mono

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mono"

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɒn.əʊ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑ.noʊ/
• (South Asia) IPA^(key): /ˈmoːnoː/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒnəʊ
• Hyphenation: mon‧o

Etymology 1

Shortenings, ultimately from the prefix mono- (“one, single”).

Noun

mono (countable and uncountable, plural monos)

1. (slang, UK, Australia) A bicycle or motorcycle trick where the front wheel is lifted off the ground while riding.

   Synonym: wheelie

2. (eating disorders) A diet where someone eats only one type of food.

   plum mono ― plums-only diet (typically for a day)

3. (category theory) Clipping of monomorphism.
4. (pathology, informal, uncountable) Clipping of mononucleosis.
5. (informal, countable) Any fish of the family Monodactylidae.

Related terms

• monic

Adjective

mono (not comparable)

1. (informal) Clipping of monochrome.
   • 1985, PC Mag, volume 4, number 4, page 125:

     The excellent on-screen display of italics, superscripts and subscripts, and other niceties available on the color screen now display on mono monitors, but with the inherently superior text font of the mono mode.

2. (informal) Clipping of monosexual.

   Coordinate terms: bi, pan

   • 2013, Shiri Eisner, Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution, →ISBN:

     People who do wish to be recognizable as trans or bi are often coercively passed off as cis or mono anyway.

   • 2013, Dawn Atkins, Bisexual Women in the Twenty-First Century, →ISBN, page 37:

     That is, establishing as it does a replacement binary (mono versus bi, rather than hetero versus homo) it functions to erase lesbian and gay specificity. In turn, this fails to consider, and even elides, important structural inequities between the hetero- and homosexual categories. The difficulty of establishing bisexual legitimacy in a discursive context of oppositional categories was acknowledged by a number of participants. For some, invoking the mono/bi dichotomy affords bisexuality [...]

Etymology 2

Clipping of monophonic.

Adjective

mono (not comparable)

2. (informal) Monaural or monophonic; having only a single audio channel.

   Coordinate term: stereo

   Because many in the audience were very close to one of the speakers, the DJ decided to play the music in mono.

Translations

having only a single audio channel

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 單聲道 / 单声道 (dānshēngdào)

• Finnish: mono (fi), monofoninen
• French: mono (fr) m or f
• Japanese: モノ (ja) (mono)
• Portuguese: mono (pt)
• Russian: мо́но (ru) (móno), монофони́ческий (ru) (monofoníčeskij)
• Spanish: mono (es)
• Swedish: mono (sv)

Etymology 3

Clipping of monoamorous.

Adjective

mono (comparative more mono, superlative most mono)

1. (informal) Monoamorous, monogamous.

   Coordinate term: poly

Noun

mono (plural monos)

1. (informal) A monogamous person.
   • 2010, Leonie Linssen, Love Unlimited: The Joys and Challenges of Open Relationships:

     For some monos, there are no acceptable mono—poly solutions as far as they are concerned.

See also

• mono no aware
• mono wind

Anagrams

• Moon, OMON, moon, nomo-

Aragonese

Etymology

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

Noun

mono m (plural monos)

1. monkey

References

• Bal Palazios, Santiago (2002), “mono”, in Dizionario breu de a luenga aragonesa, Zaragoza, →ISBN

Bangi

Noun

mono

1. medicine, drug

Esperanto

Etymology

Etymology tree

Latin Monēta

Latin monēta

Old French moneie

Old French monoie

French monnaiebor.

▲

Old French monoie

Anglo-Norman muneiebor.

Middle English moneye

English moneybor.

Esperanto mono

Borrowed from French monnaie and English money, both from Latin monēta (“money, coin, mint”), from the name of the temple of Juno Moneta in Rome.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmono/

• Audio 1:

  (file)

• Audio 2:

  (file)

• Audio 3:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ono
• Syllabification: mo‧no

Noun

mono (accusative singular monon, plural monoj, accusative plural monojn)

1. money

   La novgeedzoj devas ŝpareme vivi kiam ili savas sufiĉan monon por aĉeti domon.

   The newlyweds must live frugally as they save enough money to purchase a house.

Derived terms

• monaŭtomato
• nutramono
• senmona
• ŝanĝmono

Further reading

• “mono”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “mono”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Anagrams

• nomo, omon

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmono/, [ˈmo̞no̞]
• Rhymes: -ono
• Syllabification^(key): mo‧no
• Hyphenation^(key): mo‧no

Etymology 1

From a trademark "Mono", registered in 1932 by Lahden Saapas- ja Lapikasteollisuus O.Y, since 1943 Mono Oy. The name, suggested by Arkki Laine, was chosen as result of a contest. The winner justified the name by explaining that it came from Ancient Greek μόνος (mónos, “unique”), which described the positioning of the skiing shoes of the firm on the market. Additionally, the founder of the firm was Jussi Mononen.

