paisano

American  

[pahy-sah-noh, -zah-, pahy-sah-naw] / paɪˈsɑ noʊ, -ˈzɑ-, paɪˈsɑ nɔ /

Also paisan

noun

plural

paisanos

1. a person who shares one’s place of origin; compatriot.

2. Informal. a pal; buddy; compadre.

3. Southwestern U.S.

   1. a person who lives in a rural area; farm laborer; rustic.

   2. a roadrunner.

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paisano British  

/ paɪˈsɑːnəʊ, paiˈsano /

noun

1. informal a friend; pal

2. a fellow countryman

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Etymology

Origin of paisano

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; from Spanish, from French paysan; peasant

Example Sentences

Lalo said his late father and uncles taught him and his cousins a simple mantra: Siempre una mano pa’l paisano.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2025

The grass is always greener on the other side of the tube, so Singer Vic Damone crosses over to play a paisano partisan who helps the Allied agents on the Jericho team.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Hector of the tale is the village mayor, a paisano whose native cunning has been reinforced by the study of Machiavelli.

From Time Magazine Archive

TransWorld Media Founder Larry Balma, who at times competed fiercely with Fausto, still remembers him fondly: �Fausto, fellow paisano, you are missed.

From Time Magazine Archive

Shaking his head, Papa replied sympathetically, “I am sorry. I wish I could, paisano, but we’re broke too. When I heard Papa say, “we’re broke too,” I panicked.

From "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child" by Francisco Jiménez