Street
jaina
What does jaina mean?
A girlfriend or a young woman. The Chicano equivalent of 'shorty' or 'my girl' — affectionate, scene-specific.
"He brought his jaina to the carne asada last weekend."
Origin
Caló, generally traced to a Chicano English pronunciation of 'honey'. Standard in East LA and SoCal Chicano slang since the Pachuco era.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'jaina' mean?
It means a girlfriend or sweetheart in Chicano Caló.
Where does 'jaina' come from?
It's Chicano Caló and is thought to derive from the English word 'honey'.
How do you use 'jaina'?
Use it to refer to a girlfriend or sweetheart, e.g. 'Su jaina' (his girlfriend).
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