cholo

American  

[choh-loh] / ˈtʃoʊ loʊ /

noun

Chiefly Southwestern U.S.

• cholos
  plural

1. (especially among Mexican Americans) a teenage boy who is a member of a street gang.

2. Usually Disparaging. a term used to refer to a Mexican or Mexican American.

3. a mestizo of Spanish America.

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Sensitive Note

When used of a Mexican or Mexican American, the term cholo usually refers disparagingly to an immigrant who is considered to be low-class and poorly educated. However, cholo is also a term of self-reference used by Mexican American youths.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cholos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cholo

First recorded in 1850–55; from Mexican Spanish: “mestizo, peasant,” possibly a shortening of Cholollán (from Nahuatl Cholōllān, modern Cholula ), a city-state in pre-Columbian Mexico

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cholo cholos

For instance, take this clip, in which the trio take on cholo characters and reimagine what it would be like to surf on the Southern California shore.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

For “Made in L.A.,” for example, Ayala focused on the underground magazine, “Teen Angels,” which documented cholo street culture in the late 20th century, featuring artworks, photographs and essays by gang-affiliated or incarcerated Chicanos.

From New York Times ● May 17, 2022

Known for his witty commentary on cholo culture, Luna grew up in East L.A. and Fontana and performed at local clubs such as Hollywood’s Improv and Pasadena’s Ice House.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2020

She sees her neighbourhood’s cholo culture fading away.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 22, 2016

From a locker the Colonel produced a repeating rifle and three boxes of cartridges, which he handed to the cholo, who departed without further ado into the night.

From The Valley of the Giants by Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)

It was this mix of paisas, cholos, skaters, rockers, older people, younger people, people getting dropped off at the bus stop — everyone’s shopping.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2023

Caló is a language that cholos use here that’s derivative of Spanish, English and sometimes even Nahuatl used by some nations in Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2022

“The push to make shows about Latinos without maids and gardeners and cholos is damaging to working-class communities,” Chávez added.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2021

We talk photography, Frida Kahlo and the cholos of L.A.’s Eastside.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2017

Those guys were the most loved cholos of the barrio.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers