güey
dude / bro / man (Mexico)
Pronunciation
/wei/
Cultural Note
THE Mexican word. Originally 'buey' (ox), implying someone is slow or dumb, it evolved into the most-used informal address in Mexico — their equivalent of 'dude.' Mexicans say 'güey' so frequently (estimates of 20+ times per conversation are not exaggerated) that there's a joke: 'In Mexico, a sentence without güey is considered incomplete.' Written as 'wey,' 'we,' or 'güey.' Using it outside Mexico marks you as either Mexican or a fan of Mexican culture. In formal settings, it's inappropriate — your boss should not hear this.
📝 Example Sentences
¡No manches, güey! ¿De verdad te sacaste la lotería?
No way, dude! Did you really win the lottery?
¿Qué onda, güey? ¿Cómo te fue en el examen?
What's up, dude? How did you do on the exam?