Chilango (magazine)

Chilango is a Mexican monthly humour and entertainment magazine published by Grupo Expansión since November 2003 in Mexico City.

About the term Chilango

In the early 21st centuryChilango became by an accepted demonym for people from Mexico City. The self-acceptance of the term lead to the publication of the magazine as a way to subvert prejudices people from the inner states of Mexico had about chilangos, originally created and intended by them as an offensive name.

The magazine

Notable sections of the magazine include:

DFnitivo

Word play with the Spanish pronuntiation of DF, the Mexican Federal District or Distrito Federal. A how-to style section intended as a parody of weird things that happen in the city, such as the unfinished (called surreal) Distribuidor Vial freeway over Río Becerra or the bottles filled with water to keep away dogs and other animals from invading gardens. Most of it is real but the logic of the situation is the questioned by the article.

Chilangoñol

A RAE parody in which the Mexican Spanish (focused in Mexico City slang) is explained, such as the words "onda", "equis" (fresa slang), "chingar" (considered offensive by some).

Chilango

Chilango is a Mexican slang demonym for residents of Mexico City. The Royal Spanish Academy and the Mexican Academy of Language give the definition of the word as referring to something "belonging to Mexico City", in particular referring to people native to the capital.

The term Chilango is widely used and refers to a variety of people, ranging from those who speak with a Chilango accent, to those who live, work or study in Mexico City. Some people claim that people who are born and raised in Mexico city are called "Capitalinos or Defeños". However, most Mexicans of the 31 Mexican states do not distinguish between native Mexico City inhabitants and those who moved there, and call all residents of Mexico City "Chilangos", or even "Chilanguillos," an even more pejorative term.

Two other terms used for a resident of Mexico City are Defeño (derived from D.F., Distrito Federal and not an official Spanish word) and Capitalino, which are also sometimes used both in a positive or a derogatory sense, although the latter is generally accepted as a neutral demonym. The terminology can also be used for a person born in the suburbs or surrounding areas of Mexico City who has moved to Mexico City. Sometimes it has a negative connotation when used principally by someone in one of the 31 States of Mexico.