chamo
slang, Venezuela
In Venezuelan slang "dude" is chamo, and pana means a close friend. Both are relaxed words for talking to people you know. It is also called Mi pana.
Meaning: casual word for a guy or a friend (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| chamo | slang, Venezuela |
| Pana | slang, friend |
| Mi pana | slang, my buddy |
Chamo (feminine chama) means a young guy or a kid and works as a form of address: Oye, chamo. Pana is a friend or buddy, as in mi pana.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
These words are for informal talk with friends. Do not use them with a boss or an older stranger.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Chamo and pana are strongly linked to Venezuelan speech, although pana is also used in Ecuador and Colombia.
Did you know?
- The word chama is the feminine form, so a Venezuelan can say una chama to mean "a girl".
Examples in context
- Oye, chamo, ¿viste el juego?Hey, dude, did you see the game?
- Es mi pana de toda la vida.He is my buddy since forever.
- Dime, pana, ¿qué pasó?Tell me, buddy, what happened?
Example conversation
Two friends, Miguel and Alex, meet outside school after class.
- Miguel¡Epa, chamo!Hey, dude!
- Alex¿Qué tal, pana?How is it going, buddy?
- MiguelTodo bien. ¿Y tú?All good. And you?
