Spanish for Kids
How to Say "Friend" in Spanish
Friends are everywhere. Learn the word for 'friend' to celebrate your global community.
In Spanish (Español)
Amigo / Amiga
Pronounced: ah-MEE-goh
What “Friend” means and when to use it
The listed Spanish expression in this lesson is “Amigo / Amiga.” Its beginner pronunciation approximation is “ah-MEE-goh.” Friends are everywhere. Learn the word for 'friend' to celebrate your global community. The approximation is a reading scaffold, not a replacement for the native writing or for listening to a speaker whose variety you are learning.
This is a noun for talking about or identifying a friend. A word alone is not always a complete introduction: articles, endings, grammatical gender, or possessive forms may be needed in a real sentence. To avoid inventing grammar, practice the listed word as a label, vocabulary answer, or warm call-and-response turn. Friendship exists in every community, but expectations about closeness, sharing, and address differ among individuals. The word should celebrate connection without pressuring children to call everyone a friend.
Do not attach an article or adjective unless it appears in a listed source. Some listed forms may encode gender or have common alternatives.
Spanish pronunciation workshop
Spanish has five steady vowel sounds: a as in father, e roughly like eh, i like ee, o like a short oh, and u like oo. Keep each vowel clear rather than sliding it into another sound. The written h is normally silent, while j is a breathy sound made farther back in the mouth. A single r is a light tap; a written rr is longer. Stress often falls on the next-to-last syllable unless an accent mark or spelling pattern points elsewhere. The capitalized syllable in our pronunciation hint marks emphasis, but the hint is only an English-friendly approximation.
Now apply those sound ideas specifically to “Amigo / Amiga.” Read the native form first, then use “ah-MEE-goh” to locate the broad sound sequence and emphasized syllable. Say the entire expression in one comfortable turn. Do not substitute English sounds more strongly merely because a letter looks familiar, and do not erase marks, accents, or characters when copying it.
Tap once for each syllable, then say the phrase without stretching the vowels. Compare the printed Spanish with the pronunciation guide and circle any accent mark. Say it first at careful speed and then at a friendly conversational speed, keeping the same clear vowels.
Respectful context across Spain & Latin America
Spanish is used across many countries, and everyday choices differ by region. In many places, speakers use tú with friends and children and usted in more formal or respectful situations; plural forms also vary. Greetings may be warm, but learners should follow the other person's lead about handshakes, cheek kisses, titles, and personal space. No single accent is the one correct Spanish accent. Listen respectfully for local vocabulary and rhythm rather than trying to imitate a stereotype.
This lesson teaches one useful listed translation, not the only wording used by all Spanish speakers. Age, relationship, region, and situation can change a speaker's choice. A good learner notices those choices, asks respectfully when appropriate, and accepts correction without arguing that a phrase list must outrank a person's own language experience.
Practice activity: scene, speak, reflect
Draw three figures and label one with the English scene note “a trusted friend.” Point to that figure and say the listed translated word. A partner finds the matching native-language word card and repeats it. Next, sort fictional examples into friend, new acquaintance, and helper in English, saying the target word only for the friend card. Switch roles and complete four accurate repetitions. End by naming in English one quality of a supportive friendship, such as listening or respecting no.
Use three passes. On pass one, read “Amigo / Amiga” while a partner checks every word or character. On pass two, look only at the scene card and retrieve the expression from memory. On pass three, use an English scene prompt and deliver the Spanish speaking turn at a natural volume. Afterward, explain in English why the phrase fit that scene. This keeps meaning, respectful behavior, and pronunciation together instead of rewarding speed alone.
A successful attempt is understandable and considerate, not accent-free. Mark one detail you kept consistent—perhaps the stress, a long vowel, a tone direction, a final consonant, or the full word order—and choose one detail for another careful repetition. Stop before practice becomes rushed. Short, attentive rounds build a more reliable memory than saying the phrase many times without listening to yourself or your partner.
Practice dialogue
- Scene prompt (English)
- A picture shows a trusted companion helping another child.
- Role-play cue (English)
- The facilitator asks in English, “Which target word labels this person?” Learner A supplies the target noun.
- Spanish target speaking turn — Learner A
- Amigo / Amiga
- Role-play reply/action (English) — Learner B
- Yes, the picture shows a friend.
- Spanish speaking turn — Learner B
- Sí
Want to learn 50+ more Spanish phrases?
Explore Spanish with MaiMai. Enjoy free games, songs, and downloadable activities for kids ages 3 to 18.