You might be wondering how to say buddy in Spanish, French, Japanese, or any other language — maybe because you’re making a new friend from another country, traveling abroad, or just curious about cultural expressions of friendship.
Whatever your reason, this guide is exactly what you need.
People often search for “buddy in different languages” because it’s a casual, warm term that expresses friendliness, camaraderie, and informal connection.
Whether you’re texting a friend overseas, greeting a classmate from another country, or simply want to sound more culturally aware, knowing how to say buddy in multiple languages can help you connect better and sound more natural.
What Does “Buddy” Mean?
“Buddy” is a casual English word meaning friend, pal, companion, or mate. It’s often used in informal conversations to show closeness or friendliness, like:
- “Hey buddy, how’s it going?”
- “Thanks for helping me out, buddy!”
- “Let’s grab lunch, buddy!”
It can be used between children, adults, or even strangers in casual settings.
Why Learn “Buddy” in Other Languages?
Here’s how this article solves your problem:
✅ You’ll learn accurate translations of buddy in over 50 languages
✅ You’ll understand the right context in which to use them
✅ You’ll avoid awkward or incorrect usage in other cultures
✅ You’ll be able to express friendship globally in a warm and respectful way
Buddy in 50+ Different Languages
| Language | Word for “Buddy” | Notes / Usage |
| Spanish | Amigo / Compañero | “Amigo” = friend; “compañero” = mate |
| French | Copain / Pote | “Copain” is friendly; “pote” is slangy |
| German | Kumpel | Casual male friend |
| Italian | Amico | Masculine; “amica” for female friend |
| Portuguese | Amigo / Camarada | “Camarada” is more casual |
| Russian | Друг (Drug) | Close friend |
| Arabic | صديق (Sadeeq) | Common for male friend |
| Hindi | दोस्त (Dost) | Widely used in all informal settings |
| Urdu | یار (Yaar) | Deep, informal friendship term |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 朋友 (Péngyǒu) | Generic for friend |
| Japanese | 友達 (Tomodachi) | General friend term |
| Korean | 친구 (Chingu) | Use with same-age friends |
| Turkish | Kanka / Arkadaş | “Kanka” is slang for close buddy |
| Greek | Φίλος (Fílos) | Male friend |
| Dutch | Vriend / Maat | “Maat” is more casual |
| Swedish | Kompis | Friendly, casual word |
| Danish | Ven | Formal; “makker” for buddy |
| Finnish | Kaveri | Informal, casual friend |
| Polish | Kumpel / Przyjaciel | “Kumpel” is casual |
| Hebrew | חבר (Chaver) | Friend, commonly used |
| Bengali | বন্ধু (Bondhu) | Warm and emotional word |
| Thai | เพื่อน (Phuean) | Basic word for friend |
| Vietnamese | Bạn | Used widely for friendship |
| Indonesian | Teman / Sobat | “Sobat” is more buddy-like |
| Filipino | Kaibigan / Bes / Pare | “Bes” and “Pare” are very casual |
| Swahili | Rafiki | Also means companion |
| Malay | Rakan / Sahabat | “Rakan” is less formal |
| Persian (Farsi) | دوست (Doost) | Warm, friendly term |
| Hungarian | Haver | Slangy term for buddy |
| Romanian | Prieten | Neutral form of “friend” |
| Czech | Kámoš | Slang for buddy |
| Slovak | Kámoš / Priateľ | “Kámoš” is informal |
| Norwegian | Kompis | Friendly and casual |
| Croatian | Prijatelj / Frend | “Frend” is modern slang |
| Serbian | Drugar / Prijatelj | “Drugar” is more casual |
| Ukrainian | Друг (Druh) | Casual form of friend |
| Nepali | साथी (Saathi) | Used widely in friendships |
| Sinhala | යාළුවා (Yāḷuvā) | Very buddy-like word |
| Tamil | நண்பன் (Naṇban) | Used in close male friendship |
| Telugu | స్నేహితుడు (Snehitudu) | Generic friend |
| Kannada | ಗೆಳೆಯ (Geḷeya) | Friendly tone |
| Marathi | मित्र (Mitra) | Slightly formal; “yaar” for casual |
| Punjabi | ਦੋਸਤ (Dost) | Widely used among all age groups |
| Malay (Brunei) | Kawan | Very casual friend |
| Icelandic | Vinur | Common term for friend |
| Lithuanian | Bičiulis | Informal and affectionate |
| Latvian | Draugs | General word for friend |
| Estonian | Sõber | Everyday term |
| Afrikaans | Maat / Vriend | “Maat” is more informal |
| Maori | Hoa | Generic term for friend |
| Samoan | Uo | Means friend or companion |
How to Use “Buddy” Naturally in Conversations
Here are 10 example sentences with “buddy” and how you could adapt them into other languages:
| English Phrase | Spanish Equivalent |
| Hey buddy, how are you? | Hola amigo, ¿cómo estás? |
| Thanks, buddy! | ¡Gracias, amigo! |
| He’s my workout buddy. | Es mi compañero de ejercicios. |
| What’s up, buddy? | ¿Qué pasa, amigo? |
| I missed you, buddy. | Te extrañé, amigo. |
Note: Always consider cultural tone. In some cultures, overly casual language may be inappropriate unless you’re close to the person.
Conclusion:
Now that you know how to say buddy in 50+ languages, you’re ready to connect with people from all over the world — in their own language. This small gesture can build trust, spark friendships, and show genuine cultural respect.
Whether you’re a traveler, student, expat, or just curious, this article solves your search intent by offering both the meaning and usage of buddy worldwide. Bookmark this guide, and the next time you meet someone from a different country, you’ll know exactly what to say. 🌐
