Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amigo | /aˈmiɡo/ | masculine |
| amiga | /aˈmiɡa/ | feminine |
| cousín | /kouˈsin/ | intimate, masculine |
| parcero | /paɾˈθeɾo/ /paɾˈseɾo/ |
intimate, masculine |
| asere | /aˈseɾe/ | intimate, masculine |
| acere | /aˈθeɾe/ /aˈseɾe/ |
intimate, masculine |
| chero | /ˈt͡ʃeɾo/ | intimate, masculine |
| acuache | /aˈkwat͡ʃe/ | intimate, masculine |
| cuate | /ˈkwate/ | feminine, intimate, masculine |
The term amigo or amiga refers to a person whose company one enjoys. While amigo is the standard word for a friend, it is also frequently used as a direct address to get someone's attention, similar to 'mate' or 'pal' in English.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where 'friend' is gender-neutral, Spanish requires choosing amigo for a male and amiga for a female.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Several informal and slang terms exist for 'friend' or 'buddy', such as Compa, Pana and the slang term parcero.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, amigo/a is widely used. In Argentina, Boludo/a is a friendly way to address close friends. In Colombia, the slang term parcero is used for buddy or bro. In Cuba, asere is a colloquial way to say friend or buddy. In Mexico, the term cuate is a colloquial way to refer to a close friend.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural form amigos is used to refer to a group of male friends or a mixed group of male and female friends. The feminine plural form amigas is used to refer exclusively to a group of female friends.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈmiɡo/
Did you know?
- The Mexican term cuate for 'friend' comes from the Nahuatl word for 'twin', implying that a best friend is like a sibling.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the distinction between an amigo and a conocido (acquaintance) is much stricter than in English, where 'friend' is often used loosely for anyone known.
- The Spanish word amigo comes from the Latin word amīcus, which is derived from amō, meaning 'to love'.
Examples in context
- Vi a un amigo.I saw a friend.This sentence shows how to use amigo to talk about seeing a friend.Tatoeba #2059546 by Shishir, translation #1213443 by alec
- Él es su amigo.He's her friend.This sentence shows how to use amigo to describe someone's friend.Tatoeba #506053 by Shishir, translation #453154 by CH
- Él es tu amigo.He's your friend.Tatoeba #2035820 by marcelostockle, translation #1780049 by Spamster
- Hola, mi amigo/a. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, my friend. How are you?
- Me alegra verte, compañero/a.I'm glad to see you, my friend.
- Eres un colega genial.You're a great friend.
- Estos años de trabajo juntos nos han hecho buenos socios/as y amigos/as.These years of working together have made us good partners and friends.
- ¿Qué tal, compa? ¿Vamos al cine?What's up, buddy? Shall we go to the movies?
- Oye, cuate, ¿te gustaría salir a pasear?Hey, pal, would you like to go out for a stroll?
- ¡Eres el mejor, bro!You're the best, bro!
- 1113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking about a person they know.
- Mateo¿Conoces a mi nuevo amigo?Do you know my new friend?
- MaríaNo, no lo conozco.No, I don't know him.
- MateoEs un amigo muy divertido.He is a very fun friend.
- MaríaMe encantaría conocerlo.I would love to meet him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “friend” translations and entries amigo, amiga, cousín, parcero, asere, acere, chero, acuache, cuate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amiga, amigo, parcero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
