chetero

Chetero is a Spanish-language term with several regional senses, all centered on deception or forgery. In many Latin American and Caribbean countries, a chetero denotes a person who cheats others to obtain money or goods—a con artist, hustler, or fraudster. In some contexts, it specifically refers to someone who traffics in counterfeit or low-quality goods, such as fake merchandise pitched in informal markets. The term can also describe someone who fabricates credentials or misrepresents themselves to gain advantage. The exact sense depends on country, social setting, and tone, and the word generally carries strong negative connotations.

Etymology is informal and regionally variable; the word is built from the agentive suffix -ero attached to a root connected with deception in many dialects. The feminine