English

Noun

macaco ‎(plural macacos)

1. A macaque, or similar monkey.

Etymology 2

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

Noun

macaco ‎(plural macacos)

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

Alternative forms

• macauco

Italian

Noun

macaco m ‎(plural macachi)

1. macaque
2. fool, dunce

Portuguese

Macaco

Etymology

Unknown. Generally thought to have been borrowed from a language of the Congo region. Specifically, it may derive from a word containing the prefix ma- or mu-, which indicates plurality, singularity or collectivity in several Bantu languages. Other suggested derivations include:

• from a language of Madagascar;
• from an American language:
  • from Galibi Carib macaca ‎(“simian”), though it may have been loaned into Galibi from a language of African slaves;
  • from Old Tupi makaka ‎(“monkey”);
• from dialectal French macao ‎(“cat; monkey; long-tailed monkey”), allegedly used in Normandy and Berry.

^[1]

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ma.ˈka.kʊ/
• (South Brazil) IPA^(key): /ma.ˈka.ko/
• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /mɐ.ˈka.ku/
• Hyphenation: ma‧ca‧co
• Rhymes: -aku

Noun

macaco m (plural macacos)

1. monkey, ape
2. mechanical jack
3. (derogatory) black

Synonyms

• símio

Descendants

• English: macaque, macaco
• Spanish: macaco

Derived terms

• macaquice

References

1. ↑ 1955, Antenor Nascentes, Dicionário etimológico da língua portuguesa, 2^nd print

Spanish

Etymology

From Portuguese macaco.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maˈkako/

Noun

macaco m ‎(plural macacos)

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

Adjective

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

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