What is the Latin word for monkey?

The usual Latin words for “monkey” are sīmia, stultus, sīmiolus; also pithēcium, Caelius. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“monkey” in Latin

sīmiaan ape, monkey; monkey; an imitator stultusfoolish, fatuous, stupid, ill-considered sīmiolussmall ape or monkey (often as a term of abuse)pithēciuma little ape; a kind of flower, possibly monkey-flower (Mimulus) or snapdragon (Antirrhinum)CaeliusLucius Coelius Antipater, a Roman jurist and historian; Marcus Caelius Rufus, a Roman politician and orator

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

monkey

PROP., simia (Cic. and Plin.); simius (ire poets of the Golden Age): a female monkey, simia femina: a little monky, simiolus (pithecium, Plaut., sportively): monkey’s bread (a plant), Adansonia (Linn.).

Figuratively, as a term of reproach, simia (caelius, ap. Cic., Fam., 5, 10, 1); simius (Hor., Sat., 1, 10, 18); homo stolidus, stultus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for monkey?: The usual Latin words for “monkey” are sīmia, stultus, sīmiolus; also pithēcium, Caelius. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.