companheiros

Companheiros is the plural of companheiro and refers to people with whom one shares time, space, activities, or common goals. The term covers a range of meanings, including a close friend, a partner, a coworker, or a member of a group.

In everyday use, it can mean a friend or someone with whom one regularly interacts, as in meus companheiros de classe or meus companheiros de quarto. In political or ideological contexts, compa nheiros can translate the sense of comrades or fellow activists, signaling solidarity among members of a movement. This more formal or charged sense is common in Brazilian Portuguese and, to a lesser extent, in European Portuguese, with regional nuances in tone and familiarity.

Etymology commonly ties the sense of companionship to the idea of sharing daily life or bread, emphasizing a bond formed through shared experiences. The word reflects social ties that go beyond mere acquaintance.

Gender and related forms: the feminine plural is companheiras, used when referring to a group of women or a mixed group where the feminine form is appropriate. Related terms include amigo, colega, and camarada; while synonyms can overlap, camarada often carries a stronger political or ideological connotation.

Notes on usage: in informal speech, compa nheiros conveys warmth and familiarity; in formal writing, it remains acceptable when describing members of a group, association, or workplace. The term is widely understood across Portuguese-speaking regions.