Lexi-tico: Chineado
CHINEADO/CHINEADA (tʃi-ne-aðo / tʃi-ne-aða)
The word chineado/chineada is both an adjective and the past participle of the verb chinear. In Spanish, unlike English and many other languages, we use an “o”-ending to indicate that an adjective refers to a male subject and an “a”-ending to refer to a female subject.
The verb chinear is used in other Latin American countries, but as oftentimes happens in language, there may be linguistic and cultural nuances and/or completely different meanings of a term in a different countries or regions.
For instance, in some Latin American countries, the meanings of the verb chinear include:
- to care for someone,
- to watch,
- to cradle a baby,
- to look at someone,
- and in some places, it may also mean “to have an affair.”
Such is language!
But what about Costa Rica? While we do use the verb chinear in the sense of “cuddling (a baby) in one’s arms,” many of us will use the expression chineado/chineada to mean that someone is spoiled.
Examples of usage:
- “La mamá se pasó el día chineando al bebé.”
Translation: The mother spent the day cuddling her baby in her arms.
- “Ese niño es demasiado chineado.”
Translation: That child is too spoiled.