chingona

[cheen-goh-nah]

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.

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!

Word History and Origins

Origin of chingona¹

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

Example Sentences

“I’m over here being a jefita chingona, busting my a— and that’s what people want to focus on?” she said, referring to her love life amid a decadelong career without scandals, five Latin Grammy nominations, four studio albums and two headlining tours.

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And 2.5 miles north of that sits La Chingona Taqueria on Avalon Way Southwest.

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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.

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“To see a lot of Latinas like myself really embracing the plant, the industry, trying to be boss chingona women in this space empowers me,” Preza said.

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Gloria, you were always a chingona.

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