Is it ok to say "amigo" as greeting?

[TommySlick]

if someone does not know any spanish, and just says "amigo" to his mexican neighbor, is it polite or will the neighbor hold some kind of grudge?

 

[FirstL]

It would not be considered impolite, but it's not exactly a greeting either. I mean, you don't go around waving at English speaking people saying just "Friend!", do you? People will get the impression that you're intellectually disabled if you do that. You can say "Hola, amigo!" to a male neighbor (or "Hola, amiga!" to a female neighbor), which just means "Hello, friend!". Remember, the "H" in "Hola" is silent.

 

[Librecomoelmar]

hey Tommy,

Indeed, it's so common in places just like Mexico. Also, in another Sud America's places. However, is not the case in Spain, my country. Unless I have a lot of confidence to my neighbor, I would never say such a thing! Anyway, that's not considerate umpolite or rude. In any case, too offhand.

 

[Raquel]

Amigo means friend. It'd be better if you say hola which means hello.

 

[dart]

That's fine. Just don't go holding a conversation with the Spanish speaker in Spanish, unless you're going to translate for the English speaker, too.