In the Mexican political context, the term “chairo” has gained relevance in recent years, being used pejoratively to point to people with leftist ideology, such as progressive movements, ecologists, feminists, or advocates of social justice. This word has primarily been adopted in political and media discourses as a way to discredit those who support these causes.
According to the Mexican Academy of Language, the term “chairo” has its origin in the feminine noun “chaira,” which in some Latin American countries refers to a typical stew. This connotation has contributed to associating the word with an attitude of contempt toward something. Despite having different meanings depending on the context, the most controversial connotation is the one that turns it into a pejorative noun to attack or ridicule leftist militants.
In nations such as Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, the word is used to designate a dish; however, in Mexico, it has been recorded in the Dictionary of Mexicanisms of the Mexican Academy of Language with several meanings that go beyond gastronomy. The use of the term “chairo” aims not only to ideologically disqualify but also to socially exclude those who hold positions aligned with the current government.
This term has been mainly employed by right-wing political sectors to belittle those who support social causes, but it has also been directed with greater rejection toward supporters of leftist governments, such as Morena. Its greater visibility is due to the increase in ideological polarization during the presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto and subsequently with the arrival of Andrés Manuel López Obrador to power.
Furthermore, the term “chairo” has acquired classist connotations by being used to refer to people from low economic resources or with regional characteristics in their Spanish accent. Its use as an adjective to indicate something of low quality or unattractive is one of the most common ways in which it is currently employed.
