chico

¹ American  

[chee-koh] / ˈtʃi koʊ /

noun

1. Informal. a boy or young man (often used as a nickname or form of address).

   Sorry, chico, but that’s not the killer argument you’d like to think it is!

   We hoped we looked like just a couple of laid-back chicos out for a stroll.

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chico ² American  

[chee-koh] / ˈtʃi koʊ /

noun

plural

chicos

1. greasewood.

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Chico ³ American  

[chee-koh] / ˈtʃi koʊ /

noun

1. a city in central California.

2. a male given name.

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chico British  

/ ˈtʃiːkəʊ /

noun

1. another name for greasewood

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Etymology

Origin of chico¹

First recorded in 1965–70; from Spanish: “boy,” of expressive origin, representing a common Romance stem found in words for small things; compare Latin ciccum “bagatelle, trifle, worthless object” ( chinchy ( def. ) )

Origin of chico²

Short for chicalote ( def. )

Example Sentences

En el estrado delantero, uno de los violinistas, un chico llamado Francisco Garcia Jr., cantaba el himno nacional.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2022

En otro grupo, no les gustó que un chico llevara un arete, otro tuviera el pelo largo y un tercero llevara una hebilla de cinturón que no hacía juego.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2022

Tal vez, más adelante, formar parte del sueño de algún chico de hacer lo que yo hago, sería muy bueno.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2021

Hola, chico: The documentary “The Boy from Medellín” gets up close and personal with Latin music superstar J Balvin.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2021

“Calm down, chico, calm down. She might hear you,” Paco cautions, gesturing toward Lieutenant Rojas’s tent.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García