vato

Examples

• All

• You know, one vato to another.

  Secret in Their Eyes (2015)

• "Let me tell you, they're a hundred percent different from us," said one vato.

  Academic text (1990)

• Hey, little vato, how you doing today?

  My Family (1995)

• How you like this, vato?

  Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)

• Oh, yeah, what's up, vato?

  Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016)

• The Beast from the East, eh vato?

  Fiction book (1999)

• Oye, vato, you're in the wrong place.

  Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

• We don't need vatos like those giving car clubs bad names.

  Academic text (1990)

• But why don't you vatos describe yourselves for our listeners?

  Fiction book (2001)

• Hey, vato, do you want to join us for dinner?

Synonyms

H

homeboy

vsvato

• Slang

69 9.1

An informal male friend from the same neighborhood or group

is used more generally for men and only sometimes suggests gang ties

M

mano

vsvato

• Slang

20 9.8

A close male friend you call like a brother

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

E

ese

vsvato

• Slang

3 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

Antonyms

W

wimp

• Offensive

84 6.3

A person who is easily frightened or lacks confidence

How Informal

vato

• Slang

20 9.9

dude

• Informal

185 8.0

guy

• Informal

∞ 1.0

man

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology