chico

¹ American  

[chee-koh] / ˈtʃi koʊ /

noun

1. Informal. a boy or young man (often used as a nickname or form of address).

   Sorry, chico, but that’s not the killer argument you’d like to think it is!

   We hoped we looked like just a couple of laid-back chicos out for a stroll.

---

chico ² American  

[chee-koh] / ˈtʃi koʊ /

noun

plural

chicos

1. greasewood.

---

Chico ³ American  

[chee-koh] / ˈtʃi koʊ /

noun

1. a city in central California.

2. a male given name.

---

chico British  

/ ˈtʃiːkəʊ /

noun

1. another name for greasewood

---

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” ( chinchy ( def. ) )

Origin of chico²

Short for chicalote ( def. )

Example Sentences

En otro grupo, no les gustó que un chico llevara un arete, otro tuviera el pelo largo y un tercero llevara una hebilla de cinturón que no hacía juego.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2022

En el estrado delantero, uno de los violinistas, un chico llamado Francisco Garcia Jr., cantaba el himno nacional.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2022

Desde muy chico creí que eras el hombre de acero.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2020

Una joven desea huir para casarse con su enamorado en México, pero cuando su padre se entera trata de encerrarla y al escaparse ella se enamora de otro chico.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2019

“Calm down, chico, calm down. She might hear you,” Paco cautions, gesturing toward Lieutenant Rojas’s tent.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García