Adjective (informal)
/pat͡ʃuˈtʃo/
The word pachucho is commonly used in the Spanish language to describe someone who appears sickly or poorly, lacking vitality or physical strength. It can refer to a person who feels unwell or who has a frail appearance, often suggesting a certain degree of vulnerability. The term is colloquial and frequently found in informal conversations rather than formal writing. It can be used in various contexts to express concern for someone’s health or to criticize someone for not being lively or energetic.
The word is fairly common in casual spoken Spanish but less so in written contexts, particularly formal texts.
Después de estar enfermo todo el invierno, se siente un poco pachucho.
(After being sick all winter, he feels a bit sickly.)
No puedes salir a jugar si te ves tan pachucho.
(You can’t go out to play if you look so weak.)
El perro parecía pachucho, así que lo llevé al veterinario.
(The dog looked sickly, so I took him to the vet.)
While pachucho itself may not be used often in idiomatic expressions, it describes a state that can appear in various contexts. Here are some related expressions that convey a sense of weakness or unwellness:
Después de esa fiebre, parece que está pachucho como un perro.
(After that fever, it seems he is as sickly as a dog.)
Sentirse pachucho
(To feel unwell)
Hoy no puedo salir, me siento pachucho.
(I can't go out today, I feel unwell.)
Estar pachucho y sin ganas
(To be weak and unmotivated)
Desde que empezó el verano, he estado pachucho y sin ganas de nada.
(Since summer started, I have been weak and unmotivated.)
No te pongas pachucho por un mal día
(Don't get sickly over a bad day)
The term pachucho likely derives from pacha, which in some Spanish dialects refers to being weak or sickly. The -ucho suffix often indicates a diminutive or pejorative nuance in Spanish, enhancing the connotation of being somewhat infirm or less than robust.