Chilango facts for kids

Chilango is a Mexican slang word. It is used to describe people who live in Mexico City. Often, it refers to people who were born in another city but moved to the capital. The Royal Spanish Academy says the word means "belonging to Mexico City."

What Does "Chilango" Mean?

The word "Chilango" is a demonym. This means it's a word used to name people from a certain place. While it's often used for people living in Mexico City, it can also describe those who moved there from other parts of Mexico.

Where Did the Word "Chilango" Come From?

There are many ideas about how the word "Chilango" started.

• One idea is that it comes from the Nahuatl word "Ixachitlān." This ancient word actually referred to the entire American continent.
• Another theory suggests it came from the word "shilango." This word was used in the Veracruz area. It described people from central Mexico. Some think it came from the Maya word "xilaan," meaning "curly" or "frizzy-haired."
• A third idea links it to the Nahuatl phrase "chilan-co." This means "where the red ones are." It might have referred to the Aztecs, whose skin was reddened by the cold. People from the Gulf of Mexico used this term for them.

Friendly Rivalry: "Chilango" Phrases

People outside Mexico City sometimes use a playful phrase: "Haz patria, mata a un chilango." This means "Be patriotic, kill a chilango." It's not meant to be taken seriously. Instead, it's a joking way to show a bit of rivalry. This phrase started in the state of Sonora. It shows a common feeling of friendly competition against Mexico City residents, especially in the 1980s.

In response, people in Mexico City started their own phrase: "Haz patria, educa a un provinciano." This means "Be patriotic, educate a rural person." People in Mexico City often call those from other parts of the country "provinciano(a)".

"Chilango" in Modern Times

Today, many people in Mexico City feel proud to be called "Chilango." This feeling of pride led to the term "Chilangolandia." This is a fun nickname for Mexico City itself.

The Chilango Magazine

Because of this "Chilango pride," a magazine called Chilango started in November 2003. It's a monthly magazine that uses humor to talk about Mexico City life. It also pokes fun at how outsiders see the city. The magazine includes articles about real events happening in the city.

In December 2004, the magazine described itself this way:

About Chilango:

First, it was Tenochtitlan. Then, Mexico City. Today, it's proudly called Chilangolandia, capital city of the IMECA empire.

[...] Chilango etymology refers, overall, to the hot sauce varieties in the central valley and it comes to the ending -ango making fun of the Nahuatl, always so toponymic as in "Tenango". Chilango does not refer neither [sic] to the city's name -because is the country's too- nor to the administrative DF, but that imaginative territory one doesn't know exactly its borders and where every vegetable becomes, sooner or later, a taco sauce [...]

Other Names for Mexico City Residents

Besides "Chilango," there are two other terms for people from Mexico City:

• Defeño: This word comes from D.F., which stands for Distrito Federal (Federal District). This was the old name for Mexico City.
• Capitalino: This word means "person from the capital."

Both "Defeño" and "Capitalino" can be used in a positive or a negative way. However, "Capitalino" is generally seen as a neutral term. These words can also describe someone born in the suburbs who later moved to Mexico City. Sometimes, people from other States of Mexico use these terms with a negative meaning.

See also

In Spanish: Chilango para niños

• Mexican Spanish
• Pelado