hermano
/eɾˈmano/
The English phrase "bruh" can be expressed in Spanish using hermano.
hermano is used to express amazement or shock. Other informal terms like Compa (derived from compañero), Pana (common in various Latin American countries) or Tío/Tía (literally uncle/aunt) are also used to address friends or express informal sentiment.
Meaning: amazement or shock (intj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, wey is extensively used among friends. In Argentina, che is used to address friends casually. In Colombia, parce is a common informal term among friends.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɾˈmano/
Did you know?
- The word hermano shares a common ancestor with the English word 'germane', which means 'relevant' or 'closely related'.
- If you use hermano to express shock in Spain, you might sound more like a person imitating American hip-hop culture than a local Spaniard.
- In some Caribbean dialects, calling someone hermano can be used ironically to highlight a social distance, even though it literally implies closeness.
Examples in context
- ¡Hermano, qué fuerte!Bruh, that's crazy!
- ¡Hermano, qué locura!Bruh, that's madness!
Example conversation
Alejandro tells Elena a shocking piece of news.
- AlejandroHermano, ¡me despidieron hoy!Bruh, I got fired today!
- Elena¡¿Qué?, no me lo creo!What? I can't believe it!
- AlejandroSí, fue muy repentino.Yes, it was very sudden.
- ElenaLo siento mucho, Alejandro.I am so sorry, Alejandro.
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.
