pana
slang, Ecuador
The most Ecuadorian way to say "bro" is pana, a casual word for a close friend. Ñaño means brother and is also used warmly for a pal. It is also called Brother.
Meaning: friendly word for a close male friend (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| pana | slang, Ecuador |
| Brother | casual |
| Ñaño | brother, Ecuador |
Pana is used among friends of any age, as in Qué más, pana. Use it only with people you know, since it is casual.
Which one should you use?
Ñaño also means a real brother in Ecuador, and the feminine form is ñaña. Pana always means a friend.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Pana is also heard in some other Latin American countries, but it feels especially at home in Ecuador.
Did you know?
- Ñaño comes from Kichwa and is widely used in Ecuador for brother.
Examples in context
- Qué más, pana.What's up, bro.
- Mi ñaño vive en Guayaquil.My brother lives in Guayaquil.
- Gracias, pana, me ayudaste mucho.Thanks, bro, you helped me a lot.
Example conversation
Diego meets his friend Andrés outside a stadium in Quito.
- DiegoQué más, pana. ¿Cómo estás?What's up, bro. How are you?
- AndrésBien, ñaño. ¿Y vos?Good, bro. And you?
- DiegoTodo bien. Vamos entrando.All good. Let's go in.
