Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tipo | /ˈtipo/ | Argentina, masculine |
| buey | /ˈbwei/ | |
| güey | /ˈɡwei/ /ˈw̝ei/ |
Mexico |
| gallo | /ˈɡaʝo/ | Chile |
| mae | /ˈmae/ | Costa Rica, feminine, masculine |
| man | /ˈman/ | Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, masculine |
| tío | /ˈtio/ | Spain, masculine |
| vato | /ˈbato/ | Mexico |
| pata | /ˈpata/ | Peru, masculine |
| mishule | /misule/ (from spelling rules) | El Salvador, masculine |
| gachó | /ɡaˈt͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| prójimo | /ˈpɾoximo/ | colloquial, masculine |
While the primary meaning is a man or male, several terms can be used depending on context. In some cases, words like Chico (boy) or Muchacho (young man or lad) are used informally to refer to a guy. The word tipo itself can mean either a person (a guy) or a category (a type or kind of something) depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
The word tío literally means 'uncle', but is used colloquially to mean 'guy' or 'dude'. Similarly, tipo can refer to a person or a 'type/kind' of something. The term mae is a gender-neutral colloquialism, whereas most other terms in this list are specified as masculine.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Many of these terms are highly informal or slang. For example, güey is a very common informal way to say 'guy' or 'dude' in Mexico, but it can be considered rude depending on the context and tone. Vato is used in Mexico and is often associated with street slang or specific subcultures. Prójimo is used colloquially to refer to a person.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions use specific terms for guy: tipo is used in Argentina and parts of Latin America. güey and vato are used in Mexico. gallo is used in Chile. mae is used in Costa Rica. man is used in Colombia, Ecuador and Panama. tío is used in Spain. pata is used in Peru. And mishule is used in El Salvador.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Costa Rica, the colloquialism mae is used as a gender-neutral term for 'guy' or 'dude', meaning it can be used even when referring to women.
Did you know?
- In Mexico, the common slang for 'guy' or 'dude', güey, is actually a phonetic variation of the word buey, which means 'ox'.
- In Peru, the informal term for a 'guy' or a friend is pata, which is a word that also means 'leg' or 'paw' in other contexts.
- If you call someone a gallo in certain parts of Latin America, you are using a term for 'guy' that literally means 'rooster'.
Examples in context
- No es un mal tipo.He's not a bad guy.This sentence is useful for describing a person's character using tipo.Tatoeba #3034996 by Shishir, translation #1887029 by Spamster
- Este tío es genial.This guy is great.This sentence shows how to use tío to refer to someone.Tatoeba #1619730 by Shishir, translation #1616964 by Spamster
- Soy un tipo normal.I'm a normal guy.This sentence illustrates the use of tipo to describe a person's nature.Tatoeba #2396340 by hayastan, translation #2282049 by Hybrid
- Ese chico es muy simpáticoThat guy is very friendly
- ¿Viste a aquel muchacho?Did you see that guy?
- 123 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a new person at work.
- MateoEse tipo es muy simpático.That guy is very nice.
- Lucía¿Te refieres al nuevo?Are you referring to the new guy?
- MateoSí, es un buen tipo.Yes, he is a good guy.
- LucíaQué bueno que te cayó bien.I'm glad you liked him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guy” translations and entries tipo, buey, güey, gallo, mae, man, tío, vato, pata, mishule, gachó, prójimo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buey, gallo, güey, tipo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
