chico
noun
a boy or young man (often used as a nickname or form of address).
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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:
Shortly afterwards, he and other young entrepreneurs doing business with the Venezuelan government were nicknamed "bolichicos", a slang term combining the words Bolivarian – referring to Chavez's socialist revolution - and chico, meaning boy.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
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
He was only a light-haired lad, and the Spaniards with one vehement shout for "el chico blanco"—"the fair lad"—swept over abattis and French together!
From Deeds that Won the Empire Historic Battle Scenes by W. H. (William Henry) Fitchett
A major event in July also produced significant impacts in Chile's Norte Chico region.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 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
Its nonbeer portfolio is the fastest-growing part of the business, as its Fever-Tree brand of drink mixers and Topo Chico hard seltzer are resonating with consumers, executives said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
When he graduated, his name stayed behind, and from then on the close-up camera and its operator were a unit called Chico.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
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
The hot beans flavored with chicos and green chile were muy sabrosos.
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
Around this toothpick-holder are placed glass fruit-trays from which rise pyramids of oranges, lansons, ates, chicos, and even mangos in spite of the fact that it is November.
From The Social Cancer by Charles E. Derbyshire
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.
