Flaite (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈflaite], fly-tay) is a classist Chilean Spanish slang used to define urban youth of low-socioeconomic background by linking them to vulgar habits and crime.[1] The stereotype of the flaite is that they come from a low socioeconomic background, tend to be a delinquent, travel in groups, and like chavs, have a distinct style of dress.
The flaite stereotype wear sneakers such as Nike Dunks and other basketball shoes. They usually have short haircuts (called "sopaipilla", because it looks like that fried pastry) accompanied by jockey caps. They enjoy wearing flashy accessories, known as bling-bling. Jeans are usually worn baggy.[2] Some youth from middle to upper socioeconomic backgrounds follow the fashion style of the flaites [3], which is believed by some to be evolving into a subcultural group[4].
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The origin of the word is uncertain. One theory is that it is derived from the Nike Air Flight shoe produced for basketball player Michael Jordan. Because of the shoe's popularity in Chile and the flaites' limited means to obtain it, it was counterfeited. It is the preferred style of shoe by flaites who began to call the shoes Flighters; in Spanish, the pronunciation of the English name evolved into "flaites". People wearing the shoes came to be called flaites.