Monklish: Difference between revisions

 
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{{lede image|Monklish diagram.png|A diagram of Monklish glyphs and the letters or punctuation they correspond to|size=400px}}
'''Monklish''' (sometimes spelled '''Monkelish'''<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6/comments/y1rbkv/bloons_td_6_update_notes_version_330/|title=Bloons TD 6 - Update Notes! Version 33.0|publisher=Reddit|retrieved=11 jul 2025}}</ref>) is a writing system in the [[Bloons (franchise)|''Bloons'' franchise]] that debuted in the {{flash version of|Bloons Monkey City}}. It is used most commonly to write hidden messages within ''Bloons'' games and promotional material. In ''[[Bloons TD 6]]'', it is also a selectable "language" option that displays the game's English text in Monklish characters. Its name is a portmanteau of "[[monkey]]" and "English".
'''Monklish''' (sometimes spelled '''Monkelish'''<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6/comments/y1rbkv/bloons_td_6_update_notes_version_330/|title=Bloons TD 6 - Update Notes! Version 33.0|publisher=Reddit|retrieved=11 jul 2025}}</ref>) is a writing system in the [[Bloons (franchise)|''Bloons'' franchise]] that debuted in the {{flash version of|Bloons Monkey City}}. It is used most commonly to write hidden messages within ''Bloons'' games and promotional material. In ''[[Bloons TD 6]]'', it is also a selectable "language" option that displays the game's English text in Monklish characters. Its name is a portmanteau of "[[monkey]]" and "English".


==Structure and usage==
==Overview==
Monklish letters are a cipher of the [[wp:Latin alphabet|Latin alphabet]] as it is used in English, but with no letter casing. Monklish numbers and punctuation are identical to English, except for exclamation and question marks, which have unique symbols. As such, Monklish text is essentially equivalent to English and, capitalisation notwithstanding, text in one writing system can be transcribed to the other directly. However, most uses of Monklish in ''Bloons Monkey City'' and ''Bloons TD 6'' appear to transcribe "th" digraphs as simply "T", such as "the" being transcribed as "TE" and "thorns" being transcribed as "TORNS". Some Monklish writing in ''Bloons TD 6'' appears to be misspelled due to certain glyphs being very similar to each other, such as the Monklish characters for "D" and "U" being the inverse of each other.
Monklish letters are a cipher of the [[wp:Latin alphabet|Latin alphabet]] as it is used in English, but with no letter casing. Monklish numbers and punctuation are identical to English, except for exclamation and question marks, which have unique symbols. As such, Monklish text is essentially equivalent to English and, capitalization notwithstanding, text in one writing system can be transcribed to the other directly.
 
Most uses of Monklish in ''Bloons Monkey City'' and ''Bloons TD 6'' appear to transcribe "th" digraphs as simply "T", such as "three" being transcribed as "TREE" and "thorns" being transcribed as "TORNS". Some Monklish writing in ''Bloons TD 6'' appears to be misspelled due to certain glyphs being very similar to each other, such as the Monklish characters for "D" and "U" being the inverse of each other. Some Monklish text uses a horizontally inverted version of the "P" glyph, making it look more distinct from the "N" glyph.


==As a language option==
==As a language option==
[[File:BTD6 tutorial in monklish.png|thumb|300px|the [[First Time Tutorial!]] in Monklish]]
A language option for Monklish was added to ''[[Bloons TD 6]]'' in {{BTD6 version|33.0}}. It uses the same text as the English option, but it is displayed in a font that renders letters and exclamation/question marks in Monklish. Other punctuation marks and numbers are unaltered. Accented letters are rendered as their non-accented equivalents (e.g., [[Pouākai]] is rendered as "Pouakai").
A language option for Monklish was added to ''[[Bloons TD 6]]'' in {{BTD6 version|33.0}}. It uses the same text as the English option, but it is displayed in a font that renders letters and exclamation/question marks in Monklish. Other punctuation marks and numbers are unaltered. Accented letters are rendered as their non-accented equivalents (e.g., [[Pouākai]] is rendered as "Pouakai").


