Say Like a Local

Ways to Say "Friend" in Spanish

The standard word is amigo (amiga for a woman), and it works in almost any situation. Spanish also has a rich set of region-specific slang words for a close buddy, like compa, cuate and pana.

The most common way

A friend — the neutral, all-purpose word for someone you like and spend time with, from a classmate to an old companion.

How to say it: Stress the middle syllable: a-MI-go. The g between vowels is soft and breathy, not a hard English g.

Other ways to say it

  • feminine form

    A female friend; also the normal way to address a woman you know politely.

    When to use it: Use it when the friend is a woman or girl, or when a woman is speaking about her own friend.

  • casual, very common

    Buddy, mate — a shortened, warm and relaxed word for a friend or workmate.

    When to use it: Say it to someone you already know well, in everyday chat in Mexico, Central America and increasingly elsewhere.

  • Mexican slang

    Pal, buddy — an affectionate slang word for a close friend.

    When to use it: Use it in casual conversation in Mexico with friends your own age, never in a formal setting.

  • Caribbean / Venezuelan slang

    Mate, bro — a very common slang word for a close friend.

    When to use it: Use it with friends in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and around the Caribbean; it sounds out of place in Spain.

  • friendly, professional

    Colleague — but also used warmly for a friend in the same line of work or study.

    When to use it: Use it at work, at university or among people who share a profession and are on friendly terms.

In a conversation

  1. A

    ¿ ?

    Who's your friend?

  2. B

    , .

    He's my buddy from work, we've been together for years.

  3. A

    .

    You can tell he's a good friend.

Common mistakes

  • un amiga → una amiga

    Amiga is feminine, so it takes the feminine article una.

  • Mi compadre es mi mejor amigo del colegio. → Mi compa es mi mejor amigo del colegio.

    Compadre literally means your child's godfather or co-parent, so use compa for a plain buddy.

  • ¿Qué tal, pana? (said in Madrid) → ¿Qué tal, colega? (said in Madrid)

    Pana is Caribbean and Venezuelan slang; in Spain people say colega or tío instead.