20 Ways to Say “Friend” in Spain and Latin America

Quien tiene un amigo, tiene un tesoro (Whoever has a friend has a treasure!) This Spanish saying is about friendship. It tells us that when we have a good friend by our side, the value of that friendship is equivalent to a treasure. That’s why, in this post, we bring you 20 different ways to say amigo/amiga (“friend”), both in Spain and in other Latin American countries.

In Spain

1. Colega. Used for a colleague at school, university, work, or any shared activity, but also affectionately. You might also hear the shortened version, colegui. ➡ “She’s my colega; we met years ago at university, and that’s where our friendship started.”

   Note: Same form for masculine and feminine.

2. Compañero/a, compi. Refers to members of a group or community. The short form compi is for closer friends. ➡ “He’s my compi at work; we get along great.”
3. Tronco/a. Besides “tree trunk,” it’s used in Madrid and central Spain for a friend in informal contexts. ➡ “Tronca, you won’t believe what I have to tell you.” Short form: tron.
4. Tete/a. Typical in Valencia. Used for siblings, cousins, or friends. ➡ “Let’s go pick up my tete, I promised.”
5. Peña. Refers to a group of friends. ➡ “This is my favorite peña, I don’t know what I’d do without them!”
6. Cuadrilla. A group of friends, mainly in the Basque Country. ➡ “I’m meeting my cuadrilla to play football.”
7. Hermano/a. Literally “brother/sister,” but used for very close friends. Younger people also use bro. ➡ “These are my hermanos, I’ve known them since school.”
8. Tío/a. Besides “uncle/aunt,” also means “friend” in an informal way. ➡ “Tía! Something crazy just happened to me.”

In Latin America

9. Carnal/a. In Mexico, means friend. ➡ “Here comes my carnal.”
10. Cuate. Also Mexican. ➡ “Meet my cuates, they’re the best.”
11. Weon/a. In Chile. Can mean friend or be an insult depending on tone. ➡ “That weon is my best friend.”
12. Parce / parcero. In Colombia. ➡ “They’re my lifelong parceros.”
13. Boludo/a. Argentina. Friendly but only with close friends. ➡ “Boluda, come to the party!”
14. Pana. Venezuela. Same for both genders. ➡ “He’s my pana from school.”
15. Chamo/a. Also Venezuela. ➡ “You’re the best chamos.”
16. Causa / causita. Peru. ➡ “Tomorrow is my favorite causita’s birthday.”
17. Pata. Peru. Same use as causa. ➡ “They’ve been patas since they were six.”
18. Llave. Ecuador. ➡ “Antonio is my llave.”
19. Ñaño/a. Ecuador. Originally “sibling,” also close friend. ➡ “We’ll be ñaños for life.”
20. Pibe. Uruguay (also Argentina, Paraguay). ➡ “The pibes have to be there through thick and thin.”

After seeing all these Spanish words for “friend,” which one is your favorite? Which did you find the most interesting? Next time you see your Spanish-speaking friends, ask if they know other words or special names for their group.

Tips to make new friends while learning Spanish

• Try a Spanish immersion course: you’ll meet lots of people eager to practice. Use our Spanish course price calculator to plan your stay.
• Join our Facebook or Instagram communities to connect with students.

Without a doubt, the best way to learn is by practicing with real people. At Inhispania, our Spanish courses in Madrid give you the chance to study with native teachers, meet international students, and discover plenty of new ways to say amigo/amiga. 😊