Chola

Medieval Indian empire

Chola has two distinct meanings.

In historical contexts, it refers to the Chola dynasty, a powerful medieval Tamil kingdom in southern India.

In contemporary American slang, chola describes a young Latina woman associated with a particular urban aesthetic—heavy eyeliner, dark lip liner, flannel shirts, hoop earrings: She had that chola style going on.

The term can be neutral or derogatory depending on context and who's using it.

Some Latinas embrace it as cultural identity; others find it reductive or offensive.

dynasty

Tamil

South Indian language

empireDomain under unified control
DravidianSouth Asian language family
medievalOf the Middle Ages

inscriptions · bronze · maritime · conquest · Ceylon · Southeast Asia · temple · architecture · navy · trade

subculture

Chicana

Mexican-American woman, culturally identified

Los AngelesSouthern California metropolis
lowriderVehicle with dropped chassis
hoop earringsCircular lobe adornments

dark lipstick · flannel · bandana · gang · barrio · streetwear · eyebrows · teardrop · aesthetic · zoot suit

Andean

Bolivia

Andean republic, two capitals

PeruPacific coast republic
indigenousOriginating in a region
mestizaWoman of dual ancestry

bowler hat · shawl · market · Quechua · La Paz · wrestler · skirt · braids · Altiplano · traditional

Chola

Tamil

Chicana

Bolivia

Chola

Opposites

Categories