gaucho

noun

gau·​cho ˈgau̇-(ˌ)chō 

plural gauchos

: a cowboy of the South American pampas

Did you know?

The nomadic and colorful horsemen of the Argentine and Uruguayan plains, the gauchos remain folk heroes famed for hardiness and lawlessness. Gauchos flourished from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century. At first they rounded up the herds of horses and cattle that roamed freely on the vast grasslands east of the Andes. In the early 19th century, they fought first in the armies that defeated the Spanish colonial regime and then for the military dictators who jockeyed for power after independence. Argentine writers celebrated the gauchos, and gaucho literature is an important part of the Argentine cultural tradition.

Examples of gaucho in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Leather, ponchos, Argentina’s culinary traditions, horseback riding and the broader gaucho culture rooted in traditional livestock farming all contributed to the aesthetic that defines his brand. —Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 1 Dec. 2025

The evening menu offers a wide range of options, from gaucho barbecue to Brazilian-Italian fusion dishes. —Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025

Outdoor dining and lounge areas are set near a summer kitchen with Brazilian churrasco and Argentine gaucho grills. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025

But here's the thing: being a chef is different from being a gaucho. —David Hochman, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gaucho

noun

gau·​cho ˈgau̇-chō 

plural gauchos

: a cowboy of the South American grass-covered plains