Jarana Spanish

causa

Short answer

In Lima, "causa" means a close friend, mate. The register is muy coloquial — fine among friends, out of place in a job interview or anything written to an institution. The standard Spanish equivalent is "amigo". In use: ¿Qué tal, causa?

Part of speechsustantivo
Registermuy coloquial
Standard Spanishamigo
In use¿Qué tal, causa?
How's it going, mate?

Draft entry — needs a native-speaker check before publishing.

Warmer and more street than pata. Between friends it is affectionate; with a stranger it sounds forced. Also the name of a Peruvian potato dish, which is unrelated.