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vato

vato

27 9.9
A man or male friend used in Spanish-speaking communities, sometimes meaning a tough man in a gang
  • noun
  • /ˈvɑːtoʊ/
  • Slang
: vato (coloquial)
  • I'm not your cuz, vato.
  • vato loco
  • Hey, vato
  • Watch out, vato

And then that the for real fucking vatos Las Violencias.

Examples

Synonyms

homeboy
vsvato
  • Slang
82 9.1

An informal male friend from the same neighborhood or group

is used more generally for men and only sometimes suggests gang ties
ese
vsvato
  • Slang
71 9.9

A friendly word people in some Latino communities use to call a man or friend

is used across Hispanic communities and can also imply toughness or gang links
mano
vsvato
  • Slang
12 9.8

A close male friend you call like a brother

is a general slang address for a man rather than showing brotherlike closeness

Antonyms

wimp
  • Offensive
93 6.3

A person who is easily frightened or lacks confidence

How Informal

vato
  • Slang
27 9.9
dude
  • Informal
∞ 8.0
guy
  • Informal
∞ 1.0
man
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

vato singular
vatos plural

Etymology

Vato comes from a Spanish Romani (Caló) word bato meaning 'man', and it moved into Mexican Spanish and Chicano speech as a casual way to say 'guy' or 'buddy', which is why it is used today for a male friend or a tough man.