noun General Slang

Pibe

/ˈpibe/ · noun · informal

A kid, lad or young guy, one of the warmest words in the porteno vocabulary.

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Definitions

1

Used for 'kid' as a term of pride, as in 'el pibe del barrio' (the local boy made good).

“Maradona was forever 'el pibe de oro', the golden kid.”
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2

A boy, kid, or young man. The source word 'pibe' is debated; the Academia Portena del Lunfardo links it to Genoese 'pivetto' (apprentice/young lad), though other roots have been proposed.

“Ese pibe juega muy bien al futbol. (That kid plays football really well.)”
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3

A familiar way to address a male friend, like 'dude' or 'mate'.

“Que onda, pibe? (What's up, dude?)”
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Pibe In A Sentence

El pibe creció en el conventillo. (The kid grew up in the tenement.)
Dale, pibe, no llegues tarde. (Come on, lad, don't be late.)
Tango lyrics are full of the pibe who dreams of escaping the slum.

Origin & Usage

Lunfardo from late-1800s/early-1900s Buenos Aires, documented by the Academia Portena del Lunfardo; the leading etymology is Genoese 'pivetto', though the Academia notes the origin is not fully settled.

Variants pibapibitapibito
Tags #lunfardo#spanish#argentine#tango#argot#people

People Also Ask

What does pibe mean?

It means a boy, kid, or young guy in Argentine slang.

What is the feminine form?

Piba, meaning a girl or young woman.

Where did pibe come from?

Likely from Genoese 'pivetto' (young apprentice), though the exact origin is debated.

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