paisa
n.— «There is a slang term that students in mostly Latino schools use to separate those who seem more connected to their Latino roots than to American culture: “paisas.” It comes from the word “paisano,” meaning peasants or countrymen. “It’s a softer way of saying “wetback,” ” said Joe Lechuga, 17, also known as “Buddha.” He and other Mexican American students who hang out in Senior Park say the term is affectionate, not malicious.…”Where’s Domingo? The paisa?” Buddha asked his friends one day during lunch. “Oh, he’s over there kissing some paisa girl,” another student replied.» —“Cultural Divide on Campus” by Erika Hayasaki Los Angeles Times Dec. 3, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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J.P. in Temecula, California, is a high schooler studying French and Spanish. He notes that the Spanish word con means “with” and English has some linguistically related words, such as congress, which suggests “coming...