Chorizocracia?

May 24, 2011 8:17 PM

What does the mocking expression "chorizocracia" mean in Castillian Spanish? I get the literal meaning: "Sausage-ocracy" but I think there's a slangy connotation that I, as a non-native, am missing here. What does the term "chorizo" imply in a political context? Thanks!
posted by jason's_planet to Writing & Language (6 answers total)

Best answer: Isn't 'chorizo' slang for thief? In which case I would translate it as a kleptocracy.
posted by msali at 8:23 PM on May 24, 2011

Maybe it's like the term "sausage party", as in, attended by men. So a political system ruled by men?
posted by Sal and Richard at 8:23 PM on May 24, 2011

My understanding is that it's "government of thieves" or more like "pigs at a trough" all trying to gobble up the most money.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:24 PM on May 24, 2011

Best answer: Kleptocracy is the word I was looking for, but it's more like being piggish, thuggish and greedy, instead of a romantic, elegant thievery.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:26 PM on May 24, 2011

Best answer: Yes, chorizo/a is "thief" (or even "pickpocket" if one wants to be specific), and while it probably originated as slang, these days it's on the standard vocabulary and all. Check the Academia's dictionary, 2nd entry.
posted by Iosephus at 8:48 PM on May 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Mission accomplished!

Thanks, everyone!
posted by jason's_planet at 8:39 PM on May 25, 2011