Chicano

American  

[chi-kah-noh, -kan-oh] / tʃɪˈkɑ noʊ, -ˈkæn oʊ /

Or chicano

adjective

1. of or relating to Mexican Americans or their culture.

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noun

plural

Chicanos

1. a Mexican American.

chicano British  

/ tʃɪˈkɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. an American citizen of Mexican origin

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Usage

What does Chicano mean? A Chicano is a person who is Mexican American. In other words, it’s someone of Mexican descent who was born in or now lives in the United States, as in Although Jorge loves living in the United States, he remains a proud Chicano, frequently visiting his Mexican hometown.Chicano is also used as an adjective to describe Mexican American people or things involving them or their culture, as in Rosa loved Chicano food so much that she became a chef and opened a popular Chicano restaurant. Chicano comes from Mexican Spanish, a language that uses gendered nouns. Chicano is the masculine form, while Chicana is the feminine form. Chican@ and Chicanx are sometimes used as gender-neutral forms.As with any term that refers to a person’s identity, it is best to ask the person what term they prefer to identify themselves with. Even if a person fits the dictionary definition of Chicano, they might prefer to be identified by another term, such as Mexican American, American, Mexican, Hispanic, or Latino.Example: The ad campaign was targeted at the city’s large Chicano population, who were proud of their Mexican heritage.

Etymology

Origin of Chicano

First recorded in 1960–65; from Mexican Spanish, by shortening and alteration of mexicano Mexican ( def. )

Example Sentences

Chicano studies was more than just a set of classes for Acuña — it was a philosophy that underscored the ethnic pride and cultural awareness spurred by the Chicano movement of the late 1960s and ’70s.

From Los Angeles Times

No one should ever be above skepticism no matter how sanctified and righteous they may seem — that’s why the New York Times investigation crashed into the Chicano collective sense of self like a meteor.

From Los Angeles Times

Chávez was part of the wider Chicano movement that inspired the creation of university Chicano studies departments.

From Los Angeles Times

The region became the birthplace of the Chicano civil rights movement that included the East L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

The revelations about the Chicano civil rights icon are sparking calls for removing Chavez’s name from streets, schools, parks and Cesar Chavez Day on March 31.

From Los Angeles Times