monkey en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmʊŋki/ (Northern-England)
- (General-American) audio
- /ˈmʌŋki/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Uncertain: * May be derived from monk + -ey (diminutive suffix), * or borrowed from Middle Low German Moneke, the name of the son of Martin the Ape in Reynard the Fox (which may represent an unattested colloquial Middle Low German *moneke, *moneken), itself of uncertain origin: ** Possibly derived from a Romance term represented by Late Middle French monne (whence Modern French mone (“monkey”)) or earlier Old French monnekin (“monkey”), originally Monnekin, the name of a monkey in Li Dis d'Entendement. Compare also Old French and Middle French monin (“monkey”). *** The French terms may have been borrowed from Italian monna (“monkey”), from Old Spanish mona (“female monkey”), itself a shortening of mamona, variant of maimón, from Arabic مَيْمُون (maymūn, “baboon”)). *** However, Old French monnekin may alternatively be unrelated to the other terms, instead being a borrowing of Early Middle Dutch mannekin (a diminutive of man, literally “little human”), and if so monkey is a doublet of mannequin; see modern Dutch manneken.
Meanings
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(qualifier:strictly) A member of the clade Simiiformes other than those in the clade Hominoidea containing apes, generally (but not universally) distinguished by small size, tails, and cheek pouches.
He had been visiting an area zoo when a monkey swung from its tree perch, swiped his glasses and hurled them into a hippo hole.
Following monkeys, apes, and other creatures in their habitats, these scientists turned their notes and observations into voluminous, quantitative data. […] Other examples of nonhuman self-domestication in the wild exist—for instance, the Zanzibar red colobus monkey diverged from the mainland African red colobus in similar ways during its island isolation—but bonobos are the closest and most relevant to us.
2019 January 29, Melvin Konner, “A Bold New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves”, in The Atlantic, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 Jul 2019:They thought of, I don’t know, monkeys and caipirinhas and samba.”
2007 September 20, Eric Wilson, “Blame It on Rio and Gisele”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 18 Sep 2020:
- Any simian, including humans.
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(broadly, proscribed, sometimes) Any simian primate other than hominids; any monkey or ape.
Chimpanzees are known to form bands to hunt and kill other monkeys.
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(figuratively, informal, offensive, qualifier:generally derogatory, sometimes) A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including: ▸ A naughty or mischievous person, especially a child.
"Yes. He gets to Paris at seven in the morning. He promised to telephone the first thing." "You expensive little monkey!" "Why?" "It's ten shillings for three minutes, or something like that, and you have to go to the G.P.O. or the Mansion House or some such place, I believe."
1909, Algernon Blackwood, You May Telephone From Here:Stop misbehaving, you cheeky little monkey!
- (figuratively, qualifier:generally derogatory, slang) A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including: ▸ The person in the motorcycle sidecar in sidecar racing.
- (derogatory, figuratively, qualifier:generally derogatory) A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including: ▸ Synonym of idiot: a person of minimal intelligence.
- (derogatory, figuratively, qualifier:generally derogatory) A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including: ▸ Synonym of uggo: an unattractive person, especially one whose face supposedly resembles a monkey's.
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(derogatory, figuratively, qualifier:generally derogatory, slang) A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including: ▸ Synonym of puppet: a person dancing to another's tune, a person controlled or directed by another.
No, no, no, not you. I want to talk to the organ grinder, not the monkey.
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(derogatory, figuratively, qualifier:generally derogatory, slang, usually) A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including: ▸ A menial employee who does a repetitive job supposedly requiring minimal intelligence.
phone monkey
grease monkey
code monkey
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(ethnic, figuratively, offensive, qualifier:generally derogatory; highly derogatory; highly derogatory, slang, slur) A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including: ▸ A black person.
Animalistic dehumanisation, 'simianisation' and the animalising of black bodies through metaphorically likening these individuals to 'baboons,' 'monkeys' or 'apes' reveals racialised animality discourse in South Africa.
