MACUARRO: MEANING AND ORIGIN - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

"Macuarro" corresponds to an idiom from Mexico that has become popular on the Internet. A couple of meanings have been coined to this expression, the meanings of which will vary depending on the context in which it is used. At first it was used to qualify construction workers, especially bricklayers.

However, and as mentioned above, with the passing of time a series of meanings was added. Some experts and Internet users indicate that the word began to be used in the poorest areas of the main cities of Mexico, but especially in the center of the country.

Nowadays the word "macuarro" has also been used to make memes and jokes, which has aroused conflicting opinions about discrimination and classism.

Meaning

Here are some meanings associated with this word:

-The person who is a bricklayer is called "macuarro", and even the masonry helpers. Similarly, it also refers to people who work in the construction sector. There are other words associated with this meaning and that also function as synonyms: “half a spoon”, “chalán” (also said to bus drivers) and “matacuaz”.

-In some areas of Mexico it is a qualifier towards those people who have Negroid and Andean features. She is also related to the "ranchers".

-It is a derogatory expression to call the construction workers.

-It is also a synonym to refer to people with little purchasing power, low income, with little care of their personal appearance. Along the same lines, it is estimated that it has more or less the same meaning as "naco".

-Some Internet users affirm that this is how drug packers are called in Michoacán.

The meanings vary depending on the use that is given to the word. However, and in any of the cases, the degree of classism, racism and discrimination that are involved in this expression has been discussed.

On the other hand, on the Internet it has been used as a means of ridicule and memes that have recently become popular, which have helped to spread this term.

Origin

Despite the fact that it is an expression spread in various parts of the country, the precise origin of this word is unknown. However, some Internet users indicate that it began to be used in the slums and in the most humble areas in several important cities of the country.

This also caused it to take on different meanings depending on the region, so it is possible to find different uses and associated words.

Other derogatory phrases and expressions

In view of the above, a series of terms can be added whose connotation can also be seen as negative. That is why the need arose to explain and disseminate them, to have greater awareness when using them:

"Marry a güero to improve the race"

This is perhaps one of the most used expressions in the country, which emphasizes the importance of relating to someone with a light or white complexion.

This is also a hint that those with brown skin belong to the poorest and most humble classes.

"Pirrurris"

It refers to a person who lives in a wealthy position, who also criticizes and despises those who are in lower social strata.

"Popcorn"

Mentioned above, it is believed to be one of the most used words in Mexico, especially in a derogatory way.

It is used to qualify people who have no taste in dressing or who, in general, are vulgar. In other contexts it is also used to refer to people with indigenous features.

As in the case of “macuarro”, the origin of this word is unknown, although there are records that indicate that it was integrated into common slang in the mid-1960s, referring to people (or indigenous people) who could not read.

"Offspring"

According to history, "brood" was the term used in ancient Rome to name low-income people.

In Mexico it is a kind of diminutive of the word "proletariat", which was introduced thanks to the communist and socialist doctrine. At present it serves to refer to those who belong to the lower classes.

"You never miss a little prietito in rice"

It is an expression that indicates that while things are fine, something is sure to go wrong. In the country it is also related to the presence of a dark person (also called “black / a”), in an environment of lighter-skinned people.

"The Indian is not to blame, but the one who makes him compadre"

Although it has another connotation, the truth is that it suggests the supposed incompetence or lack of skills to do complex tasks, coined to people who belong to this social group.

"Ah, how are you Indian?"

As in the previous case, again the type of discrimination that hints at the low intelligence or ignorance of the indigenous people is used. Usually this phrase is used as a kind of insult.

"He left like the maids"

This particular expression has a meaning similar to "macuarro", as it is a derogatory way to refer to women who work as domestic workers. In this case, this phrase is used to indicate that someone has left a place without warning.

"They tricked me like a Chinese"

This expression refers to the fact that people of Asian origin are easy or prone to be deceived. Apparently, it comes from the time of the first Chinese migrations to Mexico. They did not know the language and therefore could not communicate properly.

"The boy is dark but he is pretty"

Somehow it infers the unattractiveness of people with dark complexions, a situation that seems to be reinforced by means of novels, commercials and other audiovisual resources.

References

1. Horsedealer. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: May 30, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
2. Macuarro. (sf). What does it mean? Retrieved: May 30, 2018. En Qué Significa de que-significa.com.
3. Macuarro. (2013). In WordReference. Retrieved: May 30, 2018. In WordReference at forum.wordreference.com.
4. Macuarro in Mexico. (sf). In The Spanish Speaking Slang Project. Retrieved: May 30, 2018. In The Spanish Speaking Slang Project of jergasdehablahispana.org.
5. Matacuaz. (sf). In Glossary.net. Retrieved: May 30, 2018. In Glosario.net de arte-y-arquitectura-glosario.net.
6. Half a spoon. (sf). In Your Babel. Retrieved: May 30, 2018. In Tu Babel de tubabel.com.
7. Najar, Alberto. 10 phrases that Mexicans use every day… and do not know they are racist. (2016). On BBC. Retrieved: May 30, 2018. On BBC from bbc.com.
8. Words we use to discriminate. (2016). In Chilango. Retrieved: May 30, 2018. In Chilango from chilango.com.