chico
noun
a boy or young man (often used as a nickname or form of address).
chico
1 American
[chee-koh]
/ ˈtʃi koʊ /
noun
chico
2
American
[chee-koh]
/ ˈtʃi koʊ /
noun
-
chicos
plural
Chico
3
American
[chee-koh]
/ ˈtʃi koʊ /
noun
-
a city in central California.
-
a male given name.
chico
British
/ ˈtʃiːkəʊ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of chico1
First recorded in 1965–70; from Spanish: “boy,” of expressive origin, representing a common Romance stem found in words for small things; compare Latin ciccum “bagatelle, trifle, worthless object” ( see chinchy ( def. ))
Origin of chico2
Short for chicalote ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Hola, chico: The documentary “The Boy from Medellín” gets up close and personal with Latin music superstar J Balvin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2021
Now his female colleagues call Raúl chico sensación — sensation boy!
From New York Times ● Mar. 1, 2011
“Calm down, chico, calm down. She might hear you,” Paco cautions, gesturing toward Lieutenant Rojas’s tent.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
Properly the fem. of the adj. chico, which is also used commonly for a boy, especially as a mode of address, or to call attention, hé, chico!
From The Bible in Spain - Vol. 2 [of 2] by George Henry Borrow
Then, at the hotel, I consulted with a capable young office-lady, who tardily developed a knowledge of English, and we agreed that it would be well to send the chico to the post-office for it.
From Familiar Spanish Travels by William Dean Howells
He was arrested the following day at his mother’s home in Chico and has been in custody ever since.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
I love topping it with Topo Chico for the soda’s minerality and extra fizziness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Next year perhaps it will be the ghost of Chico Marx with his immortal line, “Who are you gonna believe — me or your own eyes?”
From MarketWatch ● May 15, 2026
Farmington, N.M., and Chico, Calif., followed, with prices dropping 11% and 7.6%, respectively.
From Barron's ● May 5, 2026
Don Julio and Chico came back, followed by Mami, her eyes bright.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
In San Antonio the first kites jerked high in the gusty winds; tennis courts were crowded; Mexican chicos waded in the shallows of San Antonio River.
From Time Magazine Archive
Corn was roasted to make chicos, blue corn was ground into meal, and the rest was stored for the animals.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
“Run along, chicos, and have fun at the party. I’ll be in the kitchen serving up the best dinner you ever saw. You look wonderful, both of you, like you stepped out of a movie.”
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
The hot beans flavored with chicos and green chile were muy sabrosos.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Vegetables are in great plenty, and consist of pumpkins, lettuce, onions, radishes, very long squashes, etc.; of fruits, they have melons, chicos, durians, marbolas, and oranges.
From The Former Philippines thru Foreign Eyes by Austin Craig
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
