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You are here: Home / History / Where does the word “Chicano” come from and does “Chicano” mean “Hispanic”?

Where does the word “Chicano” come from and does “Chicano” mean “Hispanic”?

July 12, 2020 by Karen Hill

The word “Chicano” does not mean “Hispanic”. Chicano (or “Chicana,” for a female) refers only to a Mexican American, an American of Mexican descent.

It is an abbreviation of the word Mexicano, Spanish for “Mexican.”

It was originally an insult, a term of disdain used by non-Hispanics. But in the mid-twentieth century, Mexican Americans themselves started saying it with pride.

Nowadays, to call oneself a Chicano is to honor one’s own Mexican heritage.

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Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What is an Anglo and Where do Anglo Americans come from?
Next Post: What are the cultural similarities among Hispanic Americans and What are the common stereotypes? »

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