pocho

n. an Americanized person or thing of Mexican origin, including Americanized Mexican Spanish. Also adj. Subjects: Spanglish, Spanish, Mexico, United States, Slang

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Citations: [1946 William E. Wilson Modern Language Journal (Oct. ) “A Note on “Pochismo”” p. vol. 30, no. 6, p. 345: Pochismo, derived from pocho, an adjective which originally meant discolored, has now come to mean a type of popular slang in Mexico. In the evergrowing list of pocho expressions are many hybrid words, artificial combinations of English and Spanish.] 1970 Mansfield Journal (Ohio) (Oct. 30) “‘Name of Game’ Episode Set in Cuba”: Hey, Gringo—Hey, Pocho…Tonight, it’s Nielsen’s scenes with Ricardo Montalban…playing a Mexican-American actor. 1985 Frank del Olmo Newsweek (Nov. 7) “Two Men Who Were More Than Hyphens in a Hyphenated Melting Pot” p. 7: Pocho is a derogatory term that Mexicans use to denigrate Mexican-Americans who put on gringo airs, and the article described the cultural trauma that Lopez faced as a young man when he tried to return to Mexico after attending Harvard Law School. 2004 Rachel Uranga Albuquerque Tribune (Ariz.) (Apr. 26) “Spanish-speaking politicians find favor”: His Spanish is admittedly a work in progress—or, as he calls it, “pocho,” referring to the hybrid Spanglish developed by second- and third-generation Hispanics.

Posted 7 May 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend