Chicana

American  

[chi-kah-nuh, -kan-uh] / tʃɪˈkɑ nə, -ˈkæn ə /

Or chicana

adjective

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

   a conference on Chicana issues.

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noun

1. a Mexican American girl or woman.

Etymology

Origin of Chicana

First recorded in 1965–70; from Mexican Spanish, feminine of Chicano

Example Sentences

To them, the movie captured the experience of growing up Chicana in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

“Awesome,” said one hair-sprayed and corseted Chicana to another.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2025

Garcia’s second album, “Cha Cha Palace,” delved further into what it meant to be a Chicana growing up bicultural in the San Gabriel Valley — a quintessentially American experience, yet a very individual one.

From New York Times • Jun. 3, 2024

Day of the Dead “is my favorite holiday,” said Amezkua, 53, who identifies as Chicana.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2024

But what’s happening right now in Southern California isn’t any of that, said Cal State Fullerton Chicana and Chicano Studies professor Alexandro Jose Gradilla.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2024