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My Slavic language (Slovak) uses the word krajan, speaker can in this way name another person whose origin lies in the same country/land/area/region.

English translations I have found:

I realize I could use all of them, but still what are slight differences, and, more importantly, which one is more common? I would like to know also about UK and US difference.

Feel free to include also alternative vocabulary.

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    'homeboy' is very informal and is more for someone you know very well rather than just some arbitrary person with your same nationality.
    – Mitch
    Jul 12, 2018 at 19:37
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    In UK the first two are good, but not "homeboy" which reads like someone who stays at home to watch TV, sleep, wait for meals to be provided, etc.
    – Weather Vane
    Jul 12, 2018 at 19:37
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    @WeatherVane 'homeboy' is nothing like that. It is informal slang from AAE that means (in its most literal sense) someone who I grew up with, friend from my neighborhood where I grew up. Usually though it just means my good friend (wherever they grew up).
    – Mitch
    Jul 12, 2018 at 19:39
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    @Mitch I wrote: in UK. We don't use the word "homeboy", but it might suggest what I wrote. OP asks about differences.
    – Weather Vane
    Jul 12, 2018 at 19:45

2 Answers 2

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Compatriot is naturally the word to express this situation. It fits the definition precisely, and is self-explanatory, refers to male and female citizens, and is identical in US and UK English.

Fellow countrymen/women is used frequently in articles due to it being a compound word (fellow+countrymen). Each word is fairly common and simple to understand, making the entire phrase easier to understand, but more of a mouthful. Usage is identical in US and UK English.

Homeboy is US mainly slang for being part of the same gang/social background. It is not frequently used, and rather informal and geographically more restrained.

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    Friends, Romans, compatriots.... :)
    – Ian MacDonald
    Jul 12, 2018 at 20:44
  • There is no way to name a person "from the same country as speaker"; not in English. That might be possible in another language you care to name but in English, never.
    – Robbie Goodwin
    Jul 17, 2018 at 1:42
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Another alternative is "fellow ".

Can be used for countries, cities, regions, etc.

As in:

"fellow Canadian", "fellow Spaniard", or "fellow New Yorker".

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