pare
In the Philippines, the Tagalog word for buddy is pare.
pare is a casual way for men to address a male friend, much like mate or dude.
Meaning: friend or casual acquaintance (pron)
What does it mean word for word?
It comes from a Spanish word for a godfather or close family friend.
What mistakes should you avoid?
It is used mainly between men. Use it only with friends or people your own age, not with elders.
Did you know?
- While pare is for men, women have their own equivalent for a close female buddy, mare, derived from kumare.
- In the Philippines, calling a stranger pare is a common social strategy to instantly create a sense of rapport and trust.
- While pare is a casual term for a friend, it is actually a shortened version of the more formal kumpare, which originally refers to the relationship between two men who share a godchild.
Examples in context
- Kumusta, pare?How are you, buddy?
- Salamat, pare.Thanks, buddy.
- Magaling ka talaga, pare.You are really good, buddy.
Example conversation
Ricardo greets a male friend at a cafe.
- RicardoUy pare, nandito ka na pala!Hey buddy, you're here already!
- AngelaOo, pasensya na at nahuli ako.Yes, sorry I'm late.
- RicardoAyos lang, pare. Order na tayo.It's okay, buddy. Let's order now.
- AngelaSige, kape muna ako.Sure, I'll have coffee first.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
