Inklingo

How to Say "fellow countryman" in Spanish

English → Spanish

paisano

pie-SAH-no/paiˈsano/

nounB1
Use 'paisano' when referring to someone from your same town, region, or country, especially when you want to emphasize a shared local or regional identity, or simply a general sense of belonging to the same place.
Two people shaking hands warmly in front of a shared national landmark.

Examples

¡Qué alegría encontrar a un paisano en este país!

What a joy to find a fellow countryman in this country!

Es mi paisano; los dos somos de un pueblo pequeño de Galicia.

He's my fellow countryman; we're both from a small village in Galicia.

Siempre trato de ayudar a mis paisanos cuando llegan a la ciudad.

I always try to help my fellow townspeople when they arrive in the city.

Matching Gender

Even though we are looking at 'paisano', remember to change the ending to -a ('paisana') when talking about a woman.

Confusing 'Countryman' with 'Citizen'

Mistake: “Using 'ciudadano' when you mean someone from your specific hometown.”

Correction: Use 'paisano' for the personal connection of coming from the same place; 'ciudadano' is for legal citizenship.

compatriota

/kom-pah-tree-OH-tah//kom.pa.tɾiˈo.ta/

nounB1
Choose 'compatriota' when you specifically want to highlight that someone is from the same nation or country as you, often in a more formal or political context, or when emphasizing national identity.
Two friendly people standing together and smiling warmly in a bright park.

Examples

Qué alegría encontrar a un compatriota en este pequeño pueblo de Japón.

What a joy to find a fellow countryman in this small town in Japan.

El presidente envió un mensaje de esperanza a todos sus compatriotas.

The president sent a message of hope to all his fellow citizens.

Muchos compatriotas viven en el extranjero por motivos de trabajo.

Many fellow countrymen live abroad for work reasons.

The 'A' Ending for Everyone

Even though it ends in 'a,' this word is used for both men and women. You only change the word before it: 'el compatriota' for a man and 'la compatriota' for a woman.

Making it Plural

To talk about more than one person, simply add an 's' to the end: 'los compatriotas' (men or a mixed group) or 'las compatriotas' (only women).

Avoid 'Compatrioto'

Mistake: “No es mi compatrioto.”

Correction: No es mi compatriota.

Paisano vs. Compatriota

The most common mistake is using 'compatriota' when 'paisano' would be more natural. While 'compatriota' is strictly national, 'paisano' can refer to someone from your town or region, making it broader. If you meet someone from your hometown abroad, 'paisano' is usually the better, more friendly choice.

Related Translations

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