Noun

mono

1. (genericized trademark) ski boot
2. (slang, by extension) shoe

Declension

Inflection of mono (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		mono	monot
genitive		monon	monojen
partitive		monoa	monoja
illative		monoon	monoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		mono	monot
accusative	nom.	mono	monot
	gen.	monon
genitive		monon	monojen
partitive		monoa	monoja
inessive		monossa	monoissa
elative		monosta	monoista
illative		monoon	monoihin
adessive		monolla	monoilla
ablative		monolta	monoilta
allative		monolle	monoille
essive		monona	monoina
translative		monoksi	monoiksi
abessive		monotta	monoitta
instructive		—	monoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of mono (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative mononi mononi accusative nom. mononi mononi gen. mononi genitive mononi monojeni partitive monoani monojani inessive monossani monoissani elative monostani monoistani illative monooni monoihini adessive monollani monoillani ablative monoltani monoiltani allative monolleni monoilleni essive mononani monoinani translative monokseni monoikseni abessive monottani monoittani instructive — — comitative — monoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative monosi monosi accusative nom. monosi monosi gen. monosi genitive monosi monojesi partitive monoasi monojasi inessive monossasi monoissasi elative monostasi monoistasi illative monoosi monoihisi adessive monollasi monoillasi ablative monoltasi monoiltasi allative monollesi monoillesi essive mononasi monoinasi translative monoksesi monoiksesi abessive monottasi monoittasi instructive — — comitative — monoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative monomme monomme accusative nom. monomme monomme gen. monomme genitive monomme monojemme partitive monoamme monojamme inessive monossamme monoissamme elative monostamme monoistamme illative monoomme monoihimme adessive monollamme monoillamme ablative monoltamme monoiltamme allative monollemme monoillemme essive mononamme monoinamme translative monoksemme monoiksemme abessive monottamme monoittamme instructive — — comitative — monoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative mononne mononne accusative nom. mononne mononne gen. mononne genitive mononne monojenne partitive monoanne monojanne inessive monossanne monoissanne elative monostanne monoistanne illative monoonne monoihinne adessive monollanne monoillanne ablative monoltanne monoiltanne allative monollenne monoillenne essive mononanne monoinanne translative monoksenne monoiksenne abessive monottanne monoittanne instructive — — comitative — monoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative mononsa mononsa accusative nom. mononsa mononsa gen. mononsa genitive mononsa monojensa partitive monoaan monoansa monojaan monojansa inessive monossaan monossansa monoissaan monoissansa elative monostaan monostansa monoistaan monoistansa illative monoonsa monoihinsa adessive monollaan monollansa monoillaan monoillansa ablative monoltaan monoltansa monoiltaan monoiltansa allative monolleen monollensa monoilleen monoillensa essive mononaan mononansa monoinaan monoinansa translative monokseen monoksensa monoikseen monoiksensa abessive monottaan monottansa monoittaan monoittansa instructive — — comitative — monoineen monoinensa

Synonyms

• (skiing shoe): hiihtokenkä

Derived terms

• antaa monoa
• kompleksimonot
• laskettelumono
• monottaa

Further reading

• “1. mono”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

Etymology 2

Clipping of monofoninen (“monophonic”).

Adjective

mono

1. mono (having only a single audio channel)

   Synonym: monofoninen

Declension

Inflection of mono (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		mono	monot
genitive		monon	monojen
partitive		monoa	monoja
illative		monoon	monoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		mono	monot
accusative	nom.	mono	monot
	gen.	monon
genitive		monon	monojen
partitive		monoa	monoja
inessive		monossa	monoissa
elative		monosta	monoista
illative		monoon	monoihin
adessive		monolla	monoilla
ablative		monolta	monoilta
allative		monolle	monoille
essive		monona	monoina
translative		monoksi	monoiksi
abessive		monotta	monoitta
instructive		—	monoin
comitative		—	monoine

Possessive forms of mono (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
Rare. Only used with substantive adjectives.
first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative mononi mononi accusative nom. mononi mononi gen. mononi genitive mononi monojeni partitive monoani monojani inessive monossani monoissani elative monostani monoistani illative monooni monoihini adessive monollani monoillani ablative monoltani monoiltani allative monolleni monoilleni essive mononani monoinani translative monokseni monoikseni abessive monottani monoittani instructive — — comitative — monoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative monosi monosi accusative nom. monosi monosi gen. monosi genitive monosi monojesi partitive monoasi monojasi inessive monossasi monoissasi elative monostasi monoistasi illative monoosi monoihisi adessive monollasi monoillasi ablative monoltasi monoiltasi allative monollesi monoillesi essive mononasi monoinasi translative monoksesi monoiksesi abessive monottasi monoittasi instructive — — comitative — monoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative monomme monomme accusative nom. monomme monomme gen. monomme genitive monomme monojemme partitive monoamme monojamme inessive monossamme monoissamme elative monostamme monoistamme illative monoomme monoihimme adessive monollamme monoillamme ablative monoltamme monoiltamme allative monollemme monoillemme essive mononamme monoinamme translative monoksemme monoiksemme abessive monottamme monoittamme instructive — — comitative — monoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative mononne mononne accusative nom. mononne mononne gen. mononne genitive mononne monojenne partitive monoanne monojanne inessive monossanne monoissanne elative monostanne monoistanne illative monoonne monoihinne adessive monollanne monoillanne ablative monoltanne monoiltanne allative monollenne monoillenne essive mononanne monoinanne translative monoksenne monoiksenne abessive monottanne monoittanne instructive — — comitative — monoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative mononsa mononsa accusative nom. mononsa mononsa gen. mononsa genitive mononsa monojensa partitive monoaan monoansa monojaan monojansa inessive monossaan monossansa monoissaan monoissansa elative monostaan monostansa monoistaan monoistansa illative monoonsa monoihinsa adessive monollaan monollansa monoillaan monoillansa ablative monoltaan monoltansa monoiltaan monoiltansa allative monolleen monollensa monoilleen monoillensa essive mononaan mononansa monoinaan monoinansa translative monokseen monoksensa monoikseen monoiksensa abessive monottaan monottansa monoittaan monoittansa instructive — — comitative — monoineen monoinensa

