Concept in Definition ABC

The word chilango or chilanga is not used in Spain, Argentina, Chile or Peru, but it is very common in Mexico. It refers to the inhabitants of the capital, Mexico Federal District. It is not a gentilicio but a nickname or nickname that indicates that a Mexican is from the capital.

Those who do not live in Mexico D F tend to refer to the chilangos in a derogatory way

In fact, in the rest of the country an archetype of the chilango has been created with negative connotations, that is, someone manipulative, aggressive, arrogant and with an air of superiority.

On the contrary, those who were born in the capital and are proud of his origins do not use the word disparagingly but rather are satisfied with his condition as a Chilango.

The two visions of the term show that Mexico presents a deep division cultural between the capital and the rest of the country. In this sense, something similar happens between Parisians and the rest of France or Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina. On the other hand, the vocabulary of the Chilangos reminds us that in Madrid there is also a genuine slang, the cheli.

The slang of the chilangos

They have their own expressions and, in a way, a culture of their own. Chilangos are resourceful and creative in their way of speaking and have been creating slang singular. Thus, to notify someone about some danger they say "waters!", "to the shot" means go alert, a prison is a "boat", someone funny is a "shit", a friend very close is "carnal", a gun is a "fusca", a "pacheco" is someone who smokes marijuana, a mother She is a "boss" and "beats me" is equivalent to I like it.

A culture with its hallmarks

When a community of speakers invents a language a unique culture is taking shape. Thus, the chilangos have their own music (for example, the cumbia chilanga or the pasito duranguense). Some Mexican films tell stories about chilangos (for example, "La Tarea", "De la calle" or "Dos abrazos").

With regard to personal aesthetics and clothing, young people from the capital like oxygenated hair, the scapulars and wear shirts of San Judas Tadeo, since in the capital of Mexico there is devotion for this holy. As is logical, between the signs of identity of the Chilanga culture there are some soccer teams, especially Pumas, Cruz Azul or America.

Photos: Fotolia - eddygaleotti