amiga
/ah-MEE-gah/
friend
Amiga is the Spanish word for a female friend (noun).
amiga(Noun)
friend
?a female friend
girlfriend
?romantic partner, can be informal
,pal
?casual, friendly term
📝 In Action
Mi mejor amiga se llama Sofía.
A1My best friend's name is Sofía.
Voy a salir con unas amigas esta noche.
A1I'm going out with some friends tonight.
Te presento a Elena, es mi amiga.
A2Let me introduce you to Elena, she's my friend.
En algunos contextos, la presentó como su amiga para no decir que era su novia.
B1In some contexts, he introduced her as his 'friend' to avoid saying she was his girlfriend.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching Gender
In Spanish, many words have a gender. 'Amiga' ends in '-a' and is always used for a female friend. For a male friend or a group of friends that includes a male, you use 'amigo' or 'amigos'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Talking About Mixed Groups
Mistake: "When talking about a group of friends including Ana and Juan, a learner might say: 'Mis amigas son Ana y Juan.'"
Correction: Even if there's only one male in a group of females, Spanish uses the masculine plural form. The correct way is: 'Mis amigos son Ana y Juan.'
⭐ Usage Tips
A Friendly Greeting
You can call someone 'amiga' as a warm, friendly greeting, even if you don't know them well. A shopkeeper might say, 'Hola, amiga, ¿en qué te puedo ayudar?' (Hi, friend, how can I help you?).
As an adjective, amiga (feminine) can describe a friendly or allied entity, such as a 'nación amiga' (friendly nation).
amiga(Adjective)
friendly
?describing a relationship or nation
allied
?in a political or military sense
📝 In Action
La nación amiga nos ofreció su apoyo.
B1The friendly nation offered us its support.
Es una empresa amiga que siempre colabora con nosotros.
B2It's a friendly company that always collaborates with us.
💡 Grammar Points
Where to Place the Adjective
As an adjective, 'amiga' almost always comes after the noun it describes, like 'una potencia amiga' (a friendly power). This is the standard placement for descriptive adjectives in Spanish.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Groups
This adjective form is perfect for talking about relationships between groups, not just people. The masculine form is very common in phrases like 'fuego amigo' (friendly fire) or 'países amigos' (friendly countries).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: amiga
Question 1 of 2
If you are introducing your female friend, María, what would you say?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'amiga' and 'compañera'?
'Amiga' implies a personal, emotional connection (a friend). 'Compañera' is more about a shared situation, like a classmate ('compañera de clase') or a coworker ('compañera de trabajo'). You can be compañeras without being amigas.
Is it okay to call a stranger 'amiga'?
Yes, in many Spanish-speaking regions, it's a common and friendly way to address a woman you don't know, especially in informal settings like a market or a store. It creates a warm, welcoming tone.