Naco (slang)
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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.
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[edit] 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 and may even be used to demonstrate familiarity.
The Mexican definition of a naco is more or less equivalent to the American modern-day definition of White trash.
[edit] Sociolinguistic use
The word naco as an appellation 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.[citation needed] 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[citation needed].
[edit] Etymology
The term "naco" comes from an expression from the colonial days of Mexico. Since the most important institution of the time was the Catholic Church, it was imperative that if one were to be respected or stand out in society they regularly attend the church's services. The wealthier families would reserve their seat/place hours before Mass by sending a servant, usually of indigenous descent, or "naco". The current social hierarchy in Mexico is still very much the same; Europeans at the top and Indigenous peoples (Indians) at the bottom. Racial prejudice against Native Americans or Indigenous people in Latin America (Mexico) has often produced a multitude of derogatory or pejorative terms used to belittle those at the bottom of this social hierarchy. Hence the "naco" came to be the indigenous servant sitting in the wealthy patron's (and usually of Spanish descent) pew. It has also 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). The term "niche" is also known for the same meaning in countries like Venezuela.
Vocabulary that is considered naco includes:
- "Chale" - used to express dismay
- carnal - most commonly to refer to a brother, but may refer to a friend, depending on the setting.
- cámara - literally means "camera". It is used as a synonym of "OK".
- "verga" - "penis" when used as a noun, may also be used as an interjection to express worry or surprise.
- "nave" - literally "ship", used to refer to a car.
- "haiga" - a corruption of the present subjunctive form of the verb "haber", the correct form being "haya"
