What is paisano?

"Paisano" is a Spanish word that can be translated to mean "fellow countryman" or "compatriot." In some contexts, it is used to refer specifically to Italian immigrants in Latin America, or to Mexican Americans who were born or raised in the United States but have close ties to their ancestral home in Mexico.

In Italy, "paisano" can also refer to someone from the same region or town as oneself. In this context, it is similar to the Italian word "paesano."

The term has also been used in literature and popular culture. For example, the 1940 novel "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck features a character named Tom Joad who refers to his fellow migrants as "paisanos." In the Netflix series "Narcos," the character of Pablo Escobar often addresses his associates as "paisanos."