Spanish word

moño

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmoɲo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbun

Example

Me hice un moño para ir a la playa.

I tied my hair into a bun to go to the beach.

Illustration for moño (bun)

More examples

En la oficina suelo llevar un moño bajo para parecer más profesional.

At the office I usually wear a low bun to look more professional.

Core concept

A rounded hair knot worn at the back or top of the head.

Common phrases

  • hacer un moño

    make a bun

  • llevar un moño

    wear a bun

  • moño alto

    high bun

Similar words

rodete: Small tidy bun that sits close to the scalp as a neat decorative coil.
chongo: Casual bun that looks quickly styled and often appears loose or undone.
coleta: Hair gathered into a single tied tail that hangs down the back as a ponytail.

Definition in Spanish

Peinado que implica recoger el cabello y sujetarlo formando un nudo o bulto redondeado; por extensión, nombre de un lazo o adorno con esa apariencia.

Word origin

From Latin monile 'ornament', the word developed through medieval senses of decoration and knot to denote a hair bun and similar bowlike ornaments in modern Spanish.

Usage tips

  • The phrase hacerse un moño is common in everyday speech to mean putting the hair up, and the tilde matters: moño (ñ, 'ny' sound) is different from mono (no tilde, 'monkey').

Other meanings

  • bownoun
  • knotnoun

Opposites

  • colaponytailnoun
  • pelo sueltohair downnoun

Related words

  • moñitosmall bunnoun

Word lists with this word