macaco

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /məˈkeɪkəʊ/, /məˈkɑːkoʊ/

Etymology 1

From Portuguese macaco (“monkey”). Doublet of macaque.

Noun

macaco (plural macacos or macacoes)

1. A macaque, or similar monkey.

Etymology 2

From French mococo, probably ultimately from Malagasy maka, maki (“lemur”).

Alternative forms

• macauco

Noun

macaco (plural macacos or macacoes)

1. (obsolete) Any of several species of lemurs.

Anagrams

• Cocama, accoma

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Italian

Alternative forms

• macacco

Etymology

From Portuguese macaco, possibly from a Bantu language.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maˈka.ko/
• Rhymes: -ako
• Hyphenation: ma‧cà‧co

Noun

macaco m (plural macachi)

1. macaque
2. fool, dunce

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Mirandese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

macaco (plural macacos)

1. monkey
2. a person that imitates others
3. a treacherous, deceitful person

References

• “macaco” in Amadeu Ferreira, José Pedro Cardona Ferreira, Dicionário Mirandês-Português, 1st edition, 2004.

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Portuguese

Macaco

Etymology

Unknown. Thought to have been borrowed from a Bantu language. Bantu maka, "cat", comes from -mañga (an old East African Bantu word for the sea-coast, often applied to any strange or foreign product). But it seems unlikely that the Bantu would have used such a word to denote familiar animals like apes and monkeys. However, none of the many Bantu words for apes and monkeys resembles "macaco". Other suggested derivations include:

• from Kongo makaku (“monkeys”)
• from a language of Madagascar;
• from Kari'na macaca (“simian”), though it may have been loaned into Galibi from a language of African slaves;
• from dialectal French macao (“cat; monkey; long-tailed monkey”), allegedly used in Normandy and Berry.
• from Spanish muchacho;
• from Macau +‎ -aco.

As an ethnic slur directed to blacks, it is likely derived from the supposed facial resemblance which black people have with monkeys.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /maˈka.ku/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /maˈka.ku/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /maˈka.ko/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /mɐˈka.ku/

• • IPA^(key): /maˈka.ko/
• Hyphenation: ma‧ca‧co
• Rhymes: -aku

Noun

macaco m (plural macacos, feminine macaca, feminine plural macacas)

1. monkey; ape

   Synonyms: símio, mono

2. mechanical jack
3. (ethnic slur) coon; porch monkey (derogatory term for a person of Sub-Saharan African ancestry)
4. (derogatory) ape; savage (an uncivilised or unruly person)

   Synonyms: bárbaro, selvagem

5. (derogatory) monster; freak (a hideous person)

   Synonyms: monstro, aberração, mostrengo

Usage notes

A distinction is not commonly made between apes and monkeys in Portuguese. Where it is, mono is used for apes and macaco for middle-sized simians.

A more common distinction is made between macacos and micos (“small, long-tailed simians”).

When used as an ethnic slur directed to black people, it has a strong negative connotation comparable to the English word nigger.

Derived terms

• cada macaco no seu galho
• ir pentear macacos
• macacada
• macacagem
• macacal
• macacão
• macacar
• macaco gritador
• macaco velho
• macaco-aranha
• macaco-barrigudo
• macaco-da-noite
• macaco-de-nariz-branco
• macaco-esquilo
• macaco-inglês
• macaco-japonês
• macaco-leão
• macaco-prego
• macaco-vervet
• macacoa
• macacos me mordam
• macaquear
• macaqueiro
• macaquice
• Rei Macaco

 

Descendants

• English: macaque, macaco
• Spanish: macaco

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Spanish

Etymology

From Portuguese macaco, possibly from a Bantu language.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maˈkako/ [maˈka.ko]

Noun

macaco m (plural macacos)

1. macaque
2. hobgoblin, bogeyman
3. (South America, derogatory) Brazilian

   Synonyms: brasileño, (colloquial) brasilero

4. (Louisiana) monkey

   Synonyms: mono, chango, maimón, mico, simio

Adjective

macaco (feminine macaca, masculine plural macacos, feminine plural macacas)

1. (slang) ugly, misshapen, deformed, squat

Further reading

• “macaco”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014