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"Pal" is a noun which is often translated as "el amigo", and "friend" is a noun which is also often translated as "el amigo". Learn more about the difference between "pal" and "friend" below.
pal(
pahl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (colloquial) (friend)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. el amigo (M), la amiga (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Of course I know Lucy! She's one of my old pals!¡Claro que conozco a Lucy! ¡Es una amiga de toda la vida!
b. el compinche (M), la compinche (F) (colloquial)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Why don't you go to the soccer field to play with your pals?¿Por qué no vas al campo de fútbol para jugar con tus compinches?
c. el colega (M), la colega (F) (colloquial) (Spain)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
Can I ask a favor of you? - Sure, I'd do anything for a pal.¿Puedo pedirte un favor? - Claro, haría lo que fuera por un colega.
d. el cuate (M), la cuata (F) (colloquial) (Central America) (Mexico)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
I talked to a pal of mine, and he's agreed to fix your car.Hablé con un cuate mío, y aceptó arreglar tu carro.
e. el pana (M), la pana (F) (colloquial) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Panama)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Panama
I'm going with my pals to the movies this evening.Esta tarde voy con mis panas al cine.
friend(
frehnd
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el amigo (M), la amiga (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I am inviting all of my friends to my birthday party.Voy a invitar a todos mis amigos a mi fiesta de cumpleaños.
2. (supporter)
a. el amigo (M), la amiga (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The Friends of the Chesapeake Bay are having a meeting this Saturday.La Asociación de los Amigos de la Bahía de Chesapeake van a tener una reunión este sábado.
3. (religion)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (colloquial) (computing)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. agregar como amigo a 
I haven't decided yet whether to friend him or block him.Todavía no he decidido si agregarlo como amigo o bloquearlo.