pachuco

noun

pa·​chu·​co pə-ˈchü-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce pachuco (audio)
plural pachucos
: a young Mexican-American having a taste for flashy clothes and a special jargon and usually belonging to a neighborhood gang

Examples of pachuco in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An icon of Mexican-American border culture, typified by his heavy usage of Spanglish and bad-mannered pachuco style, Tin Tan melded the picaresque with his inimitable physical humor to become one of the most beloved comedians of his time. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 1 July 2024 In defense of Vietnam’s love of pachucos Jan. 22, 2024 Los Shinigamis del Norte went viral in 2022 when videos of their performance at an anime convention in Monterrey started making the rounds. Alex Zaragoza, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024 Chicano artists also critically reexamined stereotyped figures, such as the pachuco and pachuca, and retold current and historic events through artworks that questioned hegemonic narratives. Mary Thomas, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pachuco was in 1943

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Cite this Entry

“Pachuco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pachuco. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

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