In Spanish, a child's father and godfather are, to each other, "compadres" - that is, "co-fathers." "Compadre" is also a traditional term of reverence and friendship for a man. The equivalent feminine term in Spanish is comadre. "Compadre" and "comadre" appeared simultaneously in the work that gives us our first known use of "compadre" in English: "'Busy as common, comadre!' said Lopez as he entered, addressing the mother, 'late and early I can find you at work.' 'Yes, compadre,' was the answer." (Albert Pike, "A Mexican Tale," 1834). In English, compadre means "friend and can refer to a person of either sex." "Comadre" continues to appear occasionally in English contexts, but it is not yet well enough established to merit entry in English dictionaries.
How are you doing, compadre? they're longtime compadres who have been through a lot together
Recent Examples on the WebMessi had been in touch with Neymar, his old compadre, to talk things through.New York Times, 10 Aug. 2021 Meanwhile a former compadre of Mr Massie in the House Freedom Caucus, Justin Amash, declared a plan to run for president for the Libertarians.The Economist, 2 May 2020 Police said that the rapper and his compadres had been getting complaints about the smell of marijuana permeating from their hotel room, the station reported. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 14 Sep. 2019 Though these worldly concerns sometimes cause friction within the group, Renaldo and his compadres always find their way back together. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 July 2019 Here’s to the competitors and compadres who inspire us now and throughout the year.***Best of the Web will not publish on Monday or Tuesday but will return on Wednesday.***Follow James Freeman on Twitter. James Freeman, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2018 The breeziness is a feint: Anolik has spent years on research, working meticulously to fill in the blanks where Babitz or her compadres had been too drunk to remember. Lidija Haas, Harper's magazine, 10 Jan. 2019 Here’s to the competitors and compadres who inspire us now and throughout the year. James Freeman, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2018 Other losers topping the list: Indianapolis, Salt Lake City and Madison, Wis. Welcome to the club, compadres. Angela Fritz, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2018 See More
Word History
Etymology
Spanish, literally, godfather, from Medieval Latin compater — more at compeer