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"Pachuco" is an adjective which is often translated as "flashy", and "ranfla" is a noun which is often translated as "ramp". Learn more about the difference between "pachuco" and "ranfla" below.
pachuco, el pachuco, la pachuca(
pah
-
choo
-
koh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (colloquial) (showy) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. flashy
Los participantes del carnaval vestían disfraces pachucos.The participants of the carnival were wearing flashy costumes.
a. tight
Estos vaqueros son muy pachucos; no me los puedo poner.These jeans are too tight; I can't put them on.
b. tight-fitting
En invierno, los atletas se ponen pantalones de correr largos y pachucos.Runners wear long, tight-fitting running pants in winter.
a. vulgar
El entrevistado era un hombre pachuco. Tuvimos que censurar algunas de las palabras que dijo.The interviewee was a vulgar man. We had to censor some of the words he used.
4. (old-fashioned) (belonging to a Mexican-American subculture of the early twentieth century)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. Chicano
El joven pachuco no iba a ningún lugar sin su sombrero de fieltro.The young Chicano man wouldn't go anywhere without his fedora.
b. Mexican-American
Todavía se utilizan algunos términos del argot pachuco de mediados del siglo XX en español.Some terms from the Mexican-American slang of the mid-20th century are still used in Spanish.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. boor
Rodrigo pretende ser un caballero refinado, pero no es nada más que un pachuco.Rodrigo pretends to be a refined gentleman, but he's nothing but a boor.
a. zoot suiter
Los dos pachucos que llegaron usaban zapatos bicolor.The two zoot suiters who arrived wore two-toned shoes.
7. (old-fashioned) (member of Mexican-American subculture of the early twentieth century)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. Chicano
Mi abuela fue una pachuca, quien junto con otras mujeres, desafió las tendencias de la época.My grandma was a Chicana, who, together with other women, challenged the trends of the time.
b. Mexican-American
No todos los pachucos pertenecían a una pandilla.Not all Mexican-Americans were members of a gang.
la ranfla(
rrahm
-
flah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. ramp
Es increíble que no haya ranflas en el centro comercial.It's unbelievable that there are no ramps at the mall.
2. (colloquial) (vehicle) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. car
Apaga ese cigarro si te vas a subir a mi ranfla.Put out that cigarette if you're riding in my car.
3. (pejorative) (promiscuous woman) (Bolivia) (Colombia)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in Colombia
a. slut (pejorative)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
Que tenga muchos amigos hombres no quiere decir que sea una ranfla.The fact that she has many male friends doesn't mean she's a slut.
4. (slang) (row) (Honduras)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
Regionalism used in Honduras
a. fight
Marco presenció una ranfla entre dos pandilleros.Marco witnessed a fight between two gang members.