==List of uses==
==List of uses==
{{incomplete}}
===''Bloons Monkey City'' (Flash)===
===''Bloons Monkey City'' (Flash)===
{{empty}}


===''Bloons TD 6''===
===''Bloons TD 6''===
====Background elements====
====Background elements====
{|class="wikitable center-col-1"
{|class="wikitable center-col-1"
!width="200px"|Image
!width="150px"|Image
!Transcription
!Transcription
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|[[file:BTD6 MapSelectAdorasTemple.png|200px|Thumbnail of Adora's Temple]]<br>[[Adora's Temple]]
|[[file:BTD6 MapSelectAdorasTemple.png|150px|Thumbnail of Adora's Temple]]<br>[[Adora's Temple]]
|MAX SDN (horizontal)<br>APEX DARK (vertical)
|MAX SDN (horizontal)<br>APEX DARK (vertical)
|"MAX SDN" seems to be a misspelling of of "MAX SUN" due to the Monklish glyphs for "U" and "D" being the inverse of each other.
|"MAX SDN" seems to be a misspelling of of "MAX SUN" due to the Monklish glyphs for "U" and "D" being the inverse of each other.
|-
|-
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectBazaarButton.png|200px|Thumbnail of Bazaar]]<br>[[Bazaar]]
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectBazaarButton.png|150px|Thumbnail of Bazaar]]<br>[[Bazaar]]
|KL TEA CO (tea stall)<br>CLOSED (building)
|KL TEA CO (tea stall)<br>CLOSED (building)
|
|
|-
|-
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectMidnightMansionMapButton.png|200px|Thumbnail of Midnight Mansion]]<br>[[Midnight Mansion]]
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectMidnightMansionMapButton.png|150px|Thumbnail of Midnight Mansion]]<br>[[Midnight Mansion]]
|STOP (upper hallway)<br>NOWAY (stairs)<br>NOMONKE (lower hallway)
|STOP (upper hallway)<br>NOWAY (stairs)<br>NOMONKE (lower hallway)
|
|
|-
|-
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectMiddleOfTheRoadMapButton.png|200px|Thumbnail of Middle of the Road]]<br>[[Middle of the Road]]
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectMiddleOfTheRoadMapButton.png|150px|Thumbnail of Middle of the Road]]<br>[[Middle of the Road]]
|END START (wooden sign)<br>US (road sign)<br>CHV (pickup truck)
|END START (wooden sign)<br>US (road sign)<br>CHV (pickup truck)
|
|
|-
|-
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectTinkertonMapButton.png|200px|Thumbnail of Tinkerton]]<br>[[Tinkerton]]
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectTinkertonMapButton.png|150px|Thumbnail of Tinkerton]]<br>[[Tinkerton]]
|TO DO (whiteboard front)<br>SOLVE (whiteboard back)
|TO DO (whiteboard front)<br>SOLVE (whiteboard back)
|
|-
|[[File:BTD6 MapSelectTrickyTracksButton.png|150px|Thumbnail of Tricky Tracks]]<br>[[Tricky Tracks]]
|ZOMG (Graffiti on left)<br>ZJ WAS HERE (Graffiti on right)<br>XLGAMER10 (middle track)<br>VILLAINSEVEN (blocked track)
|"ZJ WAS HERE" refers to [[Zee Jay]].<br>"XLGAMER10" and "VILLAINSEVEN" refer to the creators of the original track, which was one of the winners of the BTD6 7 Year Anniversary Map Competition.
|-
|[[File:BTD6 Corvus unlock.png|150px|Corvus' unlock splash screen]]<br>{{BTD6|Corvus}}' unlock splash screen
|ATRA (top left quarter)<br>SPIRITALIS (right half)<br>MALUM (bottom left quarter)
|
|}
====Icons====
{|class="wikitable"
!width="150px"|Image
!Transcription
!Notes
|-
|[[File:BTD6 QuestIconScoopsTale1.png|150px|Icon of Scoop's Tall Tale]]<br>Icon of [[Scoop's Tall Tale]]
|[...]ERE IS [...]MONKEY? (headline)<br>TALE (sticky notes)<br>BE: SCOOP OUR BELOVED HERO IS BUSY [...]OUND THE (text)
|The full text of the headline may be "WHERE IS SUPERMONKEY?"
|-
|[[File:BTD6 LegendsBtn.png|150px|Icon of the Legends menu]]<br>Icon of the [[Legend]]s menu
|PORTALS
|
|
|}
|}
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====Promotional images====
====Promotional images====
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
!width="200px"|Image
!width="150px"|Image
!Transcription
!Transcription
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|[[file:BTD6 race teaser.jpg|200px|Promotional image for Race Events]]<br>Promotional image for [[Race Event]]s
|[[file:BTD6 druid teaser.jpg|150px|Promotional image for the Druid]]<br>Promotional image for the [[Druid (BTD6)|Druid]]
|A GUARDIAN OF TE{{sic}} FOREST AND A WARRIOR OF NATURE (first line)<br>ENEMY OF BLOONS (second line)<br>TORNS{{sic}} (1)<br>STORM (2)<br>SPIRIT FOREST (polaroid)
|The "P" glyph is horizontally inverted.
|-
|[[File:BTD6 churchill teaser.jpg|150px|Promotional image for Captain Churchill]]<br>Promotional image for [[Captain Churchill (BTD6)|Captain Churchill]]
|MY TANK IS AMAZING (blue sticky note)<br>KABOOM! (yellow sticky note)
|
|-
|[[file:BTD6 race teaser.jpg|150px|Promotional image for Race Events]]<br>Promotional image for [[Race Event]]s
|EIGHTEEN ONE TREE{{sic}}<br>FIVE
|EIGHTEEN ONE TREE{{sic}}<br>FIVE
|Presumably a misspelling of "three".
|
|-
|[[File:BTD6 project ADHSV teaser.jpg|150px|Promotional image for Project ADHSV]]<br>Project ADHSV
|PROJECT ADHSV
|The "P" glyph is horizontally inverted.
|}
|}


