It is common in Mexico to use the word camarada as a way to call informally a friend. For example:
- Tengo un camarada que es piloto.
- Ayer fuimos a la fiesta un camarada y yo.
RAE defines camarada as:
camarada.
(De cámara, por dormir en un mismo aposento).
com. Persona que acompaña a otra y come y vive con ella.
com. Persona que anda en compañía con otras, tratándose con amistad y confianza.
com. En ciertos partidos políticos y sindicatos, correligionario o compañero.
f. Compañía o junta de camaradas.
f. ant. batería (‖ conjunto de piezas de artillería).
f. ant. batería (‖ fortificación para poner a cubierto piezas de artillería).
As you can see the meanings are different from the real use in Mexico.
- When did the word become popular?
- Are there any other countries that use that word with that meaning?
Comments
- "2. com. Persona que anda en compañía con otras, tratándose con amistad y confianza." it's quite close to a "friend" definition.
Answer
I would say camarada is mostly used when referring to someone that shares your own political party or political view, in general (Wikipedia has a good explanation as to how and when it became popular). It shouldn»t have a bad connotation but unfortunately in Latin America is mostly used by the far left, the far right and the terrorists in between:
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The PSUV (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela) uses
camaradaall the time. Check Iris Varela»s twitter (current Venezuelan minister) -
Colombian paramilitary groups and guerrillas use the term
camaradato refer to their members.
I believe the meaning as synonym of friend is understood everywhere, but personally, I would avoid it.
Answer
The name camarada comes from camera, room. Comrades are roommates.
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Have you ever heard of communism ?
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Yes. In France, we say camarade a lot. Of course, camarade is the established name between communists, and between socialists too. Jean Ferrat has even made a beautiful song of it. But the word camarade is also often used without political meaning. It is used to mean friend, buddy. It is also used particularly at school. Camarade de classe = classmate.
Answer
For the second question, in Spain, though it»s not very widely used, it is perfectly understood.
Comments
- yeah exactly. In Spain the most common use for this word is as the 3rd RAE definition: partner in an institution such as a political party.
- and further, in films with Russians with bad accents :-p The word is often associated to communism- as it seems to be in English according to merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comrade
Answer
Camarada=Comrade, so Camarada more than a friend is a mate as Nicolas said.
Comments
- I have provided a clear answer, comrade=camarada and is more typical as mate rather than friend, that would be colloquial language but not a formal definition. Furthermore, I remarked, I coincide with Nico.