The word "Fulano"

Question

This is a word I learned in my first months of studying Spanish butI never heard it used until last week when I was traveling north in Baja. Maybe my ear was simply not tuned into it but last week I heard it used a lot by several different people. Do yiou use it? Or if not what do you use instead?

fulano / fulano de tal .... Both very common in Mexico - 005faa61, Oct 27, 2012

Answer 1

Fulano, mengano, zutano y perencejo all mean the same to me (any Tom, Dick or Harry or a John Doe)

I have never heard mengano or perencejo used. I will keep my ears open. Thanks. - gringojrf, Oct 27, 2012

I heard fulano used in reference to a specific person whose name the speaker did not know. Is this correct? - gringojrf, Oct 27, 2012

Yes gringojrf, it can work as a placeholder - comunacho, Oct 27, 2012

Answer 2

I had a colleague in Chile who used "fulano" all the time, even, at times, the often-quoted but not so often heard "fulano de tal". Variants for him would also include "un fulano cualquier" and "fulanito" on occasion.