===''Bloons TD Battles 2''===
===''Bloons TD Battles 2''===
{|class="wikitable center-col-1"
!width="150px"|Image
!Transcription
!Notes
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 thumb precious space.png|150px|Thumbnail of Precious Space]]<br>[[Precious Space]]
|A<br>B<br>C<br>D<br>E
|
|-
|[[file:BTDB2 thumb cobra command.png|150px|Thumbnail of COBRA Command]]<br />[[COBRA Command]]
|
|
|}
====Clan items====
{|class="wikitable center-col-1"
!width="150px"|Image
!Transcription
!Notes
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (1).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 1)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (2).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 2)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (3).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 3)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (4).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 4)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (5).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 5)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (6).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 6)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (7).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 7)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (8).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 8)
|
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 Monklish Briefing Area Clan Item (9).png|150px|One of many screens of the "Briefing Area" decoration from Clans]]<br>Briefing Area (Screen 9)
|
|
|}
====Cosmetic items====
{|class="wikitable center-col-1"
!width="150px"|Image
!Transcription
!Notes
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 avatar icecream vendor large.png|150px|Ice Cream Monkey avatar]]<br>Ice Cream Monkey ([[Avatar|Avatar Icon]])
|ICE (uniform)<br>[...]LE (sign)
|The sign text is partially obscured. The first two characters may be "S" and "A", reading "SALE".
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 cyber quincy was ere large.png|150px|Cyber Quincy Was 'Ere avatar]]<br>Cyber Quincy Was 'Ere (Avatar Icon)
|THE CQ UPGRADE
|"CQ" is likely short for "[[Cyber Quincy]]".
|-
|[[file:BTDB2 club icon avatar large.png|150px|Badge of Honor avatar]]<br>Badge of Honor (Avatar Icon)
|OFFICIAL CLUB MEMBER
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 djbenjamin albumcover large.png|150px|3 Darts High and Popping avatar]]<br>3 Darts High and Popping (Avatar Icon)
|DE LA BEN (pink text)<br>3 DART POPS (green text)
|A reference to the album cover of ''[[wp:3 Feet High and Rising|3 Feet High and Rising]]'', which has similar text reading "DE LA SOUL" and "3 FEET HIGH AND RISING". The "P" glyph is horizontally inverted.
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 highwayman wanted large.png|150px|Wanted avatar]]<br>Wanted (Avatar Icon)
|WANTED FOR HIGHWAY ROBBERY!<br>THE INFAMOUS HIGHWAYMAN JERICHO
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 ice monkey captainscott large.png|150px|Captain Scott avatar]]<br>Captain Scott (Avatar Icon)
|TRIP TO THE POLE
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 kingvssentai large.png|150px|Monster Movie avatar]]<br>Monster Movie (Avatar Icon)
|KING VS SENTAI (logo)<br>WHO WILL WIN (right side)
|
|-
|[[File:BTDB2 juggernaut blueprint.png|150px|Juggernaut Blueprint avatar]]<br>Juggernaut Blueprint (Avatar Icon)
|Left side:<br>RELOAD SPEED<br>PIERCE<br>RANGE<br>HURLS A GIANT SPIKED BALL THAT POPS LEAD AND EXCELS AT CRUSHING CERAMIC BLOONS.
Right side:<br>UPGRADE<br>DEVELOPMENT BRANCH<br>SIGNED<br>MONKEY (signature)
|
|}


