noun
cholo
CHOH-loh
noun
1
(informal, sometimes offensive) A term, mainly used in the US, for a Mexican-American or Hispanic gang member or someone with that style.
"The film depicted cholo culture in 1990s East Los Angeles."
How to Use Cholo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slang term for a Chicano gang-associated identity, common in West Coast US usage.
When to use it
Can be neutral or derogatory depending on context and who is using it — treat carefully.
Word Forms
cholos plural
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The film depicted _____ culture in 1990s East Los Angeles.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish cholo, whose ultimate origin is uncertain.