Help me sound out-dated!
November 9, 2012 12:02 PM   Subscribe

I'm looking for an online dictionary (or even a simple list) of zoot-suit (Pachuco) culture/era slang. My Google-fu is weak. Help?

I grew up in LA in the '90s, so I'm fine with a lot of modern Latino slang (though I'm a few years out of touch, naturally). However, I'm looking for stuff from the 1940s specifically. Authenticity is a big deal for me here.
posted by scaryblackdeath to Society & Culture (4 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Try this: Cab Calloway's Hipster Dictionary
posted by DandyRandy at 12:23 PM on November 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


Also, do a YouTube search for Al Jazzbo Collins - there are a couple of fairy tale recordings that use that style - might give you some ideas.
posted by DandyRandy at 12:28 PM on November 9, 2012


If you're looking specifically for Pachuco slang, try searching for Calo.
posted by gteffertz at 2:59 PM on November 9, 2012


You might find some handy academic articles from the time period through this paper.

There are some terms here.

Some interesting history and maybe some examples here.

You might watch some old movies by Germán Valdés. Some snippets of video.

This book might have examples.

Some search terms to try are jerga pachuco, caló, dichos pachucos, and pachuquismo.
posted by ceiba at 3:12 PM on November 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


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