hermano
/eɾˈmano/
The English phrase "brudda" can be translated into Spanish as hermano.
An informal way to address a brother or a very close male friend.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, mano is a term used to convey a sense of brotherhood or friendship. In Spain, tío means uncle and is used as a colloquial term for addressing friends and acquaintances.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɾˈmano/
Did you know?
- The Spanish hermano actually replaced the older Spanish word fradre, which was derived from the Latin 'frater' and is the ancestor of the English word 'friar'.
- In Mexico, the slang term cuate for a close friend is rooted in the Nahuatl word for 'twin'.
- In religious contexts, hermano transitions from a biological description to a spiritual title for any member of a congregation.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, bro! ¿Vienes a la fiesta esta noche?Hey, bro! Are you coming to the party tonight?
- ¡Ey, tío! ¿Vamos a tomar algo esta noche?Hey, dude! Let's grab a drink tonight?
- Él es mi hermano.He is my brother.
- ¿Qué pasa, hermano?What's up, bro?
Example conversation
Daniel greets his close friend Elena in the street.
- Daniel¡Hola, hermano! Mucho tiempo sin verte.Hey, bro! Long time no see.
- ElenaHola, Daniel. Yo también te extrañaba.Hi, Daniel. I missed you too.
- Daniel¿Quieres ir a comer algo, hermano?Do you want to go eat something, bro?
- ElenaSí, me parece una idea genial.Yes, that sounds like a great idea.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hermano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
