charro

[ chahr-oh; Spanish chahr-raw ]

noun

, plural char·ros [chahr, -ohz, chahr, -, r, aws].

1. a Mexican horseman or cowboy, typically one wearing an elaborate outfit, often with silver decorations, of tight trousers, ruffled shirt, short jacket, and sombrero.

Word History and Origins

Origin of charro¹

1925–30; < Mexican Spanish; Spanish: rustic, countrylike < Basque txar poor, weak

Example Sentences

“The simpler, the better” tends to be the rule with these things; mine was just refried charro beans and melted Monterrey Jack.

From The Daily Beast

Hoover was a famously buttoned-up man, but the oilmen around the Del Charro pool did their best to loosen him up.

From The Daily Beast

Hobby and Rayburn were only the first in a stream of politicians to stay in touch with goings-on at Del Charro.

From The Daily Beast

He was wearing one of the new Mexican charro-style jackets, black laced with silver.

From Project Gutenberg

Dressed in one of his charro outfits or in badly pressed whites, whip or quirt in hand, he epitomized Petaca.

From Project Gutenberg

His battered magnificence of a charro garb fitted well the diabolic character which Jacqueline assigned him.

From Project Gutenberg

It was faced with scarlet silk; and the charro elegance beneath was black and resplendent.

From Project Gutenberg

A few minutes later Jacqueline beheld a tall figure in elegant charro garb striding the length of her salon.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Charro

What is a charro?

Charro is used to describe something related to Mexican horsemen, such as their costumes, or to Mexican ranch culture, such as charro frijoles (beans), a soup-like dish made of pinto beans, onions, garlic, and bacon or pork belly. 

A charro is a traditional Mexican horseman whose costume usually consists of tight pants, a ruffled shirt or jacket, a large hat, and silver ornaments and decorations. They were originally known to be skilled ranchers and horsemen. Charros from different haciendas would compete in local charreadas to test their skills. The competitions grew to become traveling festivals that featured food, music, and competitions.

In Mexican pop culture, charros are similar to cowboys in American pop culture, but they are celebrated as being ornamental and flashy. Charros are known to wear elaborate outfits with a lot of decorations, accents, frills, embroidered designs, and more. Perhaps the most recognizable part of traditional charro fashion is the large, wide-brimmed charro hat, the sombrero de charro.

Example: The new food truck serves all my favorite charro foods, especially charro beans.

Where does charro come from?

The first records of the term in English charro come from around the 1920s. It ultimately comes from Spanish, meaning “rustic” or “of the country.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that often get used in discussing charro?

• beans
• country
• cowboy
• hat
• horse
• jacket
• Mexico
• silver
• sombrero
• tradition

How is charro used in real life?

Charro is most often used to describe something connected with Mexican ranch culture, such as foods and costumes.

Officially performing for Cinco de Mayo @ the Astros game hehe. Y’all catch me in my charro suit 😏

— xavier lee (@xayyyvr) May 2, 2022

I think my favorite food is the bacon you get with charro beans. it's a true delicacy

— crismontyy (@crismontyy) May 7, 2017

Am I the only emo Mexican in New York for whom skinny jeans recall fond memories of charro pants from ballet folclórico days?

— Angie Jaime (@angiejaime) September 18, 2019

 

 

Try using charro!

Is charro used correctly in the following sentence?

“Whenever Diego needs a little confidence boost, he wears his charro pants and stands tall.”