This is the 10285th most frequent Spanish word.
compatriota
A compatriot; a fellow countryman or countrywoman.
"Compatriota" refers to a person from the same country as the speaker in the context of meeting someone from one's home country abroad.
Ayer conocí a un compatriota mientras viajaba por el extranjero.
Yesterday I met a fellow countryman while traveling abroad.
"Compatriotas" here is plural, emphasizing the community of people sharing the same nationality and the need for solidarity.
Los compatriotas deben unirse en este difícil momento para apoyarse mutuamente.
Fellow country people must unite in this difficult time to support each other.
"Compatriotas" conveys pride in the achievements of those from the speaker's own country.