2022 October, René Cornish, Kieran Tranter, “Dismissals for Social Media Hate Speech in South Africa: Animalistic Dehumanisation and the Circulation of Racist Words and Images”, in Springer Nature Link:
- (slang, uncommon, vulgar) A penis.
- (historical) A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century.
- (slang) The vessel in which a mess receives its full allowance of grog.
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The weight of a pile driver or drop hammer.
Someone handed me a monkey of grog. I forced myself to sip it, not down it.
2007, Broos Campbell, No Quarter, page 111:
- A fluid consisting of hydrochloric acid and zinc, used in the process of soldering.
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(slang) Synonym of five hundred, especially (UK) 500 pounds sterling or (US, dated) 500 dollars.
A thousandth of a million squid or two monkeys Or a whole fifty scores
2004, The Streets, “It Was Supposed to Be So Easy”, in A Grand Don’t Come for Free:[I] gave her a monkey — just half my last thou — and started to earn some more.
1918, Aleister Crowley, Robbing Miss Horniman:
- Synonym of face card.
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(slang) A person's temper, said to be "up" when they are angry.
Reminded me of running up that hill by the Marne – or was it the Morin? – in 1914 when Kearey had got his face ripped open by a bullet and Hedley had got his monkey up [Lost his temper, Ed.] over the Huns killing 8 of my platoon.
2019, John Hughes-Wilson, 1918 - Defeat into Victory: A Tommy Gunn Adventure, page 98:I was out rather late one night, when the foreman of my department, who owed me a grudge, abused me like a dog, and told me I might consider myself dismissed, and that I should be paid my wages in the morning. I don't know how I kept my hands off him, for my monkey was up; […]
1864, Eneas Sweetland Dallas, Once a Week, volume 11, page 267:
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(slang) A drug habit; an addiction; a compulsion.
"Man, I wasn't hooked, I was crucified. The monkey got so big he was carryin' me. […] When I hear a junkie tell me he wants to kick the habit but he just can't I know he lies even if he don't know he does. He wants to carry the monkey, he's punishin' hisself for somethin' 'n don't even know it. […] Then I got forty grains 'n went up to the room 'n went from monkey to nothin' in twenny-eight days 'n that's nine-ten years ago 'n the monkey's dead." "The monkey's never dead, Fixer," Frankie told him knowingly.
1949, Nelson Algren, The Man with The Golden Arm:Monkey: a habit, as in "I have a monkey on my back." Usually used when one is sick from lack of drugs.
1938, Alfred R. Lindesmith, "Argot of the Underworld Drug Addict", Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Vol. 29, Issue 2 (July-August)Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey.
I thought I would like to learn about the dope scene anyway, and the boy must have some character, you know, if he got the monkey off his back (as they used to say in our time) without outside help.
1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 431:
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A dance popularized by Major Lance in 1963, now usually only its upper-body dance move involving exaggerated drumming motions.
Do the Monkey, yeah, Do the Monkey, yeah, Ah, twist them hips, Let your backbone slip, Now move your feet, Get on the beat...
1963, Curtis Mayfield, "The Monkey Time" (video)...Used to the do the monkey But now it's not cool...
1989, Gary Holt, The Toxic Waltz:Do the monkey, do the pony / Do the slop, do the boogaloo twist.
1971, “Suicide Song”, in Loudon Wainwright III (lyrics), Album II, performed by Loudon Wainwright III:C'mon everybody! C'mon in! Bobby's goin' to show you how to do the swim. Kinda like the monkey, kinda like the twist Pretend you're in the water and you go like this.
