Can this saying be offensive?
In one of my Spanish textbooks, we learned that "¡Qué mono!" meant "How cute!"
Well, one day I was hearing this woman in a store complaining that some man told her that her baby looked like a monkey. Now, I have no idea what the man said--but it did occur to me that if he was trying to speak spanish (and "mono" does mean monkey), there may be a problem with this phrase. I think monkeys are cute personally, but I understand that some people may get offended if their babies are compared to primates.
A neighbor said that the problem with this expression is that it isn't used in the Spanish language in general. It is used in his country--in Peru--but he says that it isn't used in many of the other countries. Can anyone verify this?
I always hoped that the Spanish I learn in textbooks is good to use everywhere. This is rather distressing.
6 Answers
It will depend on the context, and how it's said. If I say " Alicia es muy mona", I mean that she's cute. Not the same as saying " Alicia es una mona". Here I'm saying she's ugly.
In your example, "que mono!" can have both meanings, so context and the way you say it is quite important.
This brought to mind a related issue in language...
When it comes to things we call our children or our "significant other" or our pets, it can be shocking to consider what people actually say sometimes. It's one of those places in life in every culture. For instance, in French, you might say "my little cabbage" as a term of endearment. Cabbage? Really? I know a woman who calls her boyfriend "poopy". Now, while that may make me wretch, ironically it is because it is too childish or overly sweet - not for the obvious reason that she is calling her boyfriend excrement.
In English it would not be too bizarre actually to say of a baby or small child "you cute little monkey" if the tone was right. I have called my own son "monkey boy", not to mention "peanut butter" and "boo-boos-a-boo" - go figure! These are the situations where literal translation kind of breaks down!
I found this RAE reference interesting for mono. It is obviously one of those words that have multiple meanings. So exactly how it is used, as well as tone of voice and body language, might easily convey a thought other than what was intended.
Hi Matron. When I looked it up in the dictionary the first thing I got was:
mono adjective
- lovely (informal)
I nearly punched someone in Colombia who called my baby "mono" - until I found out it meant "cute".
Just think of the poor French students taught that "baiser" means "to kiss".
