macaco' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It refers specifically to certain types of New World monkeys, particularly marmosets and tamarins. It is not a general synonym.
In English, it is typically pronounced /məˈkɑːkəʊ/ (UK) or /məˈkɑːkoʊ/ (US), with the stress on the second syllable.
In English, it lacks the strong pejorative connotation it can have in Portuguese. In English, it is primarily a zoological term.
The standard English plural is 'macacos', following the convention for words ending in '-o'.