Mexican Nicknames
July 25th, 2009 by timbotron
Mexican culture has had a long tradition of nicknames. The nature of some Mexican nicknames could be considered derogatory by other cultural standards – it is not uncommon to call the fattest guy in the group Gordo “Fatty.” Which is both evil and awesome (unless you happen to be the fattest guy in the group).
So, if you’re doing research for a new tattoo or are just curious, here is our running collection of Mexican nicknames (we’re starting with boys’/men’s and will eventually get to girls’/women’s):
A LIST OF MEXICAN NICKNAMES:
• CALACA – “Skeleton” given to the skinniest or boniest guy in the group.
• MOCO – “Booger, Snot” given to the kid with the snottiest nose or the nose-picker of the group.
• MACETÓN – “Jar/Pot” given to the group moron (similar to English “jar head”).
• FLACO – “Skinny” given to the skinniest guy in the group.
• HUEVÓN/GÜEVÓN – “Lazy” given to the laziest guy in the group.
• PANCHO/PACO – “Francisco” a nickname for Francisco (”Frank” or “Francis” in English).
• GORDO – “Fatty” given to the fattest guy in the group.
• CHINO – “Chinese” given to the most Asian looking guy in the group, or the guy with curly hair (apparently Asians have curly hair in Mexico).
• PEPE/CHEPE – “Jose” a nickname for Jose (”Joe,” “Joey,” or “Joseph” in English).
• CHUY/CHUCHO – “Jesús” a nickname for Jesús.
• CHANGO – “Monkey” given to the neighborhood spaz or the monkey-faced guy in the group.
• CHECO – “Sergio” nickname for Sergio.
• NACHO – “Ignacio” nickname for Ignacio.
• CHARRO – “Cowboy/Horseman” given to the guy who looks best in a cowboy hat and boots.
• FEO – “Ugly” given to the ugliest or most abhorred guy in the group.
• LALO – “Eduardo” nickname for Eduardo (Edward/Ed in English).
• EL CHIQUILÍN – “The Smallest” given to the smallest or tallest guy in the group.
• MEMO – “Guillermo” nickname for Guillermo (Will, William, and Guy in English).
• LOCO – “Crazy” given to the most mentally unstable guy in the group.
• LUCHO – “Luis” nickname for Luis (Louis, Lou, or Louie in English).
• HUESUDO – “Boney” given to the skinniest or boniest guy in the group.
• RUBIO/GÜERO – “Blonde” given to the guy with light/blonde hair.
• PELOS DE ELOTE – “Corn Silk” given to the guy with light/blonde hair.
• COCHINO/PUERCO – “Pig” given to the dirtiest or fattest guy in the group.
• RATÓN/RATA – “Rat” given to the thief of the group or the guy with the biggest teeth or ears.
• CUCO – “Refugio” nickname for Refugio.
• CHISMOSO – “Gossip” given to the group blabbermouth.
• CEJAS/CEJOS – “Eyebrows” given to the guy with huge eyebrows (”unibrow”).
• GRINGO – “White Guy” given to the white guy in the group.
• VIEJO – “Old (Man)” given to the old guy in the group (or the one who looks most like Homer Simpson).
• CHIMUELO – “Toothless” given to the guy with poorest dental hygiene.
• GÜEY – “Dude” commonly used as a general nickname, sometimes derogatory.
• PRIETO/MORENO/NEGRO – “Dark (Skinned)” given to the guy with the darkest skin in the group.
• BONITO – “Handsome” given to the most or least attractive guy in the group.
• GOYO – “Gregorio” nickname for Gregorio (Gregory or Greg in English).
• TONTO – “Stupid” given to the group moron.
• PELÓN – “Baldy” given to the bald(ing) or hairiest guy in the group.
• TORPE – “Klutz” given to the stupidest or clumsiest guy in the group.
