I use this one a lot. In my writing at least. In real person, or en vivo y a todo color, not so much. In everyday conversations… cómo que no me sale. It’s one of those words that even if you don’t know what it means you can pretty much make the conclusion that it is not a very flattering one once you hear someone using it. Still, it kind of slips off the tongue, doesn’t it? ¡Chafa!
A confession now. I’ll admit, after reading the detalles of the president’s recent deferred adjudication announcement I just couldn’t help thinking “¡Qué chafa! What a rip off!” Not that my intention is to be political – it’s not! I just had to get that off my chest. Why? Because! What about all of the other 10 million immigrants that don’t qualify for the deferred adjudication. Isn’t this the ultimate rip off for them?! Oh, I’m sorry you’re not young enough to qualify. Oops, it doesn’t matter how many degrees you have, this doesn’t apply to you either. So sorry.
Agh, it’s just what the Urban Dictionary says about something that can be described with such a word: Something of a very low quality, often made to appear like the real thing. Word very widely used in Mexico. Also: fake or crude forgery.
Hopefully it’s just me being a pessimist. I am quite good at that you know. Whatever the case, and back to the all important Mexi-Vocabulario word of the day, of course, chafa can be used to describe a person, place or a thing. It really is quite the versatile palabra. Think of it as similar to the word ghetto in a way. People often like to describe things that are synonymous to chafa with that word in the English language. And for extra credit, find something you’d describe as ¡bien chafa! and tell someone about it. You’re welcome to leave your sentences here too.
I’m always on the hunt for new mexi-vocabulario.
What other words would you like me to include in the mexi-vocabulario? If you have one that you would recommend please share it with me here.
Writer’s Disclaimer: When I say mexi-vocabulario I don’t necessarily mean these words are exclusively Mexican, or only used by Mexicans. This is simply an expression of how they were introduced to me in our Mexican Spanish.
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