Cómo llamar a tus amigos en España: tío, colega, tronco, hermano

Vocab card: colloquial ways to address friends in Spain. Useful in bars, chats or on the street. Level B1.

tío / tía = “mate”, “dude”. Used among friends of almost all ages. E.g.: “¡Tío, qué alegría verte!” (“Dude/Mate, so good to see you!”). It does not imply any family relationship.

colega = friend in informal register. E.g.: “Es mi colega del barrio” (“He’s my mate from the neighborhood”). It also works as a vocative: “Oye, colega…” (“Hey, mate…”).

tronco = very colloquial and youthful way to address a friend. Use it with people you know well. E.g.: “Tronco, llegas tarde” (“Mate, you’re late”).

hermano = like “bro”. Very common among young people (influenced by trap/reggaetón). E.g.: “Hermano, ¿vienes?” (“Bro, are you coming?”).

Tip: avoid these forms of address with strangers or in formal situations (your boss, official paperwork, etc.). Use them among peers, with an affectionate tone.