90+ Monkey Jokes to Go Bananas Over
Monkey jokes are the easy win of the playground. They are short, they are goofy, and every kid already knows a monkey eats bananas and swings from trees, so the setup does half the work for you. Read one out loud, wait for the groan, and you are done.
We sorted this batch by theme so you can grab the right one fast. Bananas and tree jokes land with the little ones, the gorilla and ape puns reward kids who like wordplay, and the one-liners are built for the lunchbox note or the group chat. Pick one, keep a straight face, and let the pun do the rest.
What do you call a gorilla with a banana in each ear? Anything you like, it cannot hear you.
Why did the monkey love the banana? Because it had a-peel.
I told a monkey my best joke and it just went bananas.
What is a gorilla's favorite dessert? Chocolate chimp cookies.
How does a monkey feel on a really good day? Top banana.
I asked a monkey for advice and it told me to hang in there.
Why did the monkey practice all day? It wanted to get into the swing of things.
What did the monkey ask the zookeeper? Is it banana o'clock yet?
Why do monkeys love tall trees? More room to hang out.
How many bananas can a monkey eat on an empty stomach? One, after that the stomach is not empty.
Bananas
1-15Why did the monkey love the banana? Because it had a-peel.
Why did the monkey bring a banana to work? In case it got a peel from the boss.
What do you call a monkey who hogs all the bananas? Hard to split with.
Why did the monkey slip in the kitchen? Somebody left a peel on the floor.
How does a monkey feel on a really good day? Top banana.
Why did the banana refuse to race the monkey? It was afraid it would split.
What did the monkey say to the ripe banana? You and I make a great pair.
Why do monkeys keep their bananas in the fridge? So the jokes stay fresh.
How many bananas can a monkey eat on an empty stomach? One, after that the stomach is not empty.
Why did the monkey count its bananas? It wanted to know the sum of the bunch.
What is a monkey's favorite breakfast? Anything, as long as it comes in a bunch.
Why was the little monkey so proud? It finally reached the top of the bunch.
What did the monkey say when the last banana was gone? Well, that is the end of the bunch.
Why did the monkey take a banana to bed? For a bunch of sweet dreams.
What do you call a monkey who tells banana jokes all day? A real peel of laughter.
In the trees
16-30Why did the monkey sit in the tree? It wanted a higher branch of knowledge.
How do monkeys stay in shape? Lots of branch workouts.
What did one branch say to the monkey? Hang around a while.
Why did the monkey climb the tallest tree? To visit the branch office.
What do you call a monkey that cannot climb? Stumped.
Where do monkeys keep their money? In a branch of the bank.
Why did the monkey leave the short tree? It wanted to go out on a limb.
What is a monkey's favorite subject in school? Tree-ometry.
Why was the monkey great at hide and seek? It knew every tree by heart.
What did the monkey say from the top branch? I am on top of the world.
Why do monkeys love tall trees? More room to hang out.
What did the tree say to the resting monkey? You can leaf whenever you like.
How do monkeys decide which tree is best? They branch out and compare.
Why did the monkey bring a pillow up the tree? For a proper branch nap.
What do you call a monkey living in the oak? A branch manager.
Tails and swinging
31-45Why are monkeys such good swingers? They always catch on fast.
What do you call a monkey that loves to swing? A real vine enthusiast.
Why did the monkey bring a rope to the party? It heard there would be swinging.
How does a monkey say goodbye? It swings by later.
Why did the monkey grab the vine? It did not want to miss the swing of things.
What is a monkey's favorite part of the playground? Anything it can swing from.
Why do monkeys show off their tails? To keep their balance and their style.
What did the monkey say after a perfect swing? Nailed the landing.
Why did the monkey practice all day? It wanted to get into the swing of things.
How do monkeys cross the jungle? One vine at a time.
What do you call a monkey with a great grip? Hard to let go of.
Why did the monkey tie a knot in the vine? For a little extra hang time.
What did the vine say to the swinging monkey? Hold on, this is fun.
Why is a monkey's tail never cold? It is always wrapped up in something.
How did the monkey win the swinging contest? It had the best follow through.
Gorillas and apes
46-60What do you call a gorilla with a banana in each ear? Anything you like, it cannot hear you.
Why did the gorilla bring a comb? To look its best for the photo.
What do you call a very polite gorilla? A gentle giant.
Why was the gorilla so calm? Nothing could get under its skin.