1964, “C'mon and Swim”, Thomas Coman and Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) (lyrics), performed by Bobby Freeman:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| monkies | Number=Plur | obsolete | lexicographic |
| monkie | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| monkeys | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| monky | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
cheeky monkey · Burmese snub-nosed monkey · monkeycide · powder monkey · not your circus, not your monkeys · monkey strap · brown woolly monkey · monkey tail tree · winking monkey · monkey suit · I'll be a monkey's uncle · monkey cup · cheese monkey · antimonkey · monkey's allowance · red monkey · monkey house · Pluto monkey · monkey swill · not give a monkey's · monkey-faced owl · monkey-shine · water monkey · monkey engine · monkeyish · monkey-ear tree · monkey model · monkey jack · puzzle-monkey · monkey rail · monkey island · nose monkey · get one's monkey up · monkey pod · barrel of monkeys · monkey in the middle · monkey pole · surrender monkey · monkey wrencher · monkeyess · monkey walk · cheese-eating surrender monkey · common squirrel monkey · Madidi titi monkey · monkey grass · robust capuchin monkey · hog-monkey · monkey fruit · infinite monkey theorem · monkey tamarind · monkey show · monkey trap · night monkey · monkey patch · monkey guarding · bleed the monkey · monkey see, monkey do · white monkey · monkey's fist · monkeylike · monkeyflower · like a monkey on a stick · sticky monkey-flower · snow monkey · monkey pump · monkey dish · supermonkey · inquisitive monkey · porch monkey · woolly monkey · Hartlepool monkey · monkey-branch · if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys · monkey metal · give a monkey's · monkey gaff · Allen's swamp monkey · monkey talk · South American squirrel monkey · monkey puzzle tree · monkey-puzzle · monkey squirrel · monkey slug · chunky monkey · monkey fever · monkey wrench · monkey bite · baboon-monkey · dusky leaf monkey · brass monkey · skill monkey · monke · monkey press · monkey's paw · juice monkey · monkey dust · Japanese monkey · monkey apple · monkey-like · Old World monkey · Ramayana monkey chant · blue monkey · purple monkey dishwasher · white-faced capuchin monkey · code monkey · owl-faced monkey · monkey block · scut monkey · monkey-wrenching · Negro monkey · monkey rum · monkey bread · phone monkey · monkeyshine · monkey bridge · rug monkey · monkey humping a football · Goeldi's monkey · monkey ladder · monkey nut · monkey thorn · parrot and monkey time · owl monkey · mayo monkey · monkey-bread · monkey drill · left-handed monkey wrench · de Brazza's monkey · monkeypod · diadem monkey · rigging monkey · monkey meat · monkey lip · monkey-house · monkey bike · hare-lipped monkey · Azara's night monkey · not my circus, not my monkeys · Sykes' monkey · monkey stick · monkey forecastle · monkey business · cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey · sand monkey · bleeding-heart monkey · monkey points · monkeyfy · spank the monkey · monkey bag · grease monkey · monkey humper · Satan monkey · make a monkey of · snub-nosed monkey · make a monkey out of · monkey around · road monkey · monkey jar · monkey-face tree · monkey spar · the organ grinder, not the monkey · leaf monkey · monkey tail · monkey jacket · monkey boot · signifying monkey · hundredth monkey · monkey dance · monkey boy · monkey