Boricua
The word Puerto Ricans use for themselves, derived from Borikén, the Taíno name of the island. It carries pride and appears in songs, shirts and everyday talk far more than the formal demonym. A visitor can use it comfortably to refer to someone from the island.
Example
You will hear yo soy boricua sooner and louder than the formal demonym, on the island and in the diaspora.
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Related terms
Local slang
Borinquen
The Taíno name of Puerto Rico, also written Borikén, still alive as the island's poetic name. It appears in the...
History
Taíno
The Indigenous people who inhabited Puerto Rico, which they called Borikén, when the Spanish arrived in 1493. Their...
Culture
Jíbaro
A mountain farmer of Puerto Rico and, by extension, the symbol of the island's rural identity. The classic image...
Local slang
Wepa
An exclamation of joy and approval, the local shout of celebration. It comes out when the good song starts, when...
Frequently asked questions
Is it respectful to use?
Yes. It is the word people use for themselves and it carries no negative charge.
Where does it come from?
From Borikén, the name the Taíno used for the island before the Spanish arrived.