• PENDEJO – “Pubic Hair (Jerk/Coward)” given to the dumbest guy in the group, considered derogatory in many circumstances.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
In my girlfriend’s (Costa Rican) family, all the women are referred to with nicknames. My girlfriend is “Negra” because she is darker than her sister. Her sister is”Macha” (meaning light or blond). They call her mom China, and I was instructed to the same. Doña China. I’ve known her for many months and have never called her anything else. Could you imagine calling your girlfriend’s mom “Mrs. Chinese” in the U.S.?
July 29th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Sam, that’s awesome.
August 4th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Oh, you almost made me cry, I was laughing so hard. Aye ya ya! (gun shots sounds follow)
August 4th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Oh, you almost made me cry, I was laughing so hard.
January 5th, 2010 at 3:35 am
prieto- realy dark skin m3xican
chikitin- drinkz 2 much itz funny
chalino- has no idea how 2 do stuff really nurvouse guy
choriso- 2 funny 2 say jajajaj
bruja- has a connected nose
jajaj hella bored there all tight i know guys with all those names jiji and im not a player
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:27 pm
• CHINO – “Chinese” given to the most Asian looking guy in the group, or the guy with curly hair (apparently Asians have curly hair in Mexico).
^^ It’s not that Mexican’s think Asians have curly hair, but that the word also means “curly”. Therefor the guy with the curliest hair in the group, could be a candidate for that nickname.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:04 pm
so this guy i likes name is antonio and hes mexican but i want a cute nickname 2 call him what should i call him
May 16th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Mexi Lover, you should call him gato
May 29th, 2010 at 5:39 am
“GRINGO” does not mean “White Guy”… is the derogative term used to describe North American people regardless of the color of the skin. (A citizen of the US in Mexican soil, a tourist)
the etymology is simple:
from the english words “green”
and “go”.
Apparently, (the myth states) they were some “foreign invaders” dressed up in green. And locals, Were not able communicate because of the different languages… so they roughly say “green go” attempting this to be “green go away”… and in Spanish the “ee” changed for “i” and it contracted (“gringo”) it began to be used as a substantive and a prerogative adjective. You add an “s” to the word and you got it plural (“gringos”)
They are other words like “gachupin” – which is the prerogative term used to describe a Spaniard (also white) and gabacho – which is the foreigner who decided to stay and live in mexico.
(I loved the other ones)
June 7th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
S.M. Your wrong Gringo came from green yes but it was the color of the us bills that they got it from
June 12th, 2010 at 2:16 am
Please add “Chivo”, another smelly person.
“Chino” meaning curly-haired has nothing to do with being Chinese. It comes from a Nahuatl word meaning curly-haired and is not found as such outside of Mexico.
“Gringo” comes from “hablar en griego” (speaking Greek), a foreigner whose speech is unintelligible. Its use can be traced back to Spain. The “green-go” etymology is false at the very least because soldiers in the days of the U.S. Intervention (”Mexican-American War” to you gringos) wore blue.
“Buey” is a castrated bull. It is sometimes spelled “güey” in order to soften the insult. Among the young, it is used more like “buddy” than like “dude” and, when a woman uses the term with her husband, she is suggesting that she has been unfaithful to him. It’s a very tricky term and you are well advised to avoid it unless you know what you’re doing. ¡Ay, güey!
“Pelón” means both bald and hairy, that is true. You will also find many other terms applied as the opposite of their normal meanings. You might call this irony although it isn’t. Just stay on your toes.
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 pm
my nickname is EL TACUACHE
June 23rd, 2010 at 2:43 am
Along with Pancho, Memo, and Goyo that you have listed, please list my other 2 son’s names, Chendo (Rosendo) & Neto (Ernesto), also my daughter’s nickname, India.
July 18th, 2010 at 7:49 am
My dad, a Mexican, gave ‘modern’ names to his kids, but then he turned right around and also provided nicknames of his own creativity: Rene (Talache), Franklin (Puca), Syslvia (Facinta), Rachel (Quinque), Maria Elena (Nena–pretty traditional), and Evelyn (Belinda). Wilbur was the last but got no nickname beyond Willie.