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

But that was Mario: that smile, those mischievous eyes, that wry humor--one part paisano and one part prince.

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

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