Chico as an Insult
Today at work I stopped by the cafe, and I was called chico by the waitress, which at first brought a smile to my face, because I was called that a lot as a child, and it brought up good memories.
So I walk in, and I'm greeted with "What do you want chico?", which is asked in a very neutral voice, and with a small smile by a girl who can't be older than 25.
My problem is the fact that I'm now 22, and I have no idea how to take it because chico has two meanings; one as a generic term for a guy, and the other being small child. The former is what I took it as first, but if I was just called a child, then I have been gravely insulted and will probably never step foot in the cafe again.
In short, is calling a grown man chico naturally disrespectful?
4 Answers
Here in New Orleans, you can't go an hour without being called "Dawlin'" or "Baby" or "Sweetheart" or any number of such terms by total strangers. No insult intended. RAC1 can attest to that I'm sure.
Like others have said, it's just a way of being friendly. I would never take it as being disrespectful. I guess it could be a bit strange coming from a total stranger, however, in a casual restaurant? perfectly normal.
In your case “chico” is not necessarily disrespectful since it does not mean child. I am older than you and yesterday a lady at work addressed me as chico. The word can be used to express, connection, affection, and friendliness. However, it may be inappropriate if not disrespectful to address a total adult stranger as chico.
It may depend where you are.
Here in Andalucía women use ' chica ' a lot. I've hear middle-aged women greeting each other in the street with '¡Chica!¿ Que pasa? ' Amongst women ' bonita' and 'guapa' are also used, I find it lovely when the dental receptionist greets me with ¡Hola guapa!. I think it is just a bit like in Devon, where I live normally, the natives use ' darling' to perfect strangers .
As for what men say I don't know but I doubt it was an insult. Just being friendly, I would think.
