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hombre

It looks like the word for “man”, but in conversation it is a softener that adds warmth or mild protest.

Quick answer

hombre

Natural: come on / oh come on / well
Literal: “man”

How it is used

¡Hombre, claro!Well, of course!
Hombre, no exageres.Come on, don’t exaggerate.
¡Hombre, cuánto tiempo!Hey, it’s been ages!
Hombre, yo lo veo distinto.Well, I see it differently.

Where it is said

It is heaviest in Spain, where it is said to women and men alike; many Latin American speakers reach for <b>oye</b> or <b>che</b> in Argentina instead.

A mini dialogue

— ¿Te apetece un café?— Do you fancy a coffee?
— ¡Hombre, por supuesto!— Well, of course!

Watch out

hombre

Do not read it as a gendered address; hombre here is an interjection and says nothing about who you are talking to.

Check yourself

What does “Hombre, no exageres” express?

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