Translations dictionary
güey
or guey or wey or buey [wey]
What does güey mean?
Güey, pronounced “whey,” is Mexican slang for “dumbass” or “idiot,” although it is can also be used more as a slang term for “man” or “dude.”
Where does güey come from?
The word güey comes from the Spanish word buey, which literally means “ox” or “steer.” As early as the 1840s, buey came to refer to a “cuckold.”
The slang insult güey, for “idiot” or “stupid person” emerges from the “cuckold” sense of buey. A man whose wife cheats on him, you see, isn’t exactly held in high esteem.
By the 1860s, buey had evolved into the form of güey in dialects of Spanish. The original buey is still sometimes used instead instead of güey in slang Spanish.
MemesHappen
Guëy spread in popular slang in central America, particularly Mexico, over the 1900s. Language is ever changing, especially slang terms, and so güey softened in tone to a more casual term (of address) among male friends or acquaintances, à la “man,” “dude,” or “bro” in English.
For example, you could ask a friend “Who’s that güey?” (“Who’s that guy?”). Or perhaps you could greet someone with “¿Qué onda, güey?” (“What’s up, man?”).
I hate Jameson, why the fuck did I drink Jameson. Whoever is reading this dont let.lme do it again guey.
— 🍁🍏caramel apple🍏🍁 (@xmadisonmae) January 21, 2019
Examples of güey
Who uses güey?
The word güey is especially associated with Mexican slang, but it’s used throughout central America and their populations/descendants in the United States.
As noted, güey is informal, so it wouldn’t be appropriate in business or other formal contexts.
bruh ain’t that the: “ya guey, por favor guey, pinche pendejo guey.” pose https://t.co/IQIL8HathE
— SwollBoyQ 💧 (@gaberv) January 21, 2019
Between friends (both male and female), güey is a friendly term to refer to someone without using their name. But güey can also be wielded as an insult.
Happy birthday to my roommate🥳 thanks for putting up with me and doing pendejadas with me 😇 te quiero guey 🥰 pic.twitter.com/ZddO4k6m9a
— gisell (@Hernandezz_35) January 15, 2019
Güey is such a common slang term that it’s often used in Spanglish (mixed Spanish and English). It’s commonly found in the expression ¡No mames güey!, which roughly translates to “You’re kidding me!”
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of güey like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of güey that will help our users expand their word mastery.