What does amigo mean?
An amigo is a friend — specifically, an English borrowing of the Spanish word for friend, used informally and often with a touch of warmth or playful Hispanic color. In everyday English it functions much like buddy or pal: a companionable term for someone you know well, or even a friendly way of addressing a stranger, as when a shopkeeper says "Come back soon, amigo." The word carries a casual, genial connotation and belongs firmly to relaxed conversation rather than formal writing. Its roots run deep: Spanish took it from Latin amicus, the same source that gave English such words as amicable and amity. Though it refers simply to friendship, its borrowed status makes it distinctive — using it signals familiarity with Spanish-influenced speech and lends a sentence an easygoing, sociable tone that plainer synonyms cannot quite match.
nounA friend, especially one addressed or referred to with a friendly, informal Spanish flavor; in English it is used as a borrowed word meaning 'friend' or 'buddy'.
- A friend or close companion (borrowed from Spanish, used in informal English).
""No problem, amigo," he said, waving the waiter over."
"He's been my amigo since we were kids growing up in El Paso."
""Anything else I can get you, amigo?" the bartender asked."
The plural follows standard English -s inflection rather than the Spanish plural amigos/amigas distinction.
"We've been amigos since childhood, sharing everything from secrets to sandwiches."
Amigo and 'enemy' are distant cousins — both trace back to Latin words built on amare, 'to love': your amigos are the ones you love.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of amigo
Amigo comes directly from Spanish amigo, meaning friend, which derives from Latin amicus, a noun formed from the verb amare, 'to love.' Latin amicus is also the ancestor of English words such as amicable, amity, and amateur, all of which carry senses rooted in love or fondness. The word entered English through contact with Spanish speakers, becoming established in American English in particular, where it retains its informal, affectionate register today.
Usage notes
Informal and conversational in English; often used to add a light, Spanish-flavored warmth or playfulness to speech. It can address strangers in casual settings without implying deep friendship. The plural is amigos; the feminine form amiga exists in Spanish but is rarely borrowed into English.
Don't confuse with
Amigo is the masculine form used for a male friend (or generically), while amiga is the feminine form used for a female friend in Spanish.