What does che mean?
Che is an informal exclamation, borrowed from the Spanish of Argentina and Uruguay, used to catch someone's attention or to address them in a friendly, familiar way — roughly equivalent to 'hey' or 'mate' in English. It can also function as a noun meaning 'pal' or 'bloke'. The word is so deeply woven into everyday Rioplatense speech that Argentines and Uruguayans themselves were nicknamed 'ches' by other Spanish speakers, and it famously supplied the nickname 'Che' for the revolutionary Ernesto Guevara, an Argentine. When English speakers use che, they usually do so with a nod to that South American flavor — in travel writing, dialogue set in Buenos Aires, or affectionate imitation of Argentine speech. Its tone is warm and casual rather than formal, and it signals camaraderie between speakers.
Used to attract someone's attention or address them informally; 'hey'.
"Che, look at this!"
Characteristic of Argentine and Uruguayan Spanish; informal and friendly.
(informal, chiefly Rioplatense Spanish) A pal, mate, or fellow.
"Come on, che, let's get going."
Often used in direct address.
One small syllable became so tied to Argentina that it gave Ernesto Guevara the nickname by which the whole world knows him: Che.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of che
Che comes from the River Plate (Rioplatense) Spanish of Argentina and Uruguay, where it has long served as a ubiquitous informal interjection and term of address. Its ultimate origin within Spanish is disputed, with proposed sources including indigenous American languages, though no derivation is firmly established. Because of its strong regional association, speakers of other dialects of Spanish came to label Argentines 'ches', and the interjection gave Ernesto 'Che' Guevara his world-famous nickname.
How che is actually used
The word carries a distinctly informal, friendly register and is strongly associated with Rioplatense (Argentine and Uruguayan) Spanish, where its constant use became a national stereotype. In English it appears mainly in writing about Latin America or in speech imitating that region.
Easily confused with che
'Chi' is the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet (also spelled 'khi'), while 'che' is an informal attention-getting exclamation borrowed from Argentine and Uruguayan Spanish.