Inklingo

How to Say "friends" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “friends” is “amigos” — use 'amigos' for general, all-purpose friends, whether they are close or just acquaintances you like. It's the most common and neutral term..

English → Spanish

amigos

/ah-MEE-gohs//aˈmiɣos/

nounA1General
Use 'amigos' for general, all-purpose friends, whether they are close or just acquaintances you like. It's the most common and neutral term.
A diverse group of three young people laughing and walking together outdoors.

Examples

Mis amigos y yo vamos al cine esta noche.

My friends and I are going to the movies tonight.

Ellos son mis mejores amigos desde la infancia.

They have been my best friends since childhood.

Hice muchos amigos nuevos en mi viaje a Colombia.

I made a lot of new friends on my trip to Colombia.

The Mixed-Group Rule

In Spanish, if a group of friends includes even one male person, you must use the masculine plural form 'amigos'. The word 'amigas' is only for groups of all females.

Forgetting the Mixed-Group Rule

Mistake: “Seeing a group of five women and one man and saying 'mis amigas'.”

Correction: Always use 'mis amigos' for a mixed-gender group. Think of the '-o' ending as the default for groups unless you're 100% sure everyone is female.

camaradas

/kah-mah-RAH-dahs//kamaˈɾaðas/

nounA2General, slightly more formal than 'amigos' in some contexts
Choose 'camaradas' to refer to close companions, especially those you share a common activity or group with, like schoolmates or teammates.
Two children smiling and holding hands while walking together on a grassy hill, symbolizing close companionship and friendship.

Examples

Mis camaradas de la escuela me ayudaron con el proyecto.

My friends from school helped me with the project.

¡Hola, camaradas! ¿Qué vamos a hacer esta noche?

Hey, buddies! What are we going to do tonight?

A Noun for Everyone

The singular form, 'camarada', can be used for both men ('el camarada') and women ('la camarada') because the meaning refers to the relationship, not the gender ending.

patas

PAH-tas/ˈpatas/

nounB2Slang (Spain)
Use 'patas' only in informal, slang contexts in Spain to refer to very close friends or buddies, similar to 'mates'.
A group of three cartoonish, smiling figures standing side-by-side with arms around each other's shoulders, depicting close friendship.

Examples

Esta noche salimos de copas con las patas.

Tonight we're going out for drinks with our friends/mates.

Él y yo somos patas desde el colegio.

He and I have been buddies since school.

Context is Key

When used in this slang sense, 'patas' refers to people, but it maintains its feminine form. Don't worry about changing it based on the gender of your friends.

causas

/KOW-sahs//ˈkausas/

nounC1Slang (Latin America)
Employ 'causas' in very informal, colloquial settings, particularly in Latin America, to denote close buddies or pals.
Three happy friends laughing and walking together with their arms around each other.

Examples

Salí a comer con mis causas.

I went out to eat with my buddies.

Avoiding Slang and Regionalisms

The most common mistake is using slang terms like 'patas' or 'causas' in formal situations or outside their specific regions. Always default to 'amigos' unless you are sure the context and audience are appropriate for slang.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.