amigo invisible
/aˌmiɡo imbiˈsible/masculine
The English phrase 'secret santa' is translated into Spanish as amigo invisible. Wiktionary also lists amigo secreto and cuchumbo.
Meaning: tradition (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amigo invisible | /aˌmiɡo imbiˈsible/ | masculine |
| amigo secreto | /aˌmiɡo seˈkɾeto/ | masculine |
| cuchumbo | /kuˈt͡ʃumbo/ | masculine |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase amigo invisible literally translates to 'invisible friend'.
Which one should you use?
Amigo invisible is the most common way to refer to the tradition in Spain. In many Latin American countries, amigo secreto is the preferred term. Additionally, cuchumbo is another way to name this tradition.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, both amigo invisible and amigo secreto are used to refer to Secret Santa.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender and number with the person or people being referred to. For example, if the person assigned as the Secret Santa is female, use amiga invisible. For a group of women, use amigas invisibles.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˌmiɡo imbiˈsible/
Did you know?
- The term cuchumbo used in some regions is an unexpected relative of the Mayan word chum, highlighting the deep indigenous linguistic roots in certain parts of the Spanish-speaking world.
- In some regions, the tradition is not just about the final gift but involves a period of endulzar, where the amigo invisible leaves small candies for their target before the main exchange.
Examples in context
- Hey, ¿quieren participar en nuestro Amigo Invisible?Hey, do you want to participate in our Secret Santa?
- Vamos a hacer un Cambio de Regalos, ¿se apuntan?We are going to do a gift exchange, are you in?
- Vamos a jugar al amigo invisible en la oficina.We are going to play secret santa at the office.
- ¿Ya sabes quién es tu amigo invisible?Do you already know who your secret santa is?
- El amigo invisible de mi hermano es mi primo.My brother's secret santa is my cousin.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking about a holiday gift exchange in the breakroom.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿vas a participar en el amigo invisible?Alejandro, are you going to participate in the secret santa?
- AlejandroSí, María, me encanta esa tradición.Yes, María, I love that tradition.
- MaríaYo ya compré el regalo para mi amigo invisible.I already bought the gift for my secret santa.
- Alejandro¡Qué bien! Espero que le guste mucho.That's great! I hope he likes it a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “secret santa” translations and entries amigo invisible, amigo secreto, cuchumbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amigo, cuchumbo, invisible, secreto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
