el apodo (m): Nombre que suele darse a una persona, en sustitución del propio, normalmente tomado de sus peculiaridades físicas o de alguna otra circunstancia
Although certainly not unique to the Latino culture, los apodos, or nicknames, are ubiquitous in Spanish-speaking countries whether it be on the playground, within families, or of course, in professional sports. These clever and silly names are an inherent part of Latino culture, yet usually misunderstood by outsiders and miscategorized as offensive.
As the definition states, los apodos are oftentimes taken from a particular physical characteristic. The first time I heard someone being called “Gorda,” I was completely taken aback and my eyes shifted around the conversation, expecting an awkward silence from the offended party. Instead we carried on talking, and I filed away my questions for later.
In Spain, I asked my host-mom why they called her “Gorda,” when she was actually very slim. “Oh, están bromeando.. me lo dicen con cariño,” and she brushed it off. I wasn’t convinced and silently vowed that no one would ever call me gorda no matter how much “love” was added. But was she really OK with the name?
I later lived in Ecuador and lived with a family where nicknames abounded. The son-in-law was “el Chinito,” a daughter was “la Negri,” and I was “la gringuita.” Again, coming from the U.S., the names sounded harsh. Yet for the six months I lived with the family, I never learned their real names because literally every single person called them by their apodos, and I learned to follow suit.
Finally I met my husband, and he explained the nickname phenomena to me:
“We like to laugh at ourselves, and don’t get offended easily. But also, los apodos are a gesture to show inclusiveness into a social group. They become a part of the group’s identity and cohesiveness, since the type of apodo varies based on the social group. For example, on my swim team I was “cebrita” (little zebra) because of a black and white Speedo I had, but with a different group of friends I was “flaco.”
A fellow student at university always wore a sweater to school, so he was known as “Suéteres” (and still is to this day). Another guy liked to eat Cheetos, and voilà: he instantly became “Cheetos” from that day forward. “Jarocho” was the student from Veracruz, and “Topeka” was a blonde guy from Quito, who looked like a gringo from Topeka, Kansas, but spoke not a word of English. An engineer (ingeniero) becomes “Inge,” a licenciado becomes “lic,” a teacher “el profe.”
One of the most famous apodos right now is the soccer player from Chivas and now Manchester United, “El Chicharito.” His dad — also a famous soccer player — had green eyes, and earned the name “El Chícharo” (pea). Once his little son began to play, they transferred his father’s nickname to him.
After understanding their use, I’m a little envious that I don’t have a cool nickname! I’ve been trying to get my husband to come up with one (besides “gorda” because I still can’t get past it ) — at least if not for me, then for my kiddos.
What are the creative nicknames in your family? I love hearing los apodos, and the history and context behind them — share your favorites in the comments!
{Image by MrGuilt}
I get mad when my husband calls our daughter Gorda! I can adjust to all her other nicknames. . . One that amuses me came from calling her mi reina, but there’s a soccer player named Pepe Reina. So now she’s Pepe Reina, the goalie for Liverpool.
Even though I love nicknames, I don’t know if I could get used to anyone calling my daughter gorda:), though I know you can’t really choose your apodo. I love how your daughter got “Pepe Reina!” The stories of nicknames are as fun as the actual names!
My name is Javier, my nick or short form is Javi, however, I got many others nicknames, all music related. I used to have long curly hair, and a goatie, and some friends said that I look like brazilian thrash band Sepultura bass player Paulo Pintos, and then I got a new nickname. Then I was only Paulo, and whn DJ Paul Oakenfold become notorius, I 7was called Paul O. for some reason, since I was never into that music. When I was at highschool, I became friends with students from other classes and they only recall my fandom for The Doors, so since they forgot my name from one day to the other, they called me Morrison, and many people from that time and members of my family call me Morrinson even nowadays. When I was a kid I had a friend whose name was Damian, and its short form is Dami, but at the time, the crash dummies toys were the thing, so as Dami sounded like Dummie I started calling him Damis, and he used to called me Javis, many people call me Javis to this day. More recently, I began to hang out with a workmate who is close friend of a record store owner I used to buy CD¿s and vinyls. This former record owner has gathered a group of people in order to hang out, and talk about life and music, and we all have nicks after rockstars. Due to my preferance to rock music from the 60′s and 70′s and the lack of nicks available, I was nicknamed after Soft Machine drummer Robert Wyatt. Last but not least, it is customary in Buenos Aires underground rock scene call people with their first name and the name of the band, so my friend Gonzalo is Gon Mantra, but he calls me plainly Mantra, since I don’t belong to the band. So, depending with whom I’m hanging, I will be called with a different nickname. And I’m open to any new nickname I might have.
