Fresitas, Nacos And Hialeahans, Oh My!: The Secret Language Of Elitist Latinos
When they’re not making fun of Puerto Ricans holding dolla dolla bills, Gawker makes fun of Anglos who, as one commenter put it, “look like they smell of mayonnaise.” Teehee! They recently wrote about Jamie Johnson’s (of Johnson & Johnsons) latest article in “Vanity Fair,” explaining and breaking down the secret code WASPS use to talk about The Poor and Colorful. Who knew Buffy and Chadwick could be so racist? Um, everyone. Anyway, we figured it just wouldn’t be fair to dump on WASPs when there are plenty of Latinos who can be just as snobby and elitist.
Take Fresas, for instance. Please. Referred to, lovingly, as “mamones” in their native Mexico, they’re known for talking “as if they have a potato in their mouths” while discussing the utter gaucheness of those who aren’t “GCU” (gente como uno). Ay, plis, you guys!
Over in Miami, there are a lot of Cubans who look down on “New Money.” How can one tell the difference? Because new money is green. As in, their front lawns have been entirely paved over in cement and painted green. With maybe a plaster statue or twelve to really up the klassy. Such people are oft described, to borrow a term from the design world, as “rococo.” ¡Ño, que caché!
Can you think of any other examples of nicknames elitist Latinos might have for the riffraff among us? Do share, won’t you?
WASP Code Cracked [Gawker]
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- Managing Editor
Daniel Mauser
- Editor
Cindy Casares
- Associate Editor
Alex Alvarez
- Contributing Editors
Gabriel Caro - Camilla Rowan
- Video Editor
Marcelo Cunning
In Puerto Rico the word is “cafre” for people from the “other side of the track”.. or, the classic “chusma”.
There is a town called Guaynabo, classic suburbia, were the snobiest kids come from. They speak with a nasal sing song.. “miraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa………”
Posted by xipe | May 29, 2008
I take offense to your guaynabo-city stereotyping
Posted by dlab | May 30, 2008
white you already alluded to the term “naco”, i prefer the term “gata”. As in “No seas gata”. Gata = Chacha, sirvienta, etc. It can be for either male or female. Sounds better if you’re gay saying it. LIke me!
Posted by bazooka joe | May 30, 2008
How about moreno for our darker skinned brethren!?!? Growing up in Maywood I kept hearing that word.
Then there is also chunti for our newly arrived hermanos/as who have not yet become one with the American borg collective.
Posted by Alex Vasquez | May 30, 2008
dlab-
I grew up in Guaynabo city……. no need to take offense. El que se pica, es por que aji come.
Posted by xipe | May 30, 2008
Chonga/Ref…if you don’t know what they mean you’re a sad individual.
Posted by El Cuco | May 30, 2008
In the eighties, the fresas in the DF would use more unimaginitive words like indio, ranchero, gentucha, chancludo; all utterences ending with the potato-in-mouth “o seaaaaaaa….” Only NOW they skip the “o” entirely and say “seaaaaaa”.
Posted by La Bibi | May 31, 2008
umm someone put chusma up there, but what about da classic TRAYA, or the overused chachi
Posted by ugh | May 31, 2008
Oseeeeaaaa!!! Que oso!!! Nada que ver!!
I like to refer to them as Fres-Nacs , They are a combo of Fresas and Nacs.
I live in Miami , whatever you do ,DO NOT go to Hialeah!!! that place is o’sea horrible!
Posted by Fabs | June 01, 2008