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adj

chichi

SHEE-shee

Chichi (adj) means Fashionable or fancy in a showy, try-hard way. Example: “The restaurant was a bit too chichi for my taste, with tiny portions and huge prices.”

adj
1
Fashionable or fancy in a showy, try-hard way.
"The restaurant was a bit too chichi for my taste, with tiny portions and huge prices."
"She rolled her eyes at the chichi boutique hotel."

How to use chichi

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFancy or fashionable in an over-the-top, pretentious way — the opposite of understated.

Common mistake

Usually carries a slightly mocking tone, unlike the more neutral "chic."

Easily confused with

Word forms

more chichi comparative, chichis plural, most chichi superlative

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Test yourself on “chichi” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The restaurant was a bit too _____ for my taste, with tiny portions and huge prices.

Etymology

Borrowed from French chichi, a word for fussy, affected style.

Origin: French

Rhymes for chichi

See all rhymes for chichi →

Frequently asked questions

What does “chichi” mean?

The word “chichi” means fashionable or fancy in a showy, try-hard way. In plain terms, fancy or fashionable in an over-the-top, pretentious way — the opposite of understated.

How do you pronounce “chichi”?

“Chichi” is pronounced SHEE-shee (/ˈʃi.ʃi/ in IPA).

How do you use “chichi” in a sentence?

Here is “chichi” used in a sentence: “The restaurant was a bit too chichi for my taste, with tiny portions and huge prices.”

What part of speech is “chichi”?

“Chichi” is an adjective.

Where does the word “chichi” come from?

The word “chichi” comes from French. Borrowed from French chichi, a word for fussy, affected style.

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