what is the meaning & connotation of the phrase " Los monos de barrio abajo"?

Question

What is the meaning & connotation of the phrase " Los monos de barrio abajo"? How would this be used in conversation? Is it derogatory? Thank you!

Welcome to the forum! - rac1, Feb 12, 2013

Fill in your profile information and we can know where you live and what your native language is. - JoyceM, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 1

" Los monos de barrio abajo"

This is not written correctly.

"Los monos del barrio bajo" ..... "The monkeys from the low (class) neighborhood."

"Los monos del barrio abajo (de algo)" ............ "The monkeys from the neighborhood (below as in ground level)."

In both cases they are derogatory by calling someone a monkey.

As and adjective, it´s apparently regional according to Jubilado´s answer. In Mexico it can also mean cute or good looking, but skin tone has nothing to do with it, ie: "Qué prietita más mona ¿verdad?" (What a cute/beautiful dark woman, right?)

Answer 2

In Colombia the word mono is used to describe someone who is fair skinned and deemed good looking. When my friends in Colombia saw a picture of my grandson, they said, "¡Qué mono!" and they weren't calling him a monkey!

Answer 3

Do you have any more context? Where did you hear/see this expression?

I participate in an art and writing challenge where you are given a prompt to inspire you to create. This is one of the upcoming prompts. My Spanish is poor, so I wanted to be clear before I started. Thanks! - rdbutler, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 4

Welcome to the forum.

You can translate any word or phrase by clicking on the "translate" tab at the top of the page, typing in your word or phrase and hitting return.

This phrase literally means: The monkeys of the lower neighborhood.

"Mono" is probably slang for something akin to "characters."

We'll wait for a native Spanish-speaker to weigh-in.

thank you. will do. - rdbutler, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 5

I'd like to thank everyone for their responses. They helped me form an idea. If my piece is derogatory, it will be to my own "in group"! If you care to check in (or even participate), i will be posting this on 2/17/12 at https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/519417578098004/ . By the way your responses bring to mind Tom Waits' "In The Neighborhood" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmTcSGukO4o . Again, thank you so much for your help! Ron

Interesting video! - swampy, Feb 14, 2013

Answer 6

"Las marimondas del barrio abajo".

A carnival in Columbia, South America is the only thing I could find. Probably not what your're looking for.