Chano, is it a word?

Question

as a kid, my spanish speaking friends referred to something that was real nice as being "chano". I've never seen it written, so that's a phonetic spelling at best. now I'm told that it's not even a word. Is it?

Sano is close, but it was definately Chano. It was slang for sure and used like Phat. that car was Chano. Perhaps it was just a made up word they liked to use. - mkloker, Jan 31, 2011

How bout "Chido"? - Gekkosan, Jan 31, 2011

No, but you are on to something about it perhaps being a Mexican word and not used by others. - mkloker, Jan 31, 2011

It's just odd that I don't seem to be able to find any meaningful references at all to "Chano", unless it is a highly localized regionalism, or something these kids made up then. - Gekkosan, Jan 31, 2011

I found a clue at least. Here's an except on how the word Chicano was formed from a website: it is common for Mexicans to use the "CH" conjunction in place of certain consonants in order to create a term of endearment - mkloker, Jan 31, 2011

Chano has been misappropriated by Rappers. It is short for Ponciano a name of Spanish and Portuguese origin. It is a family name, shared by both my great-uncle and brother. My uncle goes by Chano, but my brother used his middle name. - James6303, Jun 9, 2017

Answer 1

Maybe "Sano"?

Means Positivo or Saludable....

Answer 2

In México somepeople says chido.

I´ve heard Chano as an apocopated form of Ponciano, a name.

Exactly it's short for Ponciano. Not a very popular name, most Chanos are old men. - James6303, Jun 9, 2017

Answer 3

It´s a nickname. Short form for Sebastián.

Answer 4

i know 'Chino'......

Answer 5

i heard about it, but like a name or a nickname

Answer 6

funny to find out like 25 years later that it wasn't even a word. I feel like the lone ranger in that Gary Larson cartoon

Answer 7

Chano? I have never heard that word in my life.