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Michelle ML's avatar

I have always called it DF, as it's where my mom went to college, and that's what she called it. It was fun to see the many other names that people use.

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Mike Leavy's avatar

Thanks Michelle - DF is the fastest way to refer to Mexico City, for sure. I often use it when I'm in a hurry 😂

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Victor D. Sandiego's avatar

I guess I'm old school because I still say DF. However, I've been practicing Chilangolandia, so maybe one day if it seems right and I can roll it off the tongue smoothly, I'll give it a go in the outside world. Great info, thanks, Mike I do enjoy the city and have traveled the metros. Lots to explore.

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Mike Leavy's avatar

Yeah, Victor - there is a vocal economy that comes with saying "DF". It is a great city, I enjoy visiting it a lot. One has to put in a lot of effort to be bored in DF 🙂

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Christy Brandt's avatar

That IS confusing! My head hurts 😜

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Mike Leavy's avatar

Best not to think about it 😉

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Elva's avatar

I am of the generation that called Mexico City DF and sometimes, Ciudad de Mexico. Mike, do you think that the time Mexico City was considered the largest (population-wise) city, they were counting the greater metropolitan area population?

Chilangolandia sounds too much like a Mexican curse word to me. I am not a prude... yet here I am pontificating...

Thanks for this history. My own general 'confusion on a slow boil' has been reduced.

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Mike Leavy's avatar

Hi Elva - yes, Mexico City alone is the largest city in North America, just edging out New York (9 million vs 8.6 million). In all of the Americas, São Paulo, Brazil is the largest with nearly 13 million.

There is debate about the origins of the term "chilango". It almost certainly derives from an indigenous word, but there are several candidates. None of them are offensive, but the term was originally applied to people from Mexico City in a derogatory manner. However, people from Mexico City have embraced the term and made it their own. When I meet someone from CDMX and I say "Oh eres un chilango", they always smile and say "si, claro". They are probably also smiling because they are surprised I know the term (and, yeah, I guess I'm kinda showing off...)

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Victor D. Sandiego's avatar

I learned about chilango when I was studying. In fact, I gave a talk on modismo and attempted to explain the lyrics from the following song. It was fun, but I had to investigate almost every word...

Ya chole chango chilango,

¡qué chafa chamba te chutas!

No checa andar de tacuche

¡y chale con la charola!

Tan choncho como una chinche,

más chueco que la fayuca,

con fusca y con cachiporra

te pasa andar de guarura.

Mejor yo me echo una chela

y chance enchufo una chava

chambeando de chafirete

me sobra chupe y pachanga.

Si choco saco chipote

la chota no es muy molacha

chiveando a los que machucan

se va a morder su talacha.

De noche caigo al congal

No manches, dice la Changa,

A chorro de teporocho,

en chifla pasa la pacha.

Pachucos, cholos y chundos

chichiflas y malafachas

acá los chómpiras rifan

y bailan tibiritabara

y bailan tibiritabara

y bailan tibiritabara

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