trial · monkey-cup · weremonkey · monkey's dinner bell · you can take the monkey out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the monkey · monkey-ass · monkey hanger · monkey run · bare-eared squirrel monkey · monkey boat · ice monkey · squirrel monkey · monkey puzzle · rhesus monkey · like butter on a bald monkey · Monkeydonia · capuchin monkey · monkeyless · monkey spoon · howler monkey · monkey glove · monkey in the woodpile · Myanmar snub-nosed monkey · monkey cap · monkey-wrencher · monkey-pox · patas monkey · green monkey · lesser spot-nosed monkey · monkey hammer · hosemonkey · swamp monkey · hybrid monkey · golden palace monkey · sea monkey · monkey orchestra · mud monkey · Roloway monkey · monkey bars · monkey-wrench · monkey-no-climb · suck the monkey · monkey pox · monkeyface · butt monkey · green monkey disease · vervet monkey · northern monkey · monkey wrenching · monkeydom · Hamlyn's monkey · monkey barge · monkey up · monkeyhood · monkey parade · spider monkey · grease-monkey · monkey stove · monkey flip · monkey orange · monkeygland · widow monkey · Diana monkey · native monkey · proboscis monkey · Prince Bernhard's titi monkey · monkeykind · golden monkey · monkey lips · sock monkey · monkeyism · monkeyrony · Monkey King · monkey trail · monkey about · trouser monkey · monkey pot · monkey hour · New World monkey · monkey wheel · monkeyboard · monkey man · monkey butt · monkey on a stick · monkey-eating eagle · Monkey Ward's · script monkey · monkey-patch · monkey-strap · monkey's pistol · diademed monkey · monkeypox · bonnet monkey · monkey ball · monkey orchid · monkey motion
Descendants
moncaí · маӈкы · moonki · mágí · manukī · moangki · munkhwele · mwnci · muncaidh · monkis
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
pithechiid · callitrichid · aotid · Old World monkey · cebid · New World monkey · athelid
Synonyms
face card · uggo · monkey · puppet · five hundred · idiot
Translations (370)
hak 猴哥仔 (mischievous child) · nds-de Oopkatt (primate) · orv мамонь (primate) · mww liab (primate) · nl apin (primate) · kum маймун (primate) · mn сармагчин (primate) · nds-de Oop (primate) · lad maymona (primate) · orv обозьꙗна (primate) · gun ka'i (primate) · unm monkis (primate) · lv pērtiķis (primate) · niv мем (primate) · nv mągí (primate) · et pärdik (primate) · ba маймыл (primate) · fa-ira بوزینِه (primate) · ceb amo (primate) · ur بَنْدَر (primate) · nan-hbl 猴山仔 (primate) · yue 馬騮 /马骝 (mischievous child) · rup maimun (primate) · mg gidro (primate) · nds-de Aap (primate) · sa वानर (primate) · kg nkewa (primate) · wa mårticot (mischievous child) · mdh amo (primate) · am ዝንጀሮ (primate) · el μαϊμού (primate) · ar سَعْدَان (primate) · ckt маӈкы (primate) · luy ekhima (primate) · bcl ukay (primate) · njo-jgl shingo (primate) · luo onger (primate) · gan 猴子 (primate) · txb mokoṃśke (primate) · nan-hbl 老猴 (primate) · es chango (primate) · ja 猿 (primate) · eo simio (primate) · zle-ort обезъꙗна (primate) · rue ма́лфа (primate) · chr ᎠᏓᎴᏍᎩᏱᏍᎩ (primate) · rsk маймун (primate) · de Affe (primate) · es mono (primate) · afb قرد (primate) · gl mono (primate) · mrw amo' (primate) · tft mia (primate) · sk opica (primate) · zle-ort обезъана (primate) · hi कपि (primate) · cv упӑте (primate) · ar مَيْمُون (primate) · eu tximino (primate) · mfe zako (primate) · mt kitmejmun (primate) · yua maʼax (primate) · cmn 猴子 (primate) · non api (primate) · ta வாண்டு (mischievous child) · orv