¿Puedo usar "wey" en este contexto?

Question

Hago esta pregunta porque (según lo que he aprendido) las reglas de respeto no son muy fuertes sobre adolecentes. He visto a muchos jóvenes usar "tú" para referir a desconocidos con tal de que sean del mismo edad.

Acabo de conocer a algunos hispanos de mi preparatoría. No somos amigos (es decir no somos súper cercos), pero son del mismo edad que yo. Ya que no los conozco muy bien, sería ofensivo usar la palabra "wey" cuando les hablo?

---

I'm asking this question because, from what I understand, the rules governing respect are a bit lax when it comes to young people. I've seen teenagers use "tú" with total strangers as long as they're of the same age.

I just met a group of hispanic guys at my high school. I'm not super close to them, but they're the same age as me. Even though I don't know them too well, they're the same age as me. Would it be rude to use the word "wey" to address them?

EDIT: I realize that it's spelled "güey" too, but most of the time I see it spelled "wey" online, so I was confused as to how it's actually spelled.

Check your spelling mate ,' wey' is not spanish that I know of , maybe Mexican slang , in which case mate , be careful here this is a family oriented site. - ray76, Feb 27, 2015

I am going to close this post until I have notification about this word , I do not wish to offend anyone , there is something not right here ,it may well be me , but it is safer this way. sorry folks. - ray76, Feb 27, 2015

It is now open because I reliably informed by our resident "Seer" that the spelling is wrong it should be "Gúey" which is Mexican slang for 'cobber '! - ray76, Feb 27, 2015

'I was reliably'. ' - ray76, Feb 27, 2015

Answer 1

Wey as used in Mexican Spanish means nothing more than "dude" and is practically the defacto spelling. Walking down a busy downtown street (anywhere really) in Mexico you can't go 5 minutes without hearing it. Seriously.

Outside of Mexico it might be understood as güey (meaning Ox), which could interpreted as an insult. However, with the level of influence Mexican television has on the Spanish speaking world, there's also a high probability it will be understood.

If you're in high school, or prepapatoría (this word is used in Mexico) then I would guess that you can use the word wey with others your age. Just remember there are no hard and fast and rules about this. By that I mean you run the risk of upsetting someone. If you at least know the person it's most likely fine. Maybe exercise a bit of caution using wey with complete strangers.

Ojala que te sirva

:) - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2015

Answer 2

'Wey' or 'Guey' is Mexican "slang" ...it is not used anywhere else, like in South America or Spain, and if you would like to speak with a variety of Spanish speakers, it is best not to use it.

It is really not all that bad. The kids at college use it all the time. I even checked it in a slang dictionary. It's OK. In Spain I never heard of it. Maybe it's more of a California thing, but it's not bad. - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

But your advice about not using it with a "variety" of speakers is good advice--because they wouldn't understand it. I didn't get it when I first heard it. There are a lot of words that W E use that Mexicans regard as bad. - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

It may not be bad in the land of 'cheeky chops" but elsewhere ooh I don't know , very tricky . - ray76, Feb 27, 2015

The dictionary says it's OK. And I say it's OK. So,there! - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

It's fine, it's fine, I certainly wouldn't be uptight about it if you're around Mexicans. If you're somewhere else, just don't use it. You really have to know somebody well to use it anyway. - Jack-OBrien, Feb 27, 2015

Answer 3

Perhaps listen to hear what your friends call each other. You can even ask them what it means. Be careful though. If they have a mischievous streak, they can play a good joke on you with Spanish slang that you don't understand. (Think "My Big Fat Greek Wedding.")

It is used sooo much by the younger crowd, I felt stupid that I didn't know what it meant. In Spain one would never call his frend an "Ox," but "Cada loco con su tema." Roughly translated as "different strokes for different folks." - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

One jokier on SD used it this way. Instead of "No way José." He put it ,"No way,guey." (Iforgot the alt code for "u" con dos puntos. :) ) - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

Answer 4

¡Ajém!

This is your on-duty "seer" who saw that our eminent videographer merely spelled the word wrong. It is "güey" but we pronounce it "way" or "wey"

I have no idea what a "cobber" is, and maybe we should close the post until we find someone who can speak Aboriginal, and translate it for us.

"güey" merely means "buddy" or "pal" In English.

This message is approved by the resident "seer" whose name appears at the upper siniestro rincón de este rectángulo. (siniestro is another word for "left" in case you didn't know.)

I just hope that you do not have a' Bar sinister ' in the left hand corner of your " Casa de la seer " Banner . - ray76, Feb 27, 2015

But I still don't know what a "cobber" is. Explícamelo por favor. - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

"Seer" is "vidente" - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

Thanks! I made an edit to my original post about this. - HackerKing, Feb 27, 2015

Dani, is "siniestro" used often? I'm familiar with the root from my Latin and French studies. - Winkfish, Feb 27, 2015

"cobber" = mate - buddy etc.Used i England too. :) = colega in my Spanish dictionary. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2015

@ Winkfish: I only use "siniestro" when I want to show off. Same with "diestro." :) - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

@Ian: Gracias, Ray tells me that it is a really close "mate", like "compañero" to us. Colega also. - Daniela2041, Feb 27, 2015

Answer 5

When I was a teenager güey didn´t exist. We would say mano/a (hermano/a), cuate, compa (compadre) and they all come from a positive meaning. But, as Rodney says, güey comes from buey (ox) which is an insult. Even though it is popular now with teenagers and people in their 20s, for me it sounds very much like street language so I would never use it.

I suppose it´s OK for teenagers, but girls don´t normally use it and you also keep in mind that it might sound funny to some natives to hear a non-native use this expression.

I've seen teenagers use "tú" with total strangers as long as they're of the same age.

This is acceptable.