Derived terms

compounds

• monolevy
• monotoisto

Further reading

• “2. mono”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[2] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

Anagrams

• moon

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɔ.no/

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Somain)):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Clipping of monophonique.

Adjective

mono (plural monos)

1. monophonic, monaural

Etymology 2

Clipping of moniteur + -o.

Noun

mono m (plural monos)

1. (informal) supervisor, leader (in a camp)

Further reading

• “mono”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

Galician

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmono/ [ˈmõ.nʊ]
• Rhymes: -ono

Etymology 1

Unknown.

Adjective

mono (feminine mona, masculine plural monos, feminine plural monas)

1. hornless

   Synonyms: mouco, fanado

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Spanish mono.

Noun

mono m (plural monos)

1. monkey

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “mono”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “mono”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “mono”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Italian

Etymology 1

Adjective

mono (invariable)

1. single (of one part)

Etymology 2

Adjective

mono (invariable)

1. (relational) mono

Anagrams

• -nomo, nomo, nomò

Japanese

Romanization

mono

1. Rōmaji transcription of もの
2. Rōmaji transcription of モノ

Latvian

Adjective

mono

1. clipping of monofonisks

Noun

mono f (invariable)

1. clipping of monofonija

Lingala

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Bangi mono.

Noun

mono

1. medicine, drug

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Bangi bono.

Verb

mono

1. to see

Portuguese

Etymology

Uncertain, but probably borrowed from or related to Spanish mono.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmõ.nu/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmõ.nu/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmo.no/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmo.nu/

Noun

mono m (plural monos)

1. ape
2. (figuratively) lazy or ugly person
3. (figuratively) deadstock
4. (figuratively) bulky waste

Further reading

• “mono”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “mono”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Etymology

Haplographically from maimón (“monkey”), from Arabic مَيْمُون (maymūn, “baboon, mandrill”). Compare English monkey.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmono/ [ˈmo.no]

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ono
• Syllabification: mo‧no

Adjective

mono (feminine mona, masculine plural monos, feminine plural monas, superlative monísimo)

1. (Spain, colloquial) cute, pretty

   Synonym: cuqui

   Near-synonym: bonito

2. (Colombia, colloquial) blond, blonde

   Synonym: rubio

Noun

mono m (plural monos, feminine mona, feminine plural monas)

1. monkey

   Synonyms: chango, maimón, mico, simio, (Louisiana) macaco

2. boiler suit, coveralls, overall, onesie (a one-piece suit combining trousers and jacket, worn for heavy or hot manual labour)

   Synonyms: mono de trabajo, mameluco, braga, buzo, overol

3. jumpsuit, overalls (a one-piece item of clothing originally by parachutists)
4. jumpsuit (a female one-piece item of clothing)
5. (Chile, Peru) tracksuit, joggers (garment consisting of a top and trousers for sports and casual wear)

   Synonyms: buzo, chándal

6. (Costa Rica, slang) vagina, vulva
7. (Mexico, Chile) doll, puppet

   Synonym: muñeco

8. (colloquial) doodle
   1. (in the plural) cartoon
9. (colloquial) withdrawal symptom

   Synonym: síndrome de abstinencia

   estar con el mono ― to have withdrawal symptoms

Derived terms

• amonado
• monada
• mono araña
• mono ardilla
• mono aullador
• mono barrigudo
• mono bigotudo
• mono chino
• mono de feria
• mono de imitación
• mono de repetición
• mono porfiado
• monono
• monos animados
• sangre de mono
• tener el mono
• trepamonos
• último mono

Further reading

• “mono”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025
• “mono”, in Diccionario de americanismos [Dictionary of Americanisms] (in Spanish), Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española], 2010
• Seco, Manuel; Andrés, Olimpia; Ramos, Gabino (2023), “mono”, in Diccionario del español actual (in Spanish), third digital edition, Fundación BBVA
• mono | Diccionario • DELE Ahora