Ha! I love how each social group of friends has given you a different nickname! Which is your favorite??
My brother in law is Pepe Lujan (or Pepito or any variety) because as a child there was a kid in his class with that name who had the yummiest lunches. He tried to convince everyone to call him that so he would get his lunches. He’s 40 now and still Pepito.
What a cute story- that made me smile. It’s crazy how he’s had the nickname for so long!
There is only one person that did not like me that called me Cecilia in my life. Besides being Cecy for friends and family, my sister calls me Titi (since she started to talk as a baby, she is 33 now), my Dad calls me niña Ce. In college everybody called me chispita, like little spark. Now here in the States there is a problem how people pronounce Cecy (like reading it in Spanish), sometimes they say it like Cece, I do not mind it at all. I am so used to nicknames being Latina.
Ooh I love chispita! I imagine that you have a lot of energy, or that your personality sparkles!
I remember how jarring the nicknames in Bolivia sounded to me when I first heard them, but they really were all spoken with affection, even the ones that seemed unflattering. It seemed to me that while in the US it is polite to downplay something different or seen as a defect, in Latino culture people call attention to it, as a way of being inclusive – almost as if to say, “I know you have buck teeth [or whatever it is] but I love you anyway! I think it’s cute!”
Among my husband’s family (from Costa Rica), I am often called “la macha” (the gringa/fair one), while in my family (US), I am usually called Nana, from how my sister used to say my name when we were little.
I think you described it perfectly Leanna: “It seemed to me that while in the US it is polite to downplay something different or seen as a defect, in Latino culture people call attention to it, as a way of being inclusive – almost as if to say, ‘I know you have buck teeth [or whatever it is] but I love you anyway! I think it’s cute!’” It is a way to feel included in a group, and to show that we can all laugh at ourselves.
I didn’t know “macha”meant “guerita-” one of my favorite things to do is to get together with Spanish-speakers from different countries and compare the different words everyone uses:).
Love this post and the examples you gave. My husband is from El Salvador and the apodo culture is alive and well there, too. I like the apodos when they’re with love and the person doesn’t mind their nickname – but it does happen on occasion that people find their nickname hurtful or damaging. I know one woman who was called “gordita” growing up because she was chubby, and she still deals with self esteem issues…. That being said, overwhelmingly everyone I know embraces their apodo (or apodos!)
My husband has come up with a few for me over the years but I’m not known by any of them — our kids on the other hand, have several each. Our younger son is most often called “Frijol” or “frijolito” because he’s always been very small for his age. Our older son has always been super tall for his age and has already surpassed both my husband and I in height. Whenever I need help reaching something on a high shelf in the kitchen and I don’t want to get the step ladder out, I just call my older son, “Hey, jirafa – ayudame por favor!” – and he comes ready to help LOL.
My husband is from Peru and I had hoped for some romantic/cute Spanish nickname, but instead I became Gordita Linda or just Gordita. We had so many arguments over him calling me Gordita, with him insisting it was a term of affection and me telling him you never call an American woman fat. As I have become more familiar with how Spanish-speakers give nicknames, I have learned to accept that Gordita Linda is said with love.
Frijolito!!!! So cute!!!!
I agree- all apodos need to be said with love.
Gordita!!! is funny and, although difficult to come around it, it is true hispanic nicknames are a particular way to show how much you appreciate that person.
I have a very good friend from Peru, and every time he talked about a female relative ,like a sister o cousin, he will call them “flaquita” (skinny one)
My husband was always flaquito:) (and still is to some relatives!)
