Spanish word

compa

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkompa/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbuddy

Example

¡Hola, compa! ¿Cómo estás?

Hey, buddy, how are you?

Illustration for compa (buddy)

More examples

Mi compa me llamó para salir esta noche.

My buddy called me to go out tonight.

Core concept

A person calling 'compa' to a nearby friend with a friendly smile.

Common phrases

  • mi compa

    my buddy

Similar words

amigo: Everyday word for a friend without formal or professional connotation.
compañero: Fellow member of the same school, team, or workplace setting.
cuate: Mexico-specific informal word for a close buddy; familiar tone.
colega: Workplace or study peer who shares the same job or academic field.

Definition in Spanish

Apelativo informal que se usa para llamar a un amigo o compañero con confianza en situaciones coloquiales.

Word origin

It is a colloquial shortening of compañero that creates a brief familiar form of address.

Usage tips

  • It commonly functions as a vocative at the start or end of an utterance, as in '¡Eh, compa!' or '¿Qué pasa, compa?', and it is avoided in formal situations.

Other meanings

  • palnoun
  • partnernoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word