Which one should you use?
The form chileno is the masculine singular form, used for a single male or a single masculine object. The form chilena is the feminine form used when the noun being described is feminine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, the informal terms chilote for a man and chilota for a woman are used to refer to someone from the southern archipelago of Chiloé.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Spanish requires the word to agree in gender and number with the noun it describes or refers to. Use chileno for a single male. Use chilena for a single female or a feminine noun. For a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural chilenos. For a group consisting entirely of women, use the feminine plural chilenas.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃiˈleno/
When do people say it?
A common colloquialism used in Chile is cachai, which means "you know?" or "get it?"
Did you know?
- The name of the country and the word chileno may trace back to the Quechua word 'chirider', which refers to a specific type of bird or plant.
- In colloquial chileno Spanish, speakers often end sentences with po, a shortened version of pues that functions as a rhythmic filler rather than a word with a specific meaning.
- Chilean Spanish is known for its speed and the tendency to drop the final s in words, which can make a chileno speaker sound like they are omitting letters to a student of standard Spanish.
Examples in context
- Reconozco que el chileno promedio es bien tramposo.I admit that the average Chilean is quite a cheater.This sentence uses chileno to describe an average person.Tatoeba #1706538 by marcelostockle, translation #1706549 by marcelostockle
- La privatización del cobre chileno sería algo muy poco agradable de oír.It was disappointing to hear about the privatization of Chilean copper.This sentence uses chileno as an adjective for copper.Tatoeba #3561000 by ficion, translation #3570080 by shwinnebego
- Vicente es de Chile. Es chileno.Vicente is from Chile. He is Chilean.This sentence uses chileno as a noun to identify someone's nationality.Tatoeba #1110342 by alexmarcelo, translation #1110341 by frpzzd
- María es una chilena muy talentosa.María is a very talented Chilean woman.
- Me encanta la música que tocan los chilotes.I love the music played by the Chileans from Chiloé.
- Soy chileno, cachai?I'm Chilean, you know?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are discussing food at a restaurant.
- Alejandro¿Te gusta la comida chilena?Do you like Chilean food?
- ElenaSí, es deliciosa.Yes, it is delicious.
- AlejandroMe encanta el vino chileno.I love Chilean wine.
- ElenaEs de muy buena calidad.It is of very good quality.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chilean” translations and entries chileno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chileno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
