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Slang file #017RisingFriends

What does hermano mean?

Say iter-MAH-noh/eɾˈmano/noun (form of address)

Where you’ll hear it
  • Latin America
  • Spain
  • Spanish speakers in the US

The Spanish word for "brother" (for a woman, hermana, "sister"), which people also use to speak to a close friend, like "bro" or "sis."

Written by the Second Language TeamWritten

Hermano is the Spanish word for "brother." For a woman, it’s hermana, "sister." People also say it straight to a close friend, the way English speakers say "bro," "brother," or "sis." You might hear it from friends, teammates, coworkers, or in songs, often in the middle of an English sentence.

Say it er-MAH-noh. The Spanish h is silent, so the word starts with "er." The r is a single quick tap of the tongue, like the tt in an American "butter." Hermana is er-MAH-nah. Used for a friend, it’s casual and warm. Used for a real brother, it’s just a normal word you can say anywhere.

Word stats

How casual
As "bro," it’s friendly and informal. As "brother," it’s a plain word you can use with anyone.
OK at work
Fine with the coworker you get lunch with. Calling the CEO hermano in a meeting is a bold strategy.
Abuela-safe
Completely safe. Abuela (grandma) probably has six hermanos and an opinion about each one.
Rudeness
Not rude. The worst it gets is a tired "hermano…" when your friend is late again.
Freshness
The word is as old as Latin, but more people look it up every year.

Spotted in the wild

Group chat · Saturday soccer
  1. Diegoyou coming to the game tonight?
  2. Youyes hermano, save me a seat
  3. Diegoeso 🙌

What it means here: You call Diego hermano the way an English speaker says "bro." "Eso" means "that’s it" or "nice."

Text from a friend · Friday night
  1. SofíaI need help, outfit emergency
  2. Yousend pics, hermana
  3. Sofíagracias, te debo una ❤️

What it means here: Sofía is a woman, so you call her hermana, "sis." Her reply, "gracias, te debo una," means "thanks, I owe you one."

Text from Mom · Tuesday
  1. Mamállama a tu hermano, hoy es su cumpleaños
  2. Youalready did!
  3. Mamágracias, mi amor 😊

What it means here: Here hermano is your real brother: "call your brother, today is his birthday." "Gracias, mi amor" means "thanks, my love."

How to use it

  • thanks or a greeting + hermanoGracias, hermano. ("Thanks, bro.") / ¿Cómo estás, hermano? ("How are you, bro?")
  • Hermano, … (at the start, often a complaint)Hermano, llevo una hora esperando. ("Bro, I’ve been waiting for an hour.")
  • hermana for a woman¡Te ves increíble, hermana! ("You look amazing, sis!")
  • como un hermano ("like a brother")Eres como un hermano para mí. ("You’re like a brother to me.")
  • hermano inside EnglishHermano, you have to try this taco place.

Don’t say it like this

  • Sounds offGracias, hermano. (said to a woman)

    Say thisGracias, hermana. ("Thanks, sis.")

    Match the person you’re talking to: hermano for a man, hermana for a woman. Your own gender doesn’t matter.

  • Sounds off"her-MAN-oh," with an English h

    Say this"er-MAH-noh"

    The Spanish h is always silent, the a sounds like the a in "father," and the r is one quick tap.

  • Sounds offEste es mi hermano, Jake. (introducing a friend)

    Say thisEste es mi amigo Jake. / Jake es como mi hermano.

    "Mi hermano" in an introduction sounds like a real brother. Say "mi amigo" ("my friend") or "es como mi hermano" ("he’s like my brother") unless you want to explain your family tree.

  • Sounds off"¿Qué onda, mano?" means "What’s up, hand?"

    Say thisIt means "What’s up, bro?"

    In Mexico, mano is a short form of hermano that men use with each other, though less and less often [2]. Mano is also the word for "hand," but that’s a different word. "¿Qué onda?" means "What’s up?"

hermano or not?

Is each of these hermano? Pick an answer to find out.

  1. Javi helps his friend Marco move apartments, and Marco says "gracias, hermano."

  2. A form asks "¿Cuántos hermanos tienes?"

  3. Diego’s teammate scores, and Diego shouts "¡eso, hermano!" at him.

  4. At a monastery, a guide introduces "el hermano Tomás."

The hermano family

  • manoA short form of hermano used in Mexico (small form: manito) as a friendly way for men to address each other, though less and less often [2].Half the word, same handshake.
  • pipeA Nicaraguan word for a brother, and also for a close friend [3].Say PEE-peh. It has nothing to do with plumbing.
  • carnalMexican slang for a brother or a very close friend.Literally "of the flesh," for the friends who feel like blood.

Is hermano my brother or my friend?

Hermano is a very old, very normal word. It comes from Latin germānus, "brother by blood," which comes from germen, "seed" or "sprout" [1]. Its main meaning is still a person who shares one or both parents with you [1]. The friendly use builds on that: when you call a friend hermano, you’re saying he’s as close as family.

So how do you know which one someone means? Look at how they use it:

What you hearWhat it usually means
Hermano! or Gracias, hermano (said to someone)Often "bro," a friend
Mi hermano ("my brother," said about someone)Usually a real brother
Es como mi hermano ("he’s like my brother")A friend who feels like family
Hermanos (plural)Brothers, or siblings of mixed genders
El hermano Miguel (in a church or religious group)A member of a religious community [1]

The RAE’s dictionary (from the Real Academia Española, which sets standard Spanish) also lists hermano as a way brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law can address each other [1]. So a woman might call her husband’s brother hermano, and nobody is confused at the family dinner.

  • Talking to someone: the friend meaning is likely.
  • Talking about someone: assume a real sibling, unless they say "como" ("like").

Sources

  1. hermano, hermana | Diccionario de la lengua españolaReal Academia Española
  2. mano | Diccionario panhispánico de dudasReal Academia Española
  3. pipe | Diccionario de la lengua españolaReal Academia Española

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