carnal
slang, Mexico
In Mexican slang, "bro" is carnal for a very close friend. Many Mexicans also say wey (also written güey) or cuate to a buddy.
Meaning: friend or buddy (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| carnal | slang, Mexico |
| wey | slang, Mexico |
| cuate | slang, Mexico |
Carnal carries trust and loyalty and is used between close friends. Cuate is a friendly word for a pal, and wey is so common that it is used all day among young people.
Which one should you use?
Wey can also be a mild insult or just "dude" depending on tone. With someone you do not know it can sound rude.
Is it said differently in some regions?
These words are typical of Mexico. In Spain you would hear tío or colega and in Argentina boludo or che.
Did you know?
- Cuate comes from the Nahuatl word coatl, which has the sense of "twin", and today it simply means buddy.
Examples in context
- Qué onda, carnal, ¿cómo andas?What's up, bro, how are you doing?
- Ese cuate es mi mejor amigo.That guy is my best friend.
- Oye, wey, ¿vamos por unos tacos?Hey dude, shall we go for some tacos?
Example conversation
Two longtime friends, Iván and Memo, meet outside a stadium in Guadalajara.
- IvánQué onda, carnal, ¿cómo estás?What's up, bro, how are you?
- MemoBien, wey. ¿Y tú?Good, dude. And you?
- IvánAquí, echándole ganas.Here, giving it my best.
- MemoVamos entrando, que ya va a empezar.Let us go in, it is about to start.
