# What does ese mean in slang?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ese-mean-in-slang/646764
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 10, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ese-mean-in-slang/646764 "2013-01-10T16:59:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ese-mean-in-slang/646764/1 "2013-01-10T16:59:27Z")

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I know it is the Spanish word for _that_, and it also indicates “he” or “you” (male, I guess – can you specify gender?).

But what does it mean when two guys say it to one another? Is it just like, “dude” or “bro” or “man”?

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### Author: ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ese-mean-in-slang/646764/2 "2013-01-10T17:24:38Z")

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Yes it is simply slang for “dude”, “man” etc. predominantly in the mexican-American communities of the far west. Apparently a middle-ground between vato and cholo. Some interesting origin theaories are presented at the Urban dictionary.