Jajaja soy la mama de los apodos,,, comenzando me dicen “Dollys” y mi nombre es Niurka, pero a mis enanos les he puesto todos “vicio” a mi hijo mayor cuando tenia la fiebre de los videojuegos “azote” a la segunda porque no habia manera de tranquilizarla,, “Negra” a mi sobrina porque es oscurita “MOncho” al peque porque le cantaba narichonchon y cortando quedo en moncho,,, que les digo.
Me encanta escuchar como cada persona tiene sus apodos!:)
My family and I lived in El Salvador for a year as missionaries. I can still remember passing a bakery and seeing a cake that said, “Feliz Cumpleaños, Gordo” and thinking that a cake saying, “Happy Birthday, Fatty” just wouldn’t work in the States. I was always fascinated to hear the nicknames that people had and loved reading your insights here. Thanks!
I try to tell myself gordito means chubby, because I feel like it’s nicer than fat??? But no, that would not work in the US!
I think that it is getting a little more complicated these days and I am not really sure the reason for it. At my bilingual school in Colombia, we do talk with the kids about how people could feel hurt by apodos and if that is the case, then they shouldn´t use them. I have had several students complain about being called gordo by others. Another example was a student that was called “cientifista.” That was a name made up by his classmates because he really likes science. However, this student hated that name and students started using it to see his reaction. We have had to work with the students a lot on not using that “apodo” with him. I totally get what you´re saying about how a lot of times apodos come from a place of affection and inclusion, but that is not always the case and I have seen examples of it used in a bullying way.
My husband was called “gafas” and some of his friends were chuleta, nerdy, mota, caca… He swears that nobody was ever offended by these names. Everytime he calls me gorda I am like NEVER call me that. I do love how he always has an apodo for me and even periodically changes it. I even use them now as well – Juan Mi, Juanchito, Juancho. At school, some people call me Alicita.
I was just talking with someone about apodos in the form of bullying, and she said that in Bolivia teachers are trying to pay more attention to the names and the feelings behind them. Very interesting how it has changed/is changing.
When I was a baby, my parents used to call me “Pitufina” (or “Pitu”), that is “Smurfette”, the female character from the Smurfs (they were very popular in Spain at that time). I’m 30 years old now and I’m still “la Pitu” in my family. And I love it
I love Pitufina! When we were in Mexico a couple of years ago, Los Pitufos movie came out and my kids did a dance at their day camp and dressed as pitufos:). My daughter was one of the many pitufinas:).
What a fun article!
I had every single nickname and then some. Some were nice and fun ‘china prieta’ (black Chinese since I’m mixed and my eyes were a lot Asian like when growing up), ‘la discipula’ (The disciple of Charles Xavier huge X-Men fan) , some others were a bit hurtful but I got used to them “brujula’ ‘bruja’ (Middle name is Brigida so that got morphed), ‘la flaca’, “Olivia la de Popeye’ (skinny one I was underweight all my life).
The ones I hated where the ones about my hair I was ‘blessed’ with 4b type which is terrible to manage and I ended up with a lot of bad hair days I was called ‘brillo fino’,(brillo pad), ‘medusa’ and ‘bruja’ with a mean tone (don’t forget the tone the tone says if the name is affectionate or mean) I mostly grow out of that when I started to relax though.
I’m sure my son will get ‘gringo’ when he visits DR and/or ‘caco e locrio’ (head of rice and meat dish that looks kind of golden). In the end I embraced the nicknames good and bad as part of the rich tapestry of my life. I hope my son learns to do the same, for his sanity.
Great post!
I think the tone is a huge part of the name- how terrible that kids made fun of your curls!! It sounds like your experiences will be able to help you to guide your son if he encounters any insulting names in the future.