обезьꙗна (primate) · lwl เฟือะ (primate) · id monyet (primate) · prs مَیْمُون (primate) · nn apekatt (primate) · gnd ŋgìlìŋ (primate) · lo ລີງ (primate) · lcp เฟือะ (primate) · fo apa (primate) · ug مايمۇن (primate) · za maxlaeuz (primate) · si වඳුරා (primate) · frr ååwe (primate) · nn ape (primate) · sl opica (primate) · sv apa (primate) · hi मर्कट (primate) · mi makimaki (primate) · bho बानर (primate) · ms kera (primate) · ta குரங்கு (primate) · hy կապիկ (primate) · ru шалу́нья (mischievous child) · rue малфу́н (primate) · sh màjmun (primate) · fr guenon (primate) · fa-ira کَپی (primate) · zle-ort обезꙗна (primate) · nl aap (primate) · ln nkema (primate) · vi khỉ (primate) · mnw ကၞုဲ (primate) · es maimón (primate) · cy mwnci (mischievous child) · aho 𑜎𑜢𑜂𑜫 (primate) · mnc ᠮᠣᠨᡳᠣ (primate) · te కోతి (primate) · sh о̀пица (primate) · la simius (primate) · ayn ربح (primate) · arq شادي (primate) · pi kapi (primate) · eo infanaĉo (mischievous child) · es befo (primate) · bcl kabalang (primate) · sw tumbili (primate) · mel kuyad (primate) · wlo ndoke (primate) · ram cukôj (primate) · ky маймыл (primate) · nan-hbl 猴仔 (primate) · pcc duezlingz (primate) · tl unggoy (primate) · pa ਬਾਂਦਰ (primate) · nan-hbl 魎哀 /魉哀 (primate) · ms cewe kerek (primate) · pi vānara (primate) · sl afna (mischievous child) · cmn 猴兒 /猴儿 (primate) · mnp 猴 (primate) · niv обезьяна (primate) · kw sim (primate) · cdo 猴 (primate) · mk мајмун (primate) · kk маймыл (primate) · ang apa (primate) · za duzlingz (primate) · ia simia (primate) · mbb uval (primate) · pcc lingz (primate) · ru шалу́н (mischievous child) · alt мечин (primate) · sm manukī (primate) · pms sumia (primate) · lkt šúŋka wičháša (primate) · cbn ฮนูย (primate) · fi apina (primate) · av маймалак (primate) · prs بُوزِینَه (primate) · hu majom (primate) · nod ᩃᩥ᩠ᨦ (primate) · za lingz (primate) · ccc katujkana (primate) · sne oyung (primate) · bg майму́н (primate) · id kera (primate) · grc πίθηκος (primate) · ca mico (primate) · la simia (primate) · ood chahngo (primate) · he קוֹף (primate) · wa séndje (primate) · tk maýmyn (primate) · lis ꓟꓬꓱꓼ (primate) · gv apag (primate) · ha biri (primate) · fr singe (primate) · mr वानर (primate) · hak 野猴仔 (mischievous child) · ro maimuță (primate) · acw قرد (primate) · tyv сарбашкын (primate) · chr ᏓᎴᏍᎩᏍᎩ (primate) · nrf marmoûset (primate) · gsw aff (primate) · as বান্দৰ (primate) · ilo bakes (primate) · or ବାନର (primate) · nb ape (primate) · hak 細猴仔 /细猴仔 (mischievous child) · gd muncaidh (primate) · blt ꪩꪲꪉ (primate) · tr maymun (primate) · nrf sînge (primate) · ml കുരങ്ങന് (primate) · bol bido (primate) · nan-hbl 猴山仔 (mischievous child) · mk мајмунче (mischievous child) · tl tsonggo (primate) · shn လိင်း (primate) · lv mērkaķis (primate) · et ahv (primate) · de Äffin (primate) · kl aapakaaq (primate) · fa-ira مِیْمون (primate) · haw keko (primate) · yue 馬騮 /马骝 (primate) · ha birinya (primate) · ro simie (primate) · fa-ira کَپّی (primate) · cmn 小猴子 (mischievous child) · ko 원숭이 (primate) · ary قرد (primate) · ln mpunga (primate) · pa بانْدَر (primate) · kmr meymûn (primate) · sq majmun (primate) · nci cuauhchīmal (primate) · dng ху (primate) · bcl amo (primate) · tyz lình (primate) · gu વાંદરું (primate) · skb ลิ๊ง (primate) · qu k'usillu (primate) · gl simio (primate) · ckb مەیموون (primate) · cic hattak shawi' (primate) · nan-hbl 猴 (primate) · pt macaco (primate) · ln makako (primate) · nb apekatt (primate) · mt gitmejmun (primate) · acm