Inklingo

How to Say "friend" in Spanish

English → Spanish

amigo

/ah-MEE-go//aˈmiɣo/

nounA1general
Use 'amigo' to refer to a male friend or a group of friends where at least one is male, or when the gender is unknown or mixed.
Two diverse male friends standing side-by-side with their arms around each other's shoulders, smiling warmly at the camera in a park setting.

Examples

Carlos es mi amigo de la infancia.

Carlos is my childhood friend.

Juan es mi mejor amigo.

Juan is my best friend.

Hice muchos amigos en mi viaje a México.

I made many friends on my trip to Mexico.

Oye, amigo, ¿me puedes ayudar?

Hey, friend, can you help me?

Gender: Amigo vs. Amiga

Use 'amigo' for a male friend. For a group of friends, use 'amigos' if there's at least one male. Use 'amiga' only for a female friend, and 'amigas' for a group of all-female friends.

Confusing 'Amigo' with 'Boyfriend'

Mistake: “Él es mi amigo. (Thinking it means 'He is my boyfriend.')”

Correction: To say 'boyfriend,' you usually use 'novio.' Saying 'Él es mi amigo' almost always just means 'He is my (platonic) friend'.

pata

/pa-ta//ˈpata/

nounB2informal
Use 'pata' (primarily in Argentina) as a very informal term for a close female friend or a group of female friends, similar to 'mate' or 'pal'.
Two young girls with contrasting hair colors smiling brightly and giving each other a friendly high-five in a park.

Examples

Voy a cenar con mis patas mañana.

I'm going to have dinner with my friends tomorrow.

Fui al cine con mis patas el sábado pasado. (Used in Argentina)

I went to the movies with my friends last Saturday.

¡Hola, pata! ¿Cómo andas?

Hey, pal! How are you doing?

Regional Slang

This meaning is primarily used in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile) and is highly informal. Avoid using it in formal settings.

Amigo vs. Pata

Learners often misuse 'pata' by using it for any friend or in regions where it's not common. Remember 'pata' is very informal, specifically used for female friends in Argentina, while 'amigo' is the general, gender-neutral term.

Related Translations

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