What fonts go with Chivo? This neo-grotesque workhorse from Omnibus-Type delivers solidness and balanced strokes that make it equally at home in headlines and body text, demanding companions that can leverage its elegant practicality.
Chivo, which means “goat” in Spanish, was Omnibus-Type’s first foray into neo-grotesque territory. Designed by Héctor Gatti, the typeface combines solidness and balanced strokes that give it both elegance and everyday practicality. Chivo Regular handles long-reading texts with ease, while Chivo Black commands attention in headlines and banners. With seven weight variants plus matching italics, this open-source family offers remarkable versatility for any designer’s toolkit.
Pairing Chivo means finding fonts that either complement its grotesque foundations or provide meaningful contrast through serif elegance or geometric precision. Its neutral character makes it a flexible partner, but the best pairings bring something distinctive to the conversation. Here are 15 fonts that pair well with Chivo, each selected to extend its capabilities across different design contexts.
1. Playfair Display
The dramatic contrast between Playfair Display‘s high-contrast serifs and Chivo’s stolid grotesque forms creates instant typographic theater. Claus Eggers Sørensen’s Georgian-inspired design brings editorial elegance that elevates Chivo’s workhorse utility into something more distinguished. Set Playfair at display sizes where its hairline serifs can breathe, then let Chivo handle the practical work of body text. This pairing excels in luxury branding, fashion editorials, and any project where sophistication needs a functional backbone.
2. Merriweather
Merriweather‘s screen-optimized serifs find natural harmony with Chivo’s digital-first sensibility. Both fonts were engineered for modern reading environments, sharing similar x-height philosophies that make transitions feel seamless. Eben Sorkin designed Merriweather with thick serifs and open forms that anchor headlines beautifully while Chivo’s neutral grotesque handles body text with unflappable clarity. This pairing suits content-heavy platforms where readability trumps everything—news sites, publishing platforms, and educational content.
3. Lora
Lora brings calligraphic warmth that humanizes Chivo’s mechanical precision. Those brushed curves and moderate contrast create visual friction that keeps layouts interesting. Cyreal’s contemporary serif reads as distinctly personal against Chivo’s anonymous grotesque forms—a contrast that works beautifully for blogs, lifestyle brands, and editorial projects wanting warmth without sacrificing professionalism. Use Lora for headlines that need soul, Chivo for body text that needs clarity.
4. IBM Plex Serif
There’s systematic beauty in pairing IBM Plex Serif with Chivo. Both fonts emerged from considered design processes, sharing commitment to functional elegance. Plex Serif’s quirky details—that distinctive lowercase ‘g’ and subtly angled stress—add personality that Chivo’s neutrality welcomes. Mike Abbink’s design brings corporate gravitas without bureaucratic stuffiness, making this pairing ideal for enterprise software, technical documentation, and B2B communications where authority needs approachability.
5. Lato
Lato and Chivo speak similar design languages—both humanist-influenced sans-serifs with clean lines and modern sensibilities. But ?ukasz Dziedzic’s creation carries softer warmth in its semi-rounded details, creating subtle differentiation that helps establish hierarchy. The two fonts together feel like colleagues from the same firm: aligned in purpose, distinct in personality. This pairing works everywhere—corporate branding, app interfaces, marketing materials—wherever modern professionalism needs visual variety.
6. Open Sans
When Chivo needs a partner equally committed to democratic readability, Open Sans answers the call. Steve Matteson’s humanist sans brings optimized neutrality that complements Chivo’s neo-grotesque character without competing for attention. Both fonts prioritize clarity over personality, making them ideal for content-forward platforms where typography should enhance rather than distract. Deploy this pairing for educational sites, government portals, and any application serving diverse audiences.
7. Roboto
Roboto and Chivo represent parallel evolution in sans-serif design—both balancing geometric structure with humanist warmth. Christian Robertson’s Google flagship brings slightly rounder curves that soften Chivo’s more angular character. Together they create a UI ecosystem that feels cohesive without being monotonous. This pairing excels in Android-forward applications, material design interfaces, and any digital product where Google’s design language intersects with independent brand identity.
8. Montserrat
Montserrat‘s geometric heritage provides striking counterpoint to Chivo’s grotesque foundations. Julieta Ulanovsky’s tribute to Buenos Aires signage brings urban precision that can sharpen Chivo’s more neutral character. The contrast here is architectural—Montserrat’s calculated geometry against Chivo’s pragmatic functionality. This pairing suits contemporary branding, tech startups, and design-forward projects where visual interest matters as much as readability.
9. Nunito
The rounded terminals of Nunito bring friendly approachability that balances Chivo’s businesslike demeanor. Vernon Adams created a sans-serif that reads as warm without being casual, adding soft edges that humanize layouts. Against Chivo’s more angular forms, Nunito introduces the kind of contrast that makes interfaces feel welcoming. This pairing works wonderfully for family-oriented brands, educational apps, and any project where approachability serves the user experience.
10. Overpass
Overpass shares Chivo’s utilitarian DNA—both fonts designed with functional clarity as their primary mission. Delve Withrington’s Highway Gothic interpretation brings transportation signage efficiency that complements Chivo’s no-nonsense grotesque character. FontPair.co specifically curates this combination for trendy website design, and it’s easy to see why: both fonts communicate contemporary without being trendy, modern without being cold.
11. Alfa Slab One
When Chivo needs a headline partner with serious impact, Alfa Slab One delivers. This heavy slab serif commands attention with its bold presence, creating dramatic contrast against Chivo’s more measured weights. JM Solé’s design brings poster-ready authority that can transform understated layouts into compelling statements. This pairing suits bold branding, promotional materials, and any project where headlines need to stop scrolling thumbs.
12. PT Serif
PT Serif brings transitional elegance that creates meaningful contrast with Chivo’s grotesque modernity. Alexandra Korolkova’s design for the Public Types project carries institutional gravitas that reads as trustworthy and professional. Against Chivo’s contemporary character, PT Serif adds classical depth that elevates brand perception. This pairing excels in publishing, financial services, and any context where traditional authority supports modern communication.
13. Tinos
Google’s Times New Roman alternative, Tinos, provides familiar elegance that grounds Chivo’s contemporary personality. Steve Matteson’s metrically compatible design carries institutional recognition while maintaining digital clarity. This is the pairing for organizations transitioning traditional publishing to digital—academic institutions, newspapers, and established brands wanting digital presence without abandoning typographic heritage.
14. Rasa
Rasa brings editorial sophistication with its high-contrast forms and distinctive character. Rosetta Type Foundry created a display face that commands attention without overwhelming layouts. Against Chivo’s practical grotesque, Rasa introduces the kind of visual interest that elevates feature articles and hero sections. This pairing suits editorial platforms, cultural publications, and any project where headlines need magazine-quality presence.
15. Source Code Pro
Technical projects find natural partners in Source Code Pro and Chivo. Paul D. Hunt’s monospace design brings developer credibility while Chivo handles interface elements with grotesque clarity. The contrast here is functional: specialized precision for code, universal readability for everything else. This pairing excels in developer documentation, technical blogs, and any platform bridging code and content.
Conclusion
There are no absolute rules for font pairing, just principles to guide you. The key is contrast—in weight, in style (serif vs. sans-serif), or in personality. Chivo is versatile enough to play well with many different typefaces.
Trust your eye, experiment freely, and remember that the best pairing is the one that serves your content and audience. Typography should enhance communication, not complicate it.
