In Mexico, a very familiar way to name or address a friend or peer, often used to keep the other person's attention. Tone and relationship decide whether it sounds warm, rough or disrespectful.
Examples
No inventes, güey, eso estuvo increíble.
No way, dude, that was amazing.
Ese güey es mi mejor amigo desde la secundaria.
That guy has been my best friend since secondary school.
Oye, güey, ¿me estás escuchando?
Hey, man, are you listening to me?
Gracias por venir por mí, güey.
Thanks for coming to get me, dude.
Con sus amigos dice güey a cada rato, pero evita la palabra en el trabajo.
With his friends he says dude constantly, but he avoids the word at work.
In Mexico, an unnamed or unknown person, much like guy or fellow, sometimes with a dismissive edge.
Examples
Había un güey esperando afuera del edificio.
There was a guy waiting outside the building.
¿Quién es el güey de la chamarra roja?
Who is the guy in the red jacket?
Un güey me preguntó cómo llegar al metro.
Some guy asked me how to get to the metro.
No le des tus datos a cualquier güey por internet.
Do not give your details to just any random guy online.
La llamó ese güey que conocieron en la fiesta.
That guy they met at the party called her.
Similar words
tipo
fulano
sujeto
individuo
cuate
Fool or incompetent person
noun
insults
slang
In Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua, an insult for someone judged stupid, clumsy or incompetent. Among close friends it can be teasing, but in anger it is openly offensive.
Examples
¡Qué güey fui al dejar las llaves adentro!
What an idiot I was to leave the keys inside!
No seas güey y revisa el contrato antes de firmar.
Do not be an idiot, check the contract before signing.
Lo llamó güey durante la discusión y empeoró todo.
She called him an idiot during the argument and made everything worse.
El jefe no toleró que un empleado le dijera güey.
The boss did not tolerate an employee calling him an idiot.
Entre ellos se dicen güey de broma, pero con un desconocido sonaría agresivo.
They call each other idiot as a joke, but with a stranger it would sound aggressive.
Similar words
pendejo
idiota
tonto
imbécil
torpe
menso
Ox
noun
agriculture
informal
A popular regional form of buey for a castrated bull used as a draft animal, recorded in Mexico and Paraguay.
Examples
El campesino llevó sus güeyes al potrero.
The farmer took his oxen to the pasture.
Un par de güeyes tiraba de la carreta.
A pair of oxen pulled the cart.
Vendieron el güey más viejo de la yunta.
They sold the oldest ox in the team.
El güey descansó junto al abrevadero.
The ox rested beside the watering trough.
Todavía usan güeyes para arar algunas parcelas.
They still use oxen to plough some plots.
Similar words
buey
novillo
Etymology
A sound change from Spanish buey, originally an ox. The animal name developed insulting and then familiar uses for people.
FAQ
What does güey mean in Mexican Spanish?
It commonly means dude, guy or idiot, depending on the relationship and tone.
Is güey offensive?
It can be. Between close friends it is often affectionate or playful, but said angrily or to a stranger it can be insulting.
What is the difference between güey and wey?
They represent the same slang word. Güey is the standard dictionary spelling, while wey is a very common informal spelling.
What is the plural of güey?
The plural is güeyes.
Can güey be used for a woman?
In familiar Mexican speech it may address people of any gender, though context and personal preference matter.
How is güey pronounced?
It is pronounced /ˈgwei/, as one syllable.
Where does güey come from?
It developed as a sound variant of buey, the Spanish word for an ox.
Comments & contributions
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