amiguito
/amiˈɡito/
The Spanish phrase for little buddy is amiguito.
amiguito is an affectionate term used to refer to a young male friend or a child.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed by combining amigo (friend) with the diminutive suffix -ito (little).
Which one should you use?
While amigo means friend, amiguito adds a layer of endearment or emphasizes the smallness/youth of the person being addressed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexican Spanish, cuate is an informal way to refer to a close friend or little buddy.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a young female friend or child, change the masculine -o ending to the feminine -a to get amiguita. The plural form for a group of male or mixed-gender little buddies is amiguitos.
How do you pronounce it?
/amiˈɡito/
Did you know?
- If you are in Mexico and want to sound more like a local 'buddy', you might use the word cuate, which historically refers to 'twins' in the Nahuatl language.
- While amiguito describes a friend, the related word compadre is often used as a 'buddy' term and refers to the spiritual relationship between a father and a godparent.
- While amiguito is sweet, using it with a stranger or an adult can actually sound condescending or patronizing, as if you are treating them like a child.
Examples in context
- Gracias por tu ayuda, compañerito.Thank you for your help, little buddy.
- Ven, amiguito, vamos a jugar.Come on, little buddy, let's play.
- ¡Qué bien lo pasamos, compañerito!We had such a great time, little buddy!
- Hola, amiguito, ¿cómo estás?Hello, little buddy, how are you?
- Ven aquí, amiguito, para jugar.Come here, little buddy, to play.
- Eres un amiguito muy valiente.You are a very brave little buddy.
Example conversation
Sofía introduces her young nephew to Alejandro.
- Alejandro¡Hola! ¿Quién es este niño?Hi! Who is this boy?
- SofíaEs mi sobrino, mi amiguito favorito.It's my nephew, my favorite little buddy.
- AlejandroEs muy simpático, amiguito.He's very nice, little buddy.
- SofíaSí, es muy dulce con todos.Yes, he is very sweet with everyone.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry amiguito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
