los tres amigos
/los tɾes amiɡos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the three amigos" is translated into Spanish as los tres amigos.
This phrase is used to refer to a group of three close friends.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of los (the, masculine plural), tres (three) and amigos (friends, masculine plural).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Venezuela, the informal expression Los Tres Panas is used to refer to a close-knit group of friends. In Colombia, the slang term Los Tres Parceros is used to refer to friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on the gender of the people in the group. If the group consists exclusively of females, you should use las tres amigas. If the group is all male or a mixed-gender group, use los tres amigos.
How do you pronounce it?
/los tɾes amiɡos/
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use the word 'amigo' as a loanword, in many Spanish-speaking regions, calling a stranger amigo can actually sound condescending or overly-familiar if the tone is not carefully controlled.
- In Caribbean Spanish, calling a group of three friends el trío can be risky, as it often implies a romantic or sexual arrangement rather than a platonic friendship.
- If you are in a very informal setting in Mexico, you might hear people refer to a group of three friends as los tres compas, using a shorthand version of compadres.
Examples in context
- Los tres amigos fueron al cine.The three friends went to the cinema.
- ¿Dónde están los tres amigos?Where are the three friends?
- Los tres amigos siempre viajan juntos.The three friends always travel together.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are looking at an old photograph.
- Javier¿Quiénes son ellos en la foto?Who are they in the photo?
- ElenaEllos son los tres amigos.They are the three amigos.
- JavierSe ven muy felices juntos.They look very happy together.
- ElenaSí, siempre hacían todo juntos.Yes, they always did everything together.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
