Chirigüillo
Pejorative term
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chirigüillo (also spelled chiriwillo)[1] is a pejorative term used in northeastern Mexico to refer to Mexicans from other regions who are singled out because of their ethnicity, skin color, or coming from a rural area.[2] It is mainly used in Nuevo León, although due to its influence, it has also been used in the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila de Zaragoza, and San Luis Potosí.
Origin and use of the term
Although the exact origin of the term "chirigüillo" has not been clarified, its popularity is largely due to the waves of migration of compatriots from central and southern Mexico, as well as those from other Latin American countries, to cities like Monterrey and Tampico. Another meaning, which has fallen into disuse, could be a person who is "a simple assistant to another assistant."[3]
Generally seen as a protest against people from other regions of the country and immigrants, the term has also been used toward Nuevo León residents themselves, especially those living outside the metropolitan area.[2]
Likewise, it correlates with what has been called excepcionalismo regiomontano ("Regiomontana exceptionalism"), which encompasses everything from the exaltation of state symbols to the temptations of separatism and the existence of independence movements such as the Republic of the Rio Grande.[4]
Criticisms
The use of the term has been used as another example of the racism and classism rooted in Mexico, especially in Northern states, where everything related to Indigenous peoples is often disdained.[2][5] The film I'm No Longer Here, set in the impoverished areas of Monterrey, has realistically portrayed the discrimination suffered by people who are perceived as "chiriguillos" due to their physical features.[6]
In January 2025, Manuel Guerra Cavazos, mayor of the municipality of García, convinced the Royal Spanish Academy to include the word in its dictionary;[7][8] however, he was criticized for wanting to "instrumentalize the word for political propaganda."[9]
See also
- Brayan (slang)