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: ''For other uses, see naco.
'Naco' (''fmn. naca'') is a pejorative word often used in Mexican Spanish to describe bad-mannered and poorly educated people. Recently, however, the word has been reclaimed by Mexican hipsters, particularly in Mexico City and in other places where the word has been popularized in fashions. A ''naco'' is usually associated with lower socio-economic classes, but could also sometimes include the nouveau-riche.

Contents

Definition and usage

Sociolinguistic use

Etymology

See also

Definition and usage

As an adjective the term refers to crassness, a lack of social manners, unusual cultural tastes, unrefined verbal expression and manner of dressing. As a noun it is a derisive term to describe persons who exhibit these characteristics, especially when used toward the indigenous or poor. Middle- and upper-class Mexicans traditionally have used the term to refer to lower class people who, in their point of view, are attracted to motley fashions, use vulgar slang with peculiar accents, and display a general lack of refinement. Notwithstanding the word's pejorative intention, it is generally not seen as a curse word when used as an exonym (to refer to people not within one's group), and it may even be used as an endonym to demonstrate familiarity.

Sociolinguistic use

The word ''naco'' as an interpellation for a specific group of people exists because of differences in cultural education; those of higher socioeconomic status will interpret differences in cultural education as a lack of such education and refinement on the part of those of lower social status. From the perspective of those of higher social status, their own language, fashion sense and musical preferences are the only proper ones and those of lower social status suffer from insufficient schooling in grammar, have a lack of basic education, speak with an unfamiliar accent or dialect and have unrefined musical taste. The putative ''naco'' will generally have a different perspective on such matters. For ''nacos'', their linguistic, fashion and musical preferences will seem more honest, exciting or earthy and those of higher social status will seem affected, stifled or arrogant.
In recent times, there has been an explosion of nouveau riche, mainly due to the drug trade, traffic of influences, and government corruption. These people and their offspring are seen to sometimes have unrefined, yet exotic tastes, are willing to spend a lot of money in public and are considered to lack social refinement. They can therefore, be referred to as ''nacos''.
Due to differences in the Spanish spoken in the Mexican academic and business settings versus the dialects spoken in the Mexican countryside and poorer areas, the dialects associated with rural and poor areas are stigmatized. However, as is the case with many lower status groups, these dialects are often the sites of the greatest linguistic innovation .

Etymology

It's not clear how the term "naco" came to be. It has been suggested that the term is actually an aphaeresis of Totonaca, an indigenous people of the Gulf coast. Others have suggested that the word ''naco'' comes from the Irish English word ''knacker'' which has the same meaning and usage, and is substantially plausible, as Mexico absorbed Irish immigrants in the 20th Century (Edmundo O'Gorman being one famous example).
Vocabulary that is considered ''naco'' includes "''chale''" (used to express dismay), "''amá''" and "''apá''" (from "''mamá''" and "''papá''"), ''cámara'' (OK), "''verga''" ("penis" when used as a noun, may also be used as an interjection to express worry), "''chingón''" and its politer equivalent "''chido''" (good), and "''nave''" (literally a ship, used to refer to a car).

See also

★ Lumpenproletariat

★ Fresa

★ White trash

★ Chav

★ Mexican Spanish

★ NaCo

★ Redneck

★ Bogan

★ Cholo