mexicano

Wordform Details

Translation: Mexican

Part of Speech: adjective

Inflection Type:

masculinesingular

Is Dictionary Form: Yes


Dictionary Form Details

Lemma Details

Translation: Mexican

Part of Speech: adjective

Etymology: Derived from 'México' (Mexico), the name of the country, plus the suffix '-ano' which forms adjectives indicating origin or belonging. The country name 'México' comes from Nahuatl 'Mēxihco', the name of the Aztec capital, possibly meaning 'place of the Mexica people' or 'in the navel of the moon'.

Commonality: 90%

Guessability: 95%

Register: neutral

Mnemonics

  • Sounds like 'Mexico' with the ending '-ano' which often indicates 'belonging to' in Spanish (similar to '-an' in English words like 'American').
  • Think of the Mexican flag's colors (green, white, and red) to remember the word for someone or something from Mexico.

Related Words, Phrases & Idioms

México

Unknown

No translation

a la mexicana

Unknown

No translation

comida mexicana

Unknown

No translation

Synonyms

azteca

Unknown

No translation

Antonyms

extranjero

Unknown

No translation

Example Wordforms

Cultural Context

The term carries strong national identity connotations in Mexico and among Mexican diaspora communities. It encompasses not just nationality but cultural heritage, traditions, and pride. In the United States, the term can sometimes be politically charged in immigration discussions.

Easily Confused With

mejicano

Unknown

No translation

Commonality: 0%

Explanation: An alternative spelling of 'mexicano' that was more common historically but is now less frequently used. Both refer to the same concept but 'mexicano' is the standard modern spelling.

Notes: The 'x' vs 'j' spelling difference reflects historical changes in Spanish pronunciation. The 'x' in Mexico was originally pronounced like 'sh', then evolved to sound like 'j' in modern Spanish.

Mnemonic: 'Mexicano' with 'x' is the modern standard spelling, matching how we spell 'Mexico' in English.

americano

Unknown

No translation

Commonality: 0%

Explanation: While 'mexicano' refers specifically to Mexico, 'americano' can refer to someone from the United States or more broadly to anyone from the Americas (North, Central, or South).

Notes: In Latin America, 'americano' often refers to someone from the United States, though some prefer the term 'estadounidense' to be more precise.

Mnemonic: Mexico is part of North America, but 'mexicano' is specific to Mexico while 'americano' is broader.