Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

Chiraq en · PROPN

Pronunciation

  • /ʃɪˈɹæk/ (General-American)
  • /ʃaɪˈɹæk/ (General-American)
  • /ʃɪˈɹɑk/ (General-American)

Etymology

Blend of Chicago + Iraq, coined by South Side rappers comparing the frequency of shootings in Chicago and in Iraq.

Meanings

  1. (US, derogatory, slang) Derogatory name for Chicago: a major city in Illinois, United States; especially referring to those parts in the South Side subject to a large amount of violence.
    • When the south and west sides of Chicago are covered in the media, for instance, they are often described using infamous terms such as Chiraq and food deserts. Chiraq, a portmanteau of Chicago and Iraq, is used as code to refer to the violence and poverty of these neighborhoods. 2017, Steve Ventura, Martin Bailkey, Good Food, Strong Communities, page 235:
    • Seeing too much of anything in Chiraq streets could be hazardous to anyone's health 2014, Rumont Tekay, Venom In My Veinz:
    • He met his wife and never thought about moving back to Chiraq. 2018, Shatiera Holman, Equality Ain't Equal:
    • Welcome to Chiraq Chitown My town 2015, Jimmy Chan, Don't Kill the Messenger 69...The Chronicles of Fo:

Relateds

Shitcago · Killadelphia · Chimpcago · Pistolvania