qué pasa, hermano
/ˈke ˈpasa eɾˈmano/word by word
The English phrase "sup bro" can be translated into Spanish as qué pasa, hermano.
This phrase is an informal greeting used to ask a male friend how he is doing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of qué pasa (what happens) and hermano (brother).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
qué pasa, hermano is highly informal and should only be used with friends or peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, a common slang equivalent to "sup bro" is ¿Qué onda, güey?
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈke ˈpasa eɾˈmano/
When do people say it?
A common natural response to qué pasa is nada (nothing) followed by asking the same question back, such as Nada, ¿y tú?
Did you know?
- The word güey used in Mexico is a linguistic evolution of the word buey, meaning 'ox'. Over time, it shifted from an insult implying someone is slow-witted to a friendly term like 'dude' or 'bro'.
- The word hermano shares an unexpected connection to the English word 'germane', which describes something closely related or relevant.
- In some Caribbean cultures, the equivalent of 'bro' can be a term like mano, which is a shortened version of hermano.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, qué pasa, compa!Hey, what's up, buddy!
- Qué pasa, hermano, ¿cómo va todo?Sup bro, how is everything going?
- ¡Qué pasa, hermano! Mucho tiempo sin verte.Sup bro! Long time no see.
- Oye, qué pasa, hermano, ¿estás listo?Hey, sup bro, are you ready?
Example conversation
Javier greets his friend while Sofía is standing with them.
- Javier¡Qué pasa, hermano! ¿Dónde estabas?Sup bro! Where were you?
- SofíaEstaba en el gimnasio con Sofía.I was at the gym with Sofía.
- JavierAh, ya entiendo. ¿Vamos por un café?Ah, I see. Shall we go for a coffee?
- SofíaSí, me parece una buena idea.Yes, that sounds like a good idea.
