hombre
/ˈombɾe/
The Spanish word hombre means an adult human male.
In its literal sense, hombre refers to an adult male. However, it is also used informally as a way to address someone, similar to how one might say "dude" in English.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Depending on the region, other words may be used to express the informal sense of "dude". In Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, you might hear the colloquial term pana. In Spain, particularly in regions such as Andalusia, the informal variation macho is commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to more than one man, use the plural form hombres.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈombɾe/
Did you know?
- The word hombre is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'earth', as both trace back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'earthling'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, ¡Hombre! is used as an interjection to express surprise, disbelief, or emphasis, regardless of whether the person being spoken to is a man.
- While hombre means 'man', Spanish uses the word persona for a 'person' and gente for 'people', but el hombre can be used in formal writing to refer to the entire human race.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, hombre! ¿Qué tal estás?Hey, dude! How are you?
- Ese hombre es muy amable.That man is very kind.
- ¿Viste a aquel hombre?Did you see that man?
- El hombre lleva una camisa azul.The man is wearing a blue shirt.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are looking for a new landlord.
- JavierMira, allí viene el hombre del anuncio.Look, there comes the man from the ad.
- SofíaEs él, parece muy serio.It is him, he looks very serious.
- JavierHola, soy Javier. Soy el nuevo inquilino.Hello, I am Javier. I am the new tenant.
- SofíaY yo soy Sofía, mucho gusto.And I am Sofía, nice to meet you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hombre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hombre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
