amigos

Amigos is the Spanish plural noun meaning "friends." It refers to a group of people with a friendly relationship. The form "amigos" is used for mixed or masculine groups, while the feminine "amigas" is used for all-female groups. Some writers also use "amigos y amigas" to include everyone.

Etymology and grammar: Amigo comes from Latin amicus. The plural masculine form "amigos" follows standard Spanish gender agreement rules, where the masculine plural is used in mixed-gender groups by default. In inclusive language, "amigos y amigas" or alternatives are used to emphasize inclusion.

Usage and cultural context: The word is common in daily conversation, greetings ("Hola, amigos"), and social planning. It also appears in music, literature, and media to evoke camaraderie and informal friendship. In Spanish-language communities, friendship networks are often described with terms such as "amigos" or "círculo de amigos."

Variants and cross-language perspective: Cognates exist in other Romance languages (Portuguese "amigos", Italian "amici", French "amis"). In English contexts, "amigos" is sometimes used as a stylistic loanword to evoke Spanish-speaking culture or to name organizations, restaurants, or events.