Yes, “vato” I looked up as “homie” or “dude” Although, when I was growing up in La Puente, CA , I heard and understood that it meant like, “bad (as in good) homie.” Once I had to go to the local courthouse in El Monte and was introduced to a public defender. He was “vato” in a nice suit.
I wasn’t familiar with “vato.” According to Urban Dictionary, it just means something like “dude” (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=vato).
Yes, “vato” I looked up as “homie” or “dude” Although, when I was growing up in La Puente, CA , I heard and understood that it meant like, “bad (as in good) homie.” Once I had to go to the local courthouse in El Monte and was introduced to a public defender. He was “vato” in a nice suit.