Flaite

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Flaite (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈflaite], FLY-tay) is a 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 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 really tight.[2] Some youth from middle to upper socioeconomic backgrounds follow the fashion style of the flaites [3] but wearing baggy jeans, which is believed by some to be evolving into a subcultural group[4].

Etymology

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.

Popular culture

  • Radio Carolina, a radio station from Santiago, Chile initiated a humorous campaign called Piteate un Flaite which means to shun anyone pertaining to the stereotype of a flaite although the literal translation of ´´pitear´´ someone is to ´´waste´´ (kill) them in this case a Flaite. Due to criticism of social discrimination, the station decided to end the campaign which was meant as a joke.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roxana Fitch, Jegas de habla hispana, Ed. BookSurge, North Charleston, 2006, p. 56
  2. ↑ (Spanish) Las Ultimas Noticias Benetton transforma al "flaite" chileno en ícono de la moda
  3. ↑ (Spanish) Red de Televisión Chilevisión La moda de los "Chilean Flaites"
  4. ↑ Chilenismos : a dictionary and phrasebook for Chilean Spanish by Daniel Joelson Pgs. 4-5
  5. ↑ (Spanish) La Nación Radio Carolina eliminó polémica sección “Pitéate un Flayte”


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