Friendship is a universal concept, but the words we use to express it can vary widely depending on the culture and region. In Spanish, the slang words for “friend” reflects the incredible diversity of the language across different countries\u2014in fact, there are over 100 ways to say it.<\/p>\n
Below I’ll show you\u00a0my favorite 45 Spanish slang<\/a> words for “friend,” offering insights into their meanings and the contexts where they’re used.<\/p>\n [fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n Where it’s used:<\/strong> Honduras, El Salvador<\/a> and Guatemala<\/a><\/p>\n Although\u00a0alero<\/em> literally means roof eaves, it’s most commonly used in these three countries to refer to a buddy or good friend, depending on the context.<\/p>\n Rodolfo es un buen alero.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Latin America<\/p>\n Similar to amigo<\/em> (friend), the word amigazo<\/em>\u00a0is also an informal reference to a buddy, pal or close friend.<\/p>\n However, you wouldn’t want to use this word in Chile, where it normally means bad company.<\/p>\n Antonio, sos un amigazo.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Cuba<\/a><\/p>\n Originating from the African-Efik language, this is the most popular word used in Cuba to refer to a friend or buddy. It’s also used by men to refer to other men.<\/p>\n Asere, \u00bfqu\u00e9 bol\u00e1?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Argentina<\/a><\/p>\n Even though the word\u00a0boludo\u00a0<\/em>(idiot) or (jerk) and it’s shorter forms, bol\u00fa\/bolu, <\/em>can have different meanings<\/a>, it’s quite often used when you want to get your friend’s attention.<\/p>\n It should also be noted that this word can have negative connotations and should only be used in context with your closest friends.<\/p>\n \u00a1Qu\u00e9 quilombo, boludo!<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Latin America<\/p>\n American English has had a significant influence on the way people speak Spanish slang in Latin America.<\/p>\n Great examples are the words\u00a0bro\/<\/em>br\u00f3der <\/em>(bro), which we’ve accepted as our own.<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 pas\u00f3, br\u00f3der?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Chile<\/a>, Costa Rica<\/a>, Mexico<\/a>, Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua<\/a>, Guatemala and El Salvador<\/p>\n The word\u00a0cabr\u00f3n <\/em>(bastard) is wildly popular among Spanish learners because it’s harshly used to describe an as*hole or bastard.<\/p>\n Though, in several Spanish-speaking countries, it’s absolutely normal to refer to this word when referencing your buddy.<\/p>\n The short form cabro <\/em>(goat) is mainly used in Chile and Costa Rica.<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa, cabr\u00f3n? \u00bfC\u00f3mo te trata la vida?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> The Dominican Republic<\/a><\/p>\n The word\u00a0cachanch\u00e1n <\/em>roughly translates to toady or subordinate in Spanish, and that’s exactly how they use it in Cuba<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, if you go to the Dominican Republic, a\u00a0cachanch\u00e1n\u00a0<\/em>(or, rather,\u00a0canchanch\u00e1n<\/em>, as they pronounce it) refers to a good friend.<\/p>\n Ah\u00ed viene mi canchanch\u00e1n, Peralta.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Latin America and Spain<\/p>\n The word\u00a0camarada <\/em>(comrade) can be used practically in every Spanish-speaking country to refer to your friends and pals informally.<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 hubo, camarada?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Argentina, Mexico<\/a>, Venezuela<\/a>, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua<\/p>\n Carnal\u00a0<\/em>comes from the word\u00a0carne\u00a0<\/em>(meat, flesh), and it’s used to refer to very close friends.<\/p>\n The word\u00a0carnal\u00a0<\/em>can also be used with family members (the expression “flesh of my flesh” comes to mind), so a\u00a0carnal\u00a0<\/em>is someone you’d consider family.<\/p>\n Sos mi carnal, Mario.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Peru<\/a><\/p>\n There are two main theories as to where the word\u00a0causa, <\/em>with the casual meaning of friend or buddy, comes from.<\/p>\n On the one hand,\u00a0causa <\/em>formally translates to lawsuit, which would explain why in some parts of Peru this word also refers to thieves.<\/p>\n On the other hand, some people think it comes from the English word cousin.<\/p>\n Whatever the case,\u00a0causa\u00a0<\/em>is very commonly used to refer to your buddy or friend, so make sure you use it if you ever meet a Peruvian!<\/p>\n \u00a1Habla, causa!<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Venezuela<\/p>\n Venezuelans use\u00a0chamo\u00a0<\/em>when talking about children and teenagers, but they also use this word to refer to their buddies.<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 hubo, chamo?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Argentina<\/p>\n There are very few words more Argentinian than the word che<\/em>.<\/p>\n You can use it to refer to your closest friends, your buddies and your colleagues.<\/p>\n This multipurpose word is so Argentinian that it means Argentinian person in countries such as Mexico and Chile.<\/p>\n Hey, che. \u00bfQu\u00e9 hac\u00e9s ac\u00e1?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> El Salvador and Honduras<\/p>\n Chero\u00a0<\/em>comes from the French word cher\u00a0<\/em>(dear, beloved), and it’s used to refer to your close friends.<\/p>\n Siempre la paso bien con mis cheros.