Which one should you use?
meu amigo is used specifically for a male friend, while minha amiga is used for a female friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While meu amigo is standard, you can use the slang meu chapa to mean "my buddy" or "my pal". Another common colloquial way to address a friend is meu parceiro, which often implies a sense of partnership or camaraderie.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on gender and number. Use minha amiga when referring to a female friend. For a group of male friends or a mixed-gender group, use the plural meus amigos. If the group consists only of female friends, use the plural minhas amigas. For a male, you may also use the informal term Amigão.
How do you pronounce it?
/mew aˈmi.ɡu/. The word has three syllables and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- While meu amigo is standard, Brazilians often replace it with cara (literally 'face') when speaking to friends, turning 'my friend' into 'man' or 'dude'.
- The slang meu chapa uses a word that originally referred to a metal plate or a flat surface, now used to mean 'my pal'.
- In some regions of Brazil, meu parceiro can move beyond friendship to describe a 'partner in crime' or someone involved in a shady business deal.
Examples in context
- Bob é meu amigo.Bob is my friend.This sentence is useful for identifying a male friend using meu amigo.Tatoeba #404894 by brauliobezerra, translation #33182 by CN
- Tom é meu amigo.Tom is my friend.Tatoeba #576760 by brauliobezerra, translation #406604 by CK
- Ele é meu amigo.He's my friend.Tatoeba #1204990 by alexmarcelo, translation #555114 by FeuDRenais
- Ela é minha amigaShe is my friend
- Ele é meu amigoHe is my friend
- Você é minha amigaYou are my friend
- Oi, amigona! Estou com saudadesHey, my friend! I miss you
- Minhas amigasMy friends
- Ele é meu melhor amigoHe is my best friend
- 189 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe are talking about a person they both know at a party.
- BeatrizO Carlos é meu amigo.Carlos is my friend.
- FelipeEle é um ótimo rapaz.He is a great guy.
- BeatrizSim, ele é muito gentil.Yes, he is very kind.
- FelipeEu também gosto muito dele.I like him a lot too.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (meu, amigo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