===Ninja Kiwi Blog===
===Ninja Kiwi Blog===
{{empty}}


===Other===
===Other===
{|class="wikitable center-col-1"
{|class="wikitable center-col-1"
!width="200px"|Image
!width="150px"|Image
!Transcription
!Transcription
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|[[file:BTDBM 6.19 promo.jpg|200px|Promotional image for Bloons TD Battles (mobile) v6.19]]<br>Promotional image for [[Bloons TD Battles (mobile) v6.19|''Bloons TD Battles'' (mobile) v6.19]]
|[[file:BTDBM 6.19 promo.jpg|150px|Promotional image for Bloons TD Battles (mobile) v6.19]]<br>Promotional image for [[Update history:Bloons TD Battles (multiplatform)/Version 6.19|''Bloons TD Battles'' (multiplatform) v6.19]]
|BAGGAGE CLAIM
|BAGGAGE CLAIM
|—
|—
|-
|-
|[[File:BCS ActChoice.png|200px|"Choose a Path" icon in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>"Choose a Path" icon in ''[[Bloons Card Storm]]''
|[[File:BCS ActChoice.png|150px|"Choose a Path" icon in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>"Choose a Path" icon in ''[[Bloons Card Storm]]''
|FAR NAER{{sic}}
|FAR NAER{{sic}}
|Presumably a misspelling of "near" and "far".
|Presumably a misspelling of "near" and "far".
|-
|-
|[[File:BCS Reinflated CardArt.png|200px|Reinflated card art in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>[[Reinflated]] card art in ''Bloons Card Storm''
|[[File:BCS Reinflated CardArt.png|150px|Reinflated card art in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>[[Reinflated]] card art in ''Bloons Card Storm''
|REINFLATED
|REINFLATED
|—
|—
|-
|-
|[[File:BCS CorvusAcademyofArts CardArt.png|200px|Corvus Academy of Arts card art in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>[[Corvus Academy of Arts]] card art in ''Bloons Card Storm''
|[[File:BCS QuincyActionFigure CardArt.png|150px|Quincy Action Figure card art in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>[[Quincy Action Figure]] card art in ''Bloons Card Storm''
|SALE!
|—
|-
|[[File:BCS CorvusAcademyofArts CardArt.png|150px|Corvus Academy of Arts card art in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>[[Corvus Academy of Arts]] card art in ''Bloons Card Storm''
|CORVUS
|CORVUS
|—
|—
|-
|-
|[[File:BP prop SurfShack.png|200px|Surf Shack icon in Bloons Pop!]]<br>Surf Shack icon in ''[[Bloons Pop!]]''
|[[File:BCS SoulstealerBloon CardArt.png|150px|Soulstealer Bloon card art in Bloons Card Storm]]<br>[[Soulstealer Bloon]] card art in ''Bloons Card Storm''
|SOULSTEALER
|—
|-
|[[File:BP prop SurfShack.png|150px|Surf Shack icon in Bloons Pop!]]<br>Surf Shack icon in ''[[Bloons Pop!]]''
|SEA
|SEA
|—
|—
|-
|-
|[[File:BP prop WitchsCauldron.png|200px|Spooky Cauldron icon in Bloons Pop!]]<br>Spooky Cauldron icon in ''Bloons Pop!''
|[[File:BP prop WitchsCauldron.png|150px|Spooky Cauldron icon in Bloons Pop!]]<br>Spooky Cauldron icon in ''Bloons Pop!''
|AHU?
|AHU?
|—
|—
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==References==
==References==
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Bloons Monkey City]][[Category:Bloons TD 6]][[Category:Bloons TD Battles 2]][[Category:Bloons Pop!]][[Category:Bloons Card Storm]]