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Peru<\/p>\n The words Chochera <\/em>(chauffeur or witchcraft), <\/em>and its short form\u00a0choche <\/em>(car or driver), as you can see, can have two very different meanings.<\/p>\n How that word came to mean friend in Peruvian Spanish is something I can’t understand, but it does.<\/p>\n Pedrito es mi choche desde que ten\u00edamos seis a\u00f1os.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Cuba<\/p>\n There’s not much information available about this word, but all sources agree that it means partner\/associate and it’s used on the island to refer to your friends.<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 bol\u00e1, cobio?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Spain<\/p>\n By definition, a\u00a0colega\u00a0<\/em>is a classmate or colleague, but it’s informally used to refer to your buddy.<\/p>\n Vamos a tomarnos una copas con mi colega, Paco.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Latin America (very common in Mexico)<\/p>\n Compadre<\/em> describes the relationship between someone’s father and godfather (a literal translation from Latin could be co-father.)<\/p>\n However, native Mexican speakers use this word to refer to their best mates or good friends.<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 onda, compadre? \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 tan triste?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Argentina, Costa Rica and Honduras<\/p>\n Every native Spanish speaker will understand the word\u00a0compa\u00f1ero\u00a0<\/em>or any of its short forms.<\/p>\n It officially translates to (partner or companion), but it can also be used to refer to your pals\/buddies, as well.<\/p>\n If you’re in Spain though, avoid using the longer and shorter forms, since they can be taken out of context in some regions.<\/p>\n Mi c\u00f5mpanero Luis est\u00e1 por llegar.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Latin America and Spain<\/p>\n The word\u00a0compinche<\/em> translates, and is used informally, to refer to your pals or buddies.<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 pas\u00f3, compinche?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Mexico<\/p>\n If someone from Mexico tells you they’re meeting their\u00a0cuadernos<\/em> (notebooks) in the evening, don’t think they’ve gone crazy. C<\/em>uaderno\u00a0<\/em>is actually a very popular way to refer to a friend in the country.<\/p>\n Juan y Marco son mis cuadernos.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Colombia<\/a><\/p>\n Many people in the world have\u00a0cuadros<\/em> (tables), but only Colombians will call their bros, buddies and friends the same word.<\/p>\n \u00bfQuiubo, cuadro?<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico<\/a>, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Bolivia<\/a> and Venezuela<\/p>\n Cuate <\/em>quite literally translates to buddy or dude.<\/p>\n However, it can also be used to refer to people you don’t know or are just acquaintances.<\/p>\n Vendr\u00e1 con un cuate ma\u00f1ana.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Cuba<\/p>\n C\u00fambila <\/em>is another Cuban word of African origin.<\/p>\n It comes from the term camba <\/em>(friend), and it’s used to refer to your buddies.<\/p>\n Gracias, c\u00fambila.<\/em> Where it’s used:<\/strong> Panama<\/a><\/p>\n1. Alero<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Rodolfo is a good friend.)<\/p>\n2. Amigazo<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Antonio, you’re a great friend.)<\/p>\n3. Acere<\/em> \/ <\/em>Asere<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, buddy?)<\/p>\n4. Boludo<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What a mess, dude!)<\/p>\n5. Bro<\/em> \/ <\/em>Br\u00f3der<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, bro?)<\/p>\n6. Cabr\u00f3n<\/em> \/ <\/em>Cabro<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, buddy? How’s life treating you?)<\/p>\n7. Cachanch\u00e1n<\/em> \/ <\/em>Canchanch\u00e1n<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Here comes my good friend, Peralta.)<\/p>\n8. Camarada<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, pal?)<\/p>\n9. Carnal<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(You’re family, Mario.)<\/p>\n10. Causa<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Hi there, buddy!)<\/p>\n11. Chamo<\/em> \/ <\/em>Chamito<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, buddy?)<\/p>\n12. Che<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Hey, buddy. What are you doing here?)<\/p>\n13. Chero<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(I always have fun with my friends.)<\/p>\n14. Chochera<\/em> \/ <\/em>Choche<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Pedrito has been my friend since we were six.)\u00a0<\/p>\n15. Cobio<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(How are you doing, friend?)<\/p>\n16. Colega<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Let’s go have some drinks with my buddy, Paco.)<\/p>\n17. Compadre<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, mate? Why so sad?)<\/p>\n18. Compa\u00f1ero<\/em> \/ <\/em>Compa<\/em> \/ <\/em>Compi<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(My buddy Luis is about to arrive.)<\/p>\n19. Compinche<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, buddy?)<\/p>\n20. Cuaderno<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Juan and Marco are my friends.)<\/p>\n21. Cuadro<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(What’s up, bro?)<\/p>\n22. Cuate<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(He’ll come with a buddy tomorrow.)<\/p>\n23. C\u00fambila<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n(Thanks, buddy.)<\/p>\n24. Fren<\/em><\/h2>\n