MUHNG-keez
/ˈmʌŋkiz/
monkeys is pronounced MUHNG-keez (/ˈmʌŋkiz/). Monkeys (plural noun) refers to nonhuman primates of the family Cebidae or other primate groups generally known for their agility, intelligence, and social behavior. In everyday use, it denotes any member of the primate group, often with playful or humorous connotations. The term can also appear in figurative expressions or idioms. Two syllables, stress on the first: MON-kees.
Monkeys (plural noun) refers to nonhuman primates of the family Cebidae or other primate groups generally known for their agility, intelligence, and social behavior. In everyday use, it denotes any member of the primate group, often with playful or humorous connotations. The term can also appear in figurative expressions or idioms. Two syllables, stress on the first: MON-kees.
"The hikers spotted monkeys chattering in the trees."
"Scientists studied the monkeys’ social hierarchies at the sanctuary."
"Kids laughed as the mischievous monkeys stole fruit from the camp table."
You say /ˈmɒŋ.kiːz/ (US: ˈmɑŋ.kiːz, UK/AU similar). Stress on the first syllable: MON-keys. Start with an open back rounded vowel /ɒ/ (roughly like ‘hot’ without the r), then a clear /ŋ/ nasal, then /kiː/ with a long E. End with a voiced /z/. Place your tongue high toward the palate for /k/, then glide into the /iː/ vowel; keep the lips unround for /iː/. Audio cues: imagine saying “mon” as in mon, then lengthen “keys.”
Common errors: (1) Pronouncing the first vowel as /ɒ/ incorrectly as /ɑ/ or /ɔ/ in some dialects; aim for a rounded /ɒ/ with short, clipped quality. (2) Slurring the /ŋk/ cluster into /ŋ/ or /nk/ without a clean pause; practice by isolating /ŋk/ with a quick /k/ release. (3) Final /z/ devoicing in rapid speech; ensure voicing is present so the /z/ remains audible. Clear practice: say /ˈmɒŋ.kiːz/ slowly, then speed up while maintaining /ŋk/ and /z/ clarity.
In US, the first vowel tends to be slightly more open and back, making /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ versus the UK’s more centralized /ɒ/. The /r/ is not present in non-rhotic UK accents, but the main difference is vowel quality rather than rhoticity in monkey. In Australian English, vowel shifts can give /ɒ/ a broader sounding quality and the final /z/ remains voiced. Overall, the core structure /ˈmɒŋ.kiːz/ persists, but vowel height and duration shift subtly by accent.
The difficulty lies in the /ŋk/ consonant cluster, which requires a nasal sound /ŋ/ immediately followed by a hard /k/ release; this can be tricky if you’re not landing the /ŋ/ with the tongue body raised toward the velum and then sharply releasing into /k/. The final /z/ also requires voicing; in fast speech it may sound like /s/. Practicing slow/modeled forms helps you separate the nasal, the voiceless/voiced contrast, and the final z.
Unlike simpler plurals ending in /s/ or /z/ after a vowel sound, monkeys ends with a voiced /z/ but follows a complex /ŋk/ sequence, which is less common after a nasal. The pronunciation also has stress on the first syllable, with a long /iː/ in the second syllable; this combination can trip non-native speakers who expect a simple coda like /s/ or /z/. Focus on the smooth transition from /ŋ/ to /k/ to /iː/ to /z/.
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- US: maintain a slightly rounded /ɒ/ in MON. as in ‘hot’ with a crisp /ŋk/ release. /iː/ is long; keep tension on the jaw to sustain length. - UK: non-rhotic; /r/ is not pronounced; the /ɒ/ often a bit more open; ensure clear /z/ at the end. - AU: broader diphthong on /iː/ depending on speaker; keep /ŋk/ tight and end with a clear /z/. IPA references show centralization tendencies in some regions; focus on the /ŋk/ cluster.
The word monkey derives from Middle English monke, borrowed from Old English monk or mona, historically linked to a pejorative or figurative sense of a mischievous or clumsy person. The origin is uncertain, but it likely conflates with Latin monachus (monk) in some early usage, and possibly with a West African or Caribbean term encountered by English sailors during the early modern period. By the 16th century, monkey had taken on a broader zoological sense in English, referring primarily to small to medium-sized primates and, metaphorically, to playful or lively behavior in humans. The suffix -eys in monkeys indicates a pluralization pattern common to English nouns ending in -y where the base ends with a consonant, changing -y to -ies. The evolution reflects a shift from possibly pejorative descriptor to a general noun for primates, incorporating diverse species across continents. First known use in print appears in early zoological and travel texts of the 1500s, with gradual standardization in scientific writing by the 18th–19th centuries as taxonomy expanded and common names diversified. Today, “monkey” covers a wide range of primates in casual speech, while specific species are named in scientific contexts (e.g., capuchin, macaque, howler).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "monkeys" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "monkeys"
-eys sounds
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