Hi México: Let’s Talk! What Is An “Escuincle”? (Es-Kween-Kleh)

By Francisco J. Báez

A quick-laugh, a frown, and an eye-roll for a boy: This is the face of a typical Mexican “escuincle”. You’ll be surprised to know that this noun, which is generally used to describe a small boy, girl or group of children (in plural) derives from the Nahuatl word Itzcuintli, which means dog. It’s from this Nahuatlis” that the name of the acclaimed Mexican furless Xoloitzcuintle or Xoloescuintle dog derives; where Xólotl means strange, slave or buffoon, compounding it into “strange buffoon dog”. In this regard, there are still a few folks who associate the idea that both infants and Xoloitzcuintles are small-hairless creatures that lack body hair, although nobody knows when the two terms became one.

The fact is that when used by people in Central México, it will derogatorily and informally refer to a disobedient, ill-mannered and impolite child, be it one's kid or someone else's. As a result of such behavior, so here go some well deserved utterances: “When would you pick up your escuincle?”, “The escuincle never stopped crying”, “Your escuincle broke my stuff”, “I can´t stand escuincles any longer”. Yet escuincle can also be a term of affection.  Another scenario could be that the child in question may be hyperactive, boisterous and restless… a rabble-rouser.

The attitude of such a kid may be similar to that of a dog wagging his tail to play with the approaching soul regardless of the time, place or circumstance.

The overheard phrases may be: “At home I always play with my escuincles”,  “That escuincle is mischievous”, “The escuincles were all over the place!”.

It doesn’t take long to realize that in every family, city or country, there will always be an “escuincle” who gives zest and energy to a household. Rumor has it that if we hold children close to our hearts on children’s day - April 30th - and every day for that matter, they might blossom as they find their purpose in life.

Francisco J. Báez is ‘The Immersion Guy from Hi-México!’ English & Spanish Programs by Voluntary-fee

Accelerated English for your House’s staff and Mastering Spanish Sounds for English Speakers:fastrack2english@gmail.com