norteño

[nawr-teyn-yoh, nawr-te-nyoh]

adjective

1. of or relating to northern Mexico, the border area of Mexico and the United States, the people of this region, or their dialect of Spanish.

noun

1. Also called norteña music. Also called Tex-Mex. Also called norteña. a lively, polkalike folk music chiefly of southern Texas and northern Mexico, usually with Spanish lyrics and played on accordion and 12-string guitar, sometimes with fiddle and saxophone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of norteño¹

First recorded in 1950–55; from Spanish (Mexico, Texas): literally, “northern(er),” equivalent to nort(e) “north” + -eño a suffix forming nouns and adjectives from placenames; Madrileño ( def. ); north ( def. )

Example Sentences

In 2019, the group became the first norteño band to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and have played massive gigs at Dodger Stadium, New York’s Central Park and Mexico City’s Zócalo Plaza.

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The Texas norteño group is also up in the same category for their album “Y Lo Que Viene.”

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Known for its online presence, P1Harmony achieved a viral moment back in 2021, wilding out on a livestream when fans suggested they play “La Chona” by the norteño band Los Tucanes de Tijuana.

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In a phone call with De Los, she fondly recalled dancing “La Chacha” by norteño singer Cornelio Reyna as the chambelán de honor at her cousin’s baile sorpresa.

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In 1986, the California-based norteño band Los Tigres Del Norte released the song “América” with a powerful message: Everybody born on the American continent is united as family.

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