Spanish word

primate

Pronunciation

IPA/pɾiˈmate/

Meaning

  • masculine nounprimate

Example

Vimos un primate en el zoológico.

We saw a primate in the zoo.

Illustration for primate (primate)

More examples

Vi un primate en libertad durante la excursión.

I saw a primate in the wild during the excursion.

Core concept

A small social primate grooming another while handling food with its hands.

Common phrases

  • ver un primate

    see a primate

  • foto de un primate

    photo of a primate

Similar words

mono: Small to medium monkey, usually with a tail, often arboreal and living in social groups.
simio: Large primate, typically tailless or short-tailed, heavier-bodied and often ground-dwelling.

Definition in Spanish

Término científico para los mamíferos del orden Primates, animales con comportamientos sociales complejos y adaptaciones para manipular objetos.

Word origin

Borrowed from Latin primātus/primātēs 'first', from primus, the term moved from church usage into zoological naming for the mammal order.

Usage tips

  • Spanish pronunciation stresses the middle syllable (pri-MA-te), not the English PRY-mate pronunciation, so the spoken word sounds different.

Other meanings

  • ecclesiastical primatenoun

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