charro

American  

[chahr-oh, chahr-raw] / ˈtʃɑr oʊ, ˈtʃɑr rɔ /

noun

• charros
  plural

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.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• charros
  plural

Etymology

Origin of charro

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

charro charros

Campillo reminds me that his brand is based on a family heirloom: a charro suit gifted to his father by his grandfather that he inherited a few years ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2024

As if that weren’t enough, you see a charro rider in the background.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2023

Despite the subject matter of his music, it was always tempered by his manly persona — he dressed in full charro regalia, took swigs from fans’ bottles and performed atop his horses.

From New York Times ● Dec. 13, 2021

Performing live and appearing in nearly 40 movies, Mr. Fernández cultivated an image as a charro, a traditional horseman, singing in the saddle at times like Gene Autry or Roy Rogers.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 12, 2021

After Salvador left to go around the corner to take up his post, Lupita walked down the alley till she stood across from the charro shop.

From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty

There were charros and women riders who belong to mounted drill teams.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2023

Having grown up in a family of Mexican horse riders, or charros, Dr. Urbiola was taught that inflicting pain and fear was the way to dominate, or break, a horse.

From New York Times ● May 9, 2023

“The first, quote, rodeo was in Texas, but the charros and the vaqueros did competitions like this starting back before California was a state. So the history in LA is huge.”

From Washington Times ● Feb. 21, 2022

On the West Coast, there are about 3,200 registered charros, where men compete in nine events, and about 800 registered escaramuzas, where teams of eight women compete in fast-paced, synchronized routines on horseback.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2021

He and Señor Diaz stepped inside the shop, which sold items that charros might buy such as jackets, ruffled shirts, whips, and elegant riding boots.

From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty