A very conservative, uptight person, especially in religious or moral matters. In Mexico, the word carries historical weight: "mochos" were those who sided with the clergy against Reform-era laws in the 19th century. Today it describes anyone rigid, prudish, or quick to be scandalized by anything outside a narrow moral line.

Chicano Spanglish for the job site supervisor or crew boss, from the English "foreman." He's the one who assigns the work, sets the pace, and who you report to on construction sites, farm labor, or factory floors.

Chicano Spanglish for railroad tracks, from English "track." Historically many Chicanos worked on the traque, and "del otro lado del traque" (the other side of the tracks) marks the poor side of town.

Chicano Spanglish for the agricultural field or farm labor site, from English "field." Going to el fil means a hard day bent over in the rows, a word deeply tied to the migrant farmworker experience.

To mop the floor, from the English "to mop," used in Chicano Spanish as everyday vocabulary in cleaning jobs, restaurants, and homes along the US-Mexico border.

Chicano Spanglish for the lawn or yard grass that needs mowing, taken from the Mexican Spanish word and applied to American suburban lawns. Mowing the zacate on weekends is a classic barrio ritual.

A loaded Mexican insult for someone considered vulgar, tacky, or lacking class. It's deeply classist because it essentially judges people for their social background or popular tastes, though friends sometimes throw it around as a joke.

A girlfriend, woman, or girl in Mexico, a nickname that can be affectionate or slightly disrespectful depending on tone. Among friends talking about their partners it's totally normal, but in other contexts it can sound rude.

Broken, ruined, or in really bad shape. Applied to objects, situations, or outcomes that went sideways or stopped working. A versatile word used across Mexico and Central America when something is beyond saving or turned out terribly.

Awesome, badass, the absolute best. One of the highest compliments in Mexican Spanish: calling someone "chingon" is giving them full recognition. It can describe a person, a skill, a party, a meal. Derives from a word that is technically vulgar but used everywhere with pride in Mexico.

A Mexican exclamation of surprise, worry, or regret that comes out automatically when something unexpected happens. It's a mild euphemism everyone understands and you can say in front of your grandma no problem.

Short for compadre or compañero, used to address any friend or acquaintance you trust. In Mexico, compa is as natural and frequent as breathing, it comes out in every conversation without thinking.

A cigarette in Chicano and Pachuco slang, classic barrio vocabulary still alive along the US-Mexico border. Asking for a "frajo" means bumming a smoke outside a job or a party.

Clothes or outfit in Chicano slang (US), especially sharp threads you put on to go out. "Ponerse las garras finas" means dressing up to impress in the neighborhood.

Hand, in Chicano and Pachuco caló, historical vocabulary still heard among older members of the barrio community. "Échame la vaisa" means give me a hand or greet me with a handshake.

A laid-back, rebellious barrio dude in Chicano pachuco slang, tied to the zoot suit style and 1940s marijuana culture. A historical term that lives on as a cultural identity marker among U.S. Latinos.

In Chicano barrio slang (US), a sharp command telling someone to stay alert and react fast to what's coming. Shouted as a warning to snap out of it immediately.

A Mexican exclamation that packs surprise, approval, agreement, and hype into one punchy word. It's endlessly versatile, from 'wow, that's awesome' to 'alright, let's do it' to 'whoa, seriously?'.

An overly conservative or excessively religious person who censors everything they consider immoral. A mocho is never happy with popular culture, always finds something objectionable, and will tell you about it without being asked.

In Chicano calo (the Mexican-American street dialect of the US-Mexico border), a "clecha" is a lecture, scolding, or dressing-down someone gives you to correct your behavior or teach you a lesson. Think of it as getting an earful from someone older or in charge.

A job, or the action of going somewhere in Mexico. It's used both for your daily employment and to invite someone to come along: '¿Le jalas?' means 'You coming?' in pure street language.

Nerve, cheek, shameless audacity, the sheer face to do something outrageous and not even blink. In Spain, having morro means doing the unthinkable with complete confidence. It's not quite admirable but it's hard not to respect the scale of it.

An exclamation of disgust at a bad smell or something revolting. In Mexico and Central America, fuchi is what you say when something stinks, food gone bad, a dirty place, someone's shoes. Pure, instinctive revulsion in one word.

US immigration enforcement, especially ICE and the Border Patrol, in Chicano and migrant community speech. The warning "la migra is coming" is the most feared alert in the neighborhood or the fields.

Among Mexican communities in the U.S., a recently arrived person from Mexico or someone with a very traditional, rancho style, as opposed to a U.S.-born Chicano. Can be neutral or mildly playful depending on tone.

Chicano Spanglish for a job or formal employment, straight from English. Unlike street hustles, the "job" means a real paycheck and a schedule. "Agarrar un job" means landing steady work.

Someone with vulgar tastes, no refinement, who acts crude or cheesy without realizing it. In Mexico, calling someone naco is a sharp classist insult implying they're culturally inferior or embarrassing.

A Chicano and caló word for the police in the United States. It comes from the oath ("juro") that officers take when assuming the job, turned into a collective noun. "La jura" is a synonym for "la placa" but with a more caló, more prison-yard, more deep-barrio register. It's one of the oldest words in the Chicano vocabulary.

A difficult, stubborn person who gives you a hard time and won't budge. In Mexico fregado is used for someone who's a pain to deal with, hardheaded, unpleasant or just relentlessly troublesome.

A woman of Mexican origin raised in the United States who speaks little Spanish or mixes it with English. Can be a proud self-identifier or a label used by Mexicans in Mexico to judge those who grew up abroad. Identity lives in the space between two cultures.