My parents are from Mexico and myself and 4 siblings born in the US. I was called “negra” by family growing up. I’m morena but growing up I must have been out in the sun a lot and would get very tan. I began to resent it as I was getting into my tweens and remember telling my mom at some point to stop calling me that.Subsequently, I grew up feeling self conscious about my skin color. To this day those nicknames don’t sit well with me. I dislike them very much because a lot of times it seems these nicknames are a soft form of insult or degrading ones person. I’ve heard many overweight Latino kids be called “gordo” or a very tan kid (as I was) be called “negro”. Maybe I take myself too seriously but maybe I don’t like children to have hangups about themselves. They get enough pressure to be or do things amongst their peers that they may not like and to add on a nickname that can do further damage seems needless to me. My hubby and his family feel the same way, luckily. He never had a nickname like that. Our 3 yo thought it funny when she heard my brother call her “chaparra” because she’s a petite kid but thankfully it didnt stick, as we don’t see him often. I love my heritage but aside from actual name related nicknames like “Angie”, “Ang”, “Gelly” for Angelica or love nicknames such as “hun” for honey, we have no desire to be part of that.
I lived in Mexico for 7years and had many nicknames of my own of which I loved! I was Lynnita, Guerita, Lin Mae (a provocative actress
…) From my husband, I was/am Corazon, Reina, Mama. At school i was Miss. (said like Meeeeees) I saw and felt how my friends calling each other Cabezon, Gordo y Pelon actually brought them closer together. There was a sense of affection each time the different assumed offensive names came out. I have to say that it’s definitely one piece of living in Mexico that I miss.
Lynn you made me laugh so hard! I remember Lin Mae, is hilarious that they called you that! and the: Meeesss, ay que risa!
Everyone in my family has an apodo! Sometimes we even forget their real names!
Xochitl
Great article! Gracias! My name is Kathleen, but I have many nicknames in my Caucasian family. Since I was 6-ish – Tinker or Tinker Link (after Tinkerbell and because I was always tinkering with being crafty), Pumpkin (isn’t every little girl called Pumpkin?), Kat (part of my name) and Kit Kat (because I loved candy and has part of my name). In my teens I aquired: Katio (part of my name and after a beloved aunt named Pat we all called Patio). In my twenties: Birdie (after my favorite movie character for a time) andcsince I became an aunt: Heena (given to me by my nephew when he was young and could not say my real name – Kathleen). I love all my nicknames so much and being a Spanish teacher I love the world of apodos so…I give my students apodos also. I make sure they understand they are for affection and to feel part of the group and many times I even let them choose their apodo. For my students Kdgtn – grade 4 I encourage them to be an animal or a food or something they really love. That way we all learn more vocabulary! I also chuckle each time I call upon mi pequeña fresita, caballito del mar o arco iris
!
I bet the kids love it!!! My kids have a couple of nicknames. My little girl is colibrí (hummingbird) because she’s tiny but fast and kind-of buzzes around everyone. My little boy was huracán for a while:).
I’ve been called guerita, flaca, flaquíta, loca, gringa, gabacha, etc. Los. My daughter is mi princesa, mi princesita, mi loquíta, and chikis/chiquís. And I have friends called flaquíto, pitufo, negro, bocho, cholo, bicho, rompes, paco, etc, etc.
Love it! What does gabacha mean?
My parents would call me negra, la negra. I am not too dark complected. My husband is known as “el chivo” apparently because when he would tend to their goats, when he was young, he would round them up by saying meeeeeeee. My youngest daughter is known to all by Googoo, la Googoo. This is a nickname her grandmother gave her when, as a baby, she started cooing. She is now 22 and we still call her that.
I love hearing the evolution of nicknames- especially when the nickname is from childhood and the person is now in their 40s;).
I’m from Chile in Chile we love animals apodos everyone is a chanchito (puerco) perrito etc. My son was born in Australia and I call him Mi chancho, Mi chanchito I
Or gordo and when my husband translate the apodo the family just don’t get it… I miss apodos
Lived in Caracas for a couple of years in the early 90s, I was called El Bicho in the office. I wouldn’t have minded but I’m over 6 feet tall!
Hi! My name is Norma, my brother calls me Nena since I was little, and now that I´m 28 my sister-in-law and her family calls me Nena, it sounds funny!
And I call my son Chirriquitin, I have to stop calling him like that if I don´t want my daughter-in-law and her family calls him Chirriquitin when he is 30!