What is a gorilla's favorite dessert? Chocolate chimp cookies.
Why did the chimp bring a map? It wanted to ape the great explorers.
What do you call an ape that tells great stories? A real crowd pleaser.
Why are gorillas so strong? They never skip arm day on the vines.
What do you call a chimp magician? Absolutely ape-tastic.
How do you know a gorilla is happy? It beats its chest and grins.
Why did the gorilla sit in the shade? Even the strong ones need a break.
What is an ape's favorite game? Hide and sneak.
Why did the chimp become a chef? It had a real taste for it.
What do you call a gorilla who loves the gym? Buff and beyond.
Why did the ape sit at the front of class? It wanted to be a bright chimp.
At the zoo
61-75Why did the monkey love the zoo? It got to meet all of its fans.
What did the zookeeper feed the picky monkey? Only the top banana.
Why did the monkey escape the zoo? It wanted to monkey around town.
What is a monkey's favorite day at the zoo? Visitor day, with all the free snacks.
Why did the monkey like the zoo map? It showed the way to the banana stand.
How do zoo monkeys greet visitors? With a cheeky little wave.
Why was the monkey the star of the zoo? It stole the whole show.
What did the monkey ask the zookeeper? Is it banana o'clock yet?
Why did the monkey hide at closing time? It was not done playing.
What do zoo monkeys do all day? Put on a show and nap between acts.
Why did the monkey clap at the zoo? The show was a hit, and it was the show.
What is a zoo monkey's favorite ride? The one with all the swinging.
Why did the monkey wave at the camera? It knew it was the main attraction.
How did the monkey get a bigger enclosure? It climbed its way to the top.
Why do zoo monkeys love weekends? Bigger crowds mean bigger laughs.
One-liners
76-90I told a monkey my best joke and it just went bananas.
My monkey impression needs work, but I am swinging for it.
Monkeys never fight over lunch, they just split the bill.
A monkey's favorite exercise is the chin up, naturally.
I asked a monkey for advice and it told me to hang in there.
Monkeys are great comedians, they really know how to ape a good bit.
My monkey alarm clock works great, it wakes me with a bunch of noise.
Monkeys love board games, they always make the banana split decision.
That monkey made off with a clean peel.
Monkeys are the best climbers, they really rise to the occasion.
I gave my monkey a dictionary and now it is full of a-peel.
Monkeys never get lost, they always find the right branch.
A well-dressed monkey is always dressed to a vine.
My monkey started a band and the reviews call it un-ape-lievable.
Monkeys give the best hugs, they really know how to hang on.
Monkey joke FAQ
Crowd favorites play on the two things everyone knows about monkeys: bananas and swinging. The classic "what do you call a gorilla with a banana in each ear? Anything you like, it cannot hear you" is a reliable winner, and so is "I told a monkey my best joke and it just went bananas."
The quick tell is the tail. Most monkeys have a tail, while apes like gorillas, chimps and orangutans do not. Apes also tend to be larger and have longer arms. In everyday jokes people lump them together, which is why you will find gorilla and chimp puns right next to the monkey ones here.
Yes. Every joke on this page is clean and classroom-safe, with no hidden double meanings. You can read any of them aloud without scanning ahead first, tuck one into a lunchbox, or use them for a jungle-themed party.
Bananas are a treat, not the whole story. Wild monkeys eat a varied diet of fruit, leaves, seeds, insects and more, and the banana connection grew partly from zoos and cartoons. That said, most monkeys will happily take a ripe banana, which is exactly why the jokes work.
English is full of monkey sayings, which is why half these puns write themselves. If you go bananas you have lost it a little, monkey business is the mischief nobody will own up to, and monkey see, monkey do is what every older sibling dreads. Call a party more fun than a barrel of monkeys and you have promised a lot. Most of the one-liners here are just those phrases given a nudge.
Keep it to one joke at a time and commit to the punchline. Say the setup like a real question, pause for a beat, then deliver the pun with a straight face. Stacking ten in a row flattens all of them, so leave them wanting the next one.
Best for younger kids
Stick to the banana and tree jokes for the little ones. The humor is simple and visual, and most toddlers and preschoolers already act out swinging and climbing on their own, so the picture is halfway there before you finish.
Save these for party day
Monkey jokes are a natural fit for a jungle or safari birthday. Print a handful on cards, hand them out, and let the kids take turns being the one who tells it. A joke they get to perform beats a joke they only hear.