chingona

American  

[cheen-goh-nah] / ˌtʃinˈgoʊ nɑ /

noun

1. a woman, especially a Latina, who is strong, independent, competent, intelligent, self-assured, successful, etc..

   Chingonas do the work that rarely makes it into the “master narratives” of American history, but their influence touches us all.

   A true chingona, my mother has lived life on her own terms.

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adjective

1. (of a woman, especially a Latina) strong, independent, competent, intelligent, self-assured, successful, etc..

   She has refused to sideline her Latina flair and chingona spirit in every step of her career.

2. awesome, admirable, or impressive.

   It's a really cool, nasty, chingona bike!

Etymology

Origin of chingona

First recorded in 1975–80; from Spanish; feminine of chingon ( def. )

Example Sentences

Grandma might not have made headlines like those other women, outside of my columns about her, but that made her no less of a chingona to the people who loved her.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2023

She’s still la mas chingona — the ultimate badass — emcee Enrique Cerna said as he welcomed her to the stage in October.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2023

Over her two decades of work in the fields, Edith has earned herself a reputation among the men as a tough chingona – a badass woman.

From The Guardian • Jul. 10, 2019

The fact that we get the words desmadre and chingona on the key art and teaser art, to me it’s radical.

From New York Times • May 22, 2019

Even Madai, who called herself a chingona, or badass, on Facebook, was afraid.

From Washington Post • Aug. 4, 2017