amigo
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of amigo
1830–40, < Spanish < Latin amīcus
Compare meaning
How does amigo compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Your amigo is your buddy. You and your amigos might make plans to watch the fireworks together on the 4th of July. Use the word amigo to talk about a friend in a casual, colloquial way. When you run into an old pal you haven't seen in a while, you might call out, "Hey, amigo! Nice to see you!" It's most common to use this word in Spanish-speaking parts of the US, though most people will know exactly what you mean. It is, in fact, the Spanish word for "friend," from the Latin amicus, also "friend."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As the quick dinner my hosts and I were supposed to have at Casa Bonita turned into two hours, I thought of another Hollywood rude boy turned amigo of Mexicans: Jimmy Kimmel.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 23, 2025
Y, cuando López Obrador fue elegido para la jefatura de gobierno de la Ciudad de México en 2000, un amigo de la familia le presentó al nuevo jefe.
From Science Magazine • May 8, 2024
Un amigo que invitó a varias personas a un Airbnb en Montana hace unos años, dijo que, en retrospectiva, caracterizaría esas vacaciones como un derroche de ruptura.
From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2023
“Hey, amigo, todo?” a city worker asked Jesus White as he took down the tent White had been living in for the last month.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 9, 2023
“So, amigo, you want to do something after school today?”
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
