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.

---

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

Liam Gallagher played to the locals, donning a sombrero de charro during “Wonderwall” and the show closer “Champagne Supernova.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2025

He said although the L.A. ordinance would have minimal immediate effect — only about a handful of charro events take place within city limits every year — the harm would come later.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2022

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

He carried an engraved pistol and wore an embroidered sombrero and a suede, hand-stitched charro suit, which he likened to “Mexico’s second flag.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 12, 2021

His desires had moved to motorcycles and cars, but Lupita could see that the glamorous charro still held a place in his heart.

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