Love this my husband has a nickname for everyone! He is “mono” blondie in his native Colombia. And his younger brother? You guessed it “monito” and he has a friend they call el burro but no one will tell me why.
Everyone inmy family has one,
When I was little I was called “nana” for enana (dwarf) since I was the shortest one, it change during middle school and high school to “huevo” from the slang word huevona (lazy) since I took naps EVERYDAY! When my husband join the family he became “flaco” and my 2 yr. old son is “osito”, his daycare gave him the nickname since his hands and feet were bigger than the rest of the kids, started with little bear paws. Loved the article and have had a lot of fun reading everyones comments.
I grew up being called- pioja, chibolo (little boy- when I got my hair cut short), sarakuchi (Kuchi means pig in Quechua a native language of Peru), Bubba, FEISIMA, flachuchenta, Sarandela, Cholita, negrita, choclito (little piece of corn), and Gringuita. I’m obviously not a pig, a louse, or an ugly little one. If anything these nicknames built up my sense of self-worth. Each one of them was said with such love and irony that I realized even as a little girl that had I been born ugly, or looked like a pig I would still be completely loved and accepted by my family. It helped to teach me to laugh at myself and have a sense of humor in general. I now live in Kenya and am bringing up my son to be bilingual. The other day an American father heard me call my son gordito and was offended. I thought he was nuts. We give our children a gift when we point out characteristics with love and affection. We teach them to accept themselves no matter what and know how truly special and loved they are. Gordito is only one of several dozen apodos that I’ve given my son. I hope he grows up to love his apodos as much as I love mine.
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Hello Everyone! I have a quick question.. My boyfriend is mexican we been together for one year and half. He recently went to visit Mexico and came back home not too long ago. He talks very sweet to his cousin and calls them nicknames like mi reina. To me it is kind of uncomfortable and offensive. Can someone please from hispanic culture explain me this? I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks.
My husband calls all of his younger cousins/siblings mi amor, mi reina, etc. What’s embarrassing is when I answer because I think he is talking to me!? I was uncomfortable too at first, and asked if he could save one of his special names for me:). (Nope- we’re all “mi amor,” “mi vida,” “mi reina.”) It’s kind-of like if you would call your little cousin sweetie or honey, but it’s used more often than some English-speaking cultures. Though I will say, now that I live in southern Texas, many of my native Texan friends call everyone honey and love!
Hello Becky! Thank you so much for your reply. This is my first relationship with a hispanic guy and it is very new to me. He was talking to his cousin on the phone the other day and said “mi reina” again. Which translates as you know “my queen”. It is very hard to get used to something like that because like you said I want to be that special girl that he calls that. I understand Mexican culture is very friendly and they show love much more than Europeans do, but still.. are you also with a mexican guy as well? whats your nationality if I can ask? how did you deal with it? its hard for me.. because he is so friendly with his cousin. like hugging them so much, holding their hands, kissing them on the cheeks of course… and just being so nice to them. I know I should not get jealous because it is stupid. But a little side of me gets jealous… when he went to mexico it was an emergency and I was in school so I couldnt go… I really wanted to go and spend time w him and meet his family. When he came back he had all of these pictures, his cousins hugging him, he is holding their hands, they are all so friendly… I mean sometimes I think he showed them more love then he did to me. I dont know… he just tells me its his culture but he agrees I should have been there. Its hard to overcome something like this….
I think it’s important to understand the context and the endearing aspects of the apodos:)- I forgot that in Spain they used to call me “Curra.” Curro was the nickname for one of our friend’s dad, and I had the hardest time pronouncing the double r. So to kind-of make fun of me they would call me curra and make me say his name, rolling the rr’s. (I finally learned how to say it correctly!)
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Could you please help me out with Spanish nickname. When I was growing up, we referred to my uncle as Juni (pronounced: noo-nee), short for Junior, as he was named after his father. I have looked on line for a long time and have found no direct reference to verify this apodo. There is one site that implies this is a version of a German nickname, and there is the causal reference to Juni Cortez, in Richard Rodriguez’s film, Spy Kids. So here is my question: has anyone out there ever used Juni to refer to Junior? Or is this merely my family’s own invented nickname?
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