noun

vato

Vato (noun) means a casual, informal way to refer to a guy or dude, especially among Mexican-American and Chicano speakers. Example: “What's up, vato?" he said, giving his cousin a fist bump.”

noun

A casual, informal way to refer to a guy or dude, especially among Mexican-American and Chicano speakers.

""What's up, vato?" he said, giving his cousin a fist bump."

"She grew up around vatos who all rode lowriders on the weekend."

How to use vato

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA slang word for "guy" or "dude," common in Chicano and Mexican-American speech.

When to use it

Informal and regional — most natural in Chicano English or Mexican Spanish slang contexts, not formal writing.

Common pairings

ese vato a cool vato my vato

Word forms

vatos plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

"What's up, _____?" he said, giving his cousin a fist bump.

Etymology

From Mexican Spanish slang, tracing back to chivato, and used mainly in northwestern Mexican states like Sinaloa and Sonora before spreading into Chicano English.

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for vato

gato Mato Cato nato Kato Sato Dato Plato tomato potato gelato Yamato

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Frequently asked questions

What does “vato” mean?

The word “vato” means a casual, informal way to refer to a guy or dude, especially among Mexican-American and Chicano speakers. In plain terms, a slang word for "guy" or "dude," common in Chicano and Mexican-American speech.

How do you use “vato” in a sentence?

Here is “vato” used in a sentence: “"What's up, vato?" he said, giving his cousin a fist bump.”

What part of speech is “vato”?

“Vato” is a noun.

Where does the word “vato” come from?

The word “vato” comes from Spanish. From Mexican Spanish slang, tracing back to chivato, and used mainly in northwestern Mexican states like Sinaloa and Sonora before spreading into Chicano English.