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"Yo" is a pronoun which is often translated as "I", and "fulano" is a noun which is often translated as "so-and-so". Learn more about the difference between "yo" and "fulano" below.
yo()
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
3. (psychology)
el fulano, la fulana()
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. so-and-so
Si fulano puede ir a la gala, ¿por qué yo no?If so-and-so can go to the gala, why can't I?
b. what's-his-name (colloquial) (masculine)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
Lucas y fulano quisieron pelearse conmigo.Lucas and what's-his-name tried to start a fight with me.
c. what's-her-name (colloquial) (feminine)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Ana y fulana me preguntaron si tenía una cita para el baile de fin de curso.Ana and what's-her-name asked me if I had a date to the prom.
a. guy (colloquial) (masculine)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
Vino un fulano y dejó este paquete para ti.A guy came and left this package for you.
b. woman (feminine)
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
Me lo contó una fulana en el mercado.Some woman told me in the market.
c. rando (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Un fulano se me acercó y me preguntó si vendía mi coche.Some rando came and asked me if my car was for sale.
d. bloke (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Un fulano entró y me preguntó por ti, pero le dije que no te conocía.A bloke came in and asked about you, but I said I didn't know you.
3. (pejorative) (insignificant person)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
a. nobody (pejorative)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
No te preocupes por lo que Marcos diga de ti; es un fulano.Don't mind about what Marcos says about you; he's a nobody.
