The nuance of gachí

[Manuel]

My dictionary says that "gachí" is an informal word for girl, something like "gal" or "chick" in English. But gal and chick respectively do have different nuances of meaning.

I am wondering exactly what the connotation is of the word "gachí" in Spanish. Is it slightly derogatory? Or just a playful way to call a girl? In what kind of contexts would one use this? Or is it used much at all??? Because I once asked a native Spanish speaker about it and she didn't even know what it meant, even though she is highly educated and knowledgeable!

[chileno]

Spanish from where?

I have never heard that term...

Maybe "guachi" or now with the advent of the internet "washi"?

[Manuel]

You have never heard of it either???? Hmmm.

I think it's Spanish from Spain, but not 100% sure. The dictionary that includes it is the Dutch-Spanish dictionary VanDale. That is based on Iberian Spanish, usually when a word is only used in latin America they mention that with an abbreviation in brackets.

But the woman I asked about it is from Spain, in fact, and she had never heard of it either!

I guess it's probably gone out of style then? The dictionary is dated 2003. Maybe it was a hip word for a short period of time? Who knows. I'm a bit curious about it now!

Ah, I found this on Wikcionario:

Etimología: del caló gachí ("paya"), "mujer no gitana"

• Ámbito: España
• Uso: jergal
• Sinónimos: fémina, mina, nota, Rioplatense, jergal, mujer

I guess it's a type of gypsy slang then?

No wonder people don't know it.

[Rusty]

Gachí is the correct spelling, chileno.
According to the dictionaries I consulted, this is the equivalent of 'bird' or 'chick'. The former is outdated in America, but may still be current usage in the UK.

The term 'gal' isn't derogatory in AmE, but it is in BrE (or so people on the internet say).
'Gal' and 'chick' aren't exact synonyms.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Rusty

'Gal' and 'chick' aren't exact synonyms.

Right, I am aware of this. I suspect "gachí" is more equivalent to "chick", really. But apparently it's not commonly used in Spain. Which would make sense if it is gypsy slang.

[JPablo]

Hey, I knew this term... and probably Spanish people older than 30 may know it without problem...

Moliner gives,
gachí (caló, f. de «gachó»; And. y difundido como andalucismo en otras regiones) f. *Mujer o muchacha; se emplea, por ejemplo, al requebrarlas o al referirse a ellas los hombres: ‘Esa gachí morena’.

Creo que se usa predominantemente en España, según CREA (Corpus de Referencia del Español Actual).

Como "mujer" o "muchacha" puede tener distintas connotaciones dependiendo del contexto y del tono de cómo se diga.

HIH

[chileno]

Ah, es caló...y no conocía ese término.

Mi abuela era de Zamora y después se fue a Bilbao, o quizás fue al revés...