شادي (primate) · mdh ubal (primate) · nap scigna (primate) · kmb hima (primate) · mnp 猴屄 (primate) · th ลิง (primate) · mvv jabulou (primate) · nog мешин (primate) · prs کَپِّی (primate) · bdr mook (primate) · ta குரங்கு (mischievous child) · pt mono (primate) · nci ozomahtli (primate) · hrx Aff (primate) · ky мечин (primate) · bni nkema (primate) · my မျောက် (primate) · ru обезья́на (primate) · te వానరము (primate) · tt маймыл (primate) · dv ރާމާމަކުނު (primate) · arz نسناس (primate) · ar قِرْد (primate) · tsg amu (primate) · ppl usumati (primate) · sc moninca (primate) · bn বাঁদর (primate) · ml കുരങ്ങ് (primate) · mr माकड (primate) · mt xadina (primate) · la simia (primate) · nus gɔɔk (primate) · sh jópac (primate) · mba amu (primate) · tt маймул (primate) · sa कपि (primate) · ja サル (primate) · es mico (primate) · wuu 活猻 /活狲 (primate) · xnb ngʉkau (primate) · ast monu (primate) · is api (primate) · acw سعدان (primate) · ht makak (primate) · uk ма́впа (primate) · rsk налпа (primate) · krc маймул (primate) · hi वानर (primate) · be ма́лпа (primate) · dsb nałpa (primate) · kok मांकड (primate) · nhn ozomahtli (primate) · bo སྤྲེའུ (primate) · ga moncaí (primate) · lez маймун (primate) · sh ма̀јмун (primate) · nds-de Aapkatt (primate) · pt símio (primate) · orv мамона (primate) · es jimio (primate) · gon కోవె (primate) · gu વાનર (primate) · nan-hbl 猴囡仔 (mischievous child) · dng хур (primate) · hi बानर (primate) · mt xadin (primate) · da abe (primate) · eo bubo (mischievous child) · oc monard (primate) · it scimmia (primate) · mi hako (primate) · ktu nkima (primate) · es simio (primate) · da abekat (primate) · ms monyet (primate) · crh şamek (primate) · myv обезьган (primate) · srn yapi (primate) · ru прока́зница (mischievous child) · sh òpica (zoological) (primate) · af aap (primate) · ota میمون (primate) · nan-hbl 猴山 (primate) · acw نسناس (primate) · fi apina (mischievous child) · nl brutale aap (mischievous child) · ar نِسْنَاس (primate) · bdr rungui (primate) · yi מאַלפּע (primate) · pac adơaih (primate) · ru прока́зник (mischievous child) · nl apenjong (mischievous child) · hi बंदर m or बन्दर (primate) · stq Oape (primate) · cs opice (primate) · oc monin (primate) · tg маймун (primate) · ar حِبْن (primate) · uz maymun (primate) · frr aab (primate) · lt beždžionė (primate) · wa mårticot (primate) · sah эбисийээнэ (primate) · cy mwnci (primate) · ps بيزو (primate) · bdr kuya (primate) · ms ketek (primate) · hak 猴仔 (primate) · khb ᦟᦲᧂ (primate) · bg майму́на (primate) · el πίθηκος (primate) · ks وانٛدُر (primate) · hsn 猴子 (primate) · kkh ᩃᩥ᩠ᨦ (primate) · tby mia (primate) · nv mágí (primate) · syl ꠛꠣꠘ꠆ꠖꠞ (primate) · bno amo (primate) · kxd ambuk (primate) · hak 猴哥 (primate) · mi maki (primate) · cmn 猴子 (mischievous child) · wo golo gi (primate) · cs opičák (primate) · yue 猴子 (primate) · kjh сараамӌын (primate) · ast simiu (primate) · lis ꓚꓬꓹ ꓟꓬꓱꓼ (primate) · cmn 猴 (primate) · hil amo (primate) · ota پیچین (primate) · lis ꓚꓬꓹ ꓟꓲꓼ (primate) · az meymun (primate) · gag maymun (primate) · pl małpa (primate) · zle-ort малпа (primate) · sh јо́пац (primate) · ce маймал (primate) · mnc ᠪᠣᠨᡳᠣ (primate) · km ស្វា (primate) · yo ọ̀bọ (primate) · tiy ubal (primate) · txb mokoṃśka (primate) · afb سبال (primate) · mn ᠰᠠᠷᠮᠠᠭᠴᠢᠨ (primate) · lg nkima (primate) · ti ህበይ (primate) · cjy 毛猴 (primate) · mrw obal (primate) · ka მაიმუნი (primate) · prs کَپِی (primate) · mvv tanduoi (primate) · gld монён (primate)