# monte

/ˈmɑnti/ (US) · /mˈɒnti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/monte
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. card game

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a gambling game where players bet on which cards will match the ones already on the table.

For teachers: a gambling card game, typically involving three or four cards dealt face-up, where players wager on which will be matched in suit by subsequent cards.

- The street performer tried to convince passersby to play a quick game of monte.
- Historically, monte was a popular gambling pastime in the American Southwest, often played in saloons for high stakes.

### 2. forest or wild land

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

a word for a forest, woods, or wild land, mostly used in parts of the Americas.

For teachers: a wooded area, forest, or tract of timberland; primarily used in English contexts referring to Latin American geography.

- The hikers spent the afternoon exploring the dense monte near the village.
- The local ecology consists largely of monte, characterized by thick brush and hardy trees that thrive in the semi-arid climate.

## Examples

- He lost twenty dollars playing monte on the sidewalk.
- The tourist was warned to avoid the street performers playing three-card monte near the station.
- While historically a legitimate gambling house game in the American West, monte is now most commonly encountered as a deceptive street hustle designed to fleece unsuspecting passersby.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.