Che (interjection)

Signature used by Ernesto Guevara from 1960 until his death in 1967. His frequent use of the word "che" earned him this nickname.

Che (//; Spanish: [tʃe]; Portuguese: tchê [ˈtʃe]; Valencian: xe [ˈtʃe]) is an interjection commonly used in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and Valencia (Spain), signifying "hey!", "fellow", "guy".[1] Che is mainly used as a vocative to call someone's attention (akin to "mate!" or "buddy!" in English),[2] but it is often used as filler too (akin to "right" or "so" in English). The Argentine revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara earned his nickname from his frequent use of the expression, which amused his Cuban comrades.[3]

  1. ^ Mario Andrew Pei; Salvatore Ramondino, eds. (1968), "che", The New World Spanish/English English/Spanish Dictionary, p. 159
  2. ^ von Tunzelmann, Alex (13 September 2012) [2011]. Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder and the Cold War in the Caribbean. London: Simon and Schuster. p. lxxxi. ISBN 9781471114779. Retrieved 14 May 2023. [...] the word 'che' - meaning something like 'mate' or 'buddy'. It is used casually to grab the attention of a familiar friend, but develops an edge of impertinence if said to a figure of authority.
  3. ^ von Tunzelmann, Alex (13 September 2012) [2011]. Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder and the Cold War in the Caribbean. London: Simon and Schuster. p. lxxxi. ISBN 9781471114779. Retrieved 14 May 2023. The Cubans were amused by Guevara's characteristically Argentine speech, peppered with the word 'che' [...]. Guevara used it to everyone. The Cubans called him 'el Che'. It stuck.

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