Informal Situations
In the store or a fast food restaurant, the possibilities of running into a friend or familiar acquaintance can be pretty high. In these situations, it would be a good idea to say hello informally.
The word that different Spanish-speaking countries use for "friend" varies from country to country. Two friends might always refer to each other as amigos. However, in Puerto Rico, it is common to hear pana as an expression for friend, perhaps similar to the way Americans use the terms "buddy" or "pal." Click on the following expressions to hear the proper pronunciation.
- ¡Hola pana! (Puerto Rico)
- ¡Hola pata! (Perú)
- ¡Hola compadre! (México)
- ¡Hola mano! (México y Centroamérica)
- ¡Hola chamaco! (Centroamérica)
- ¡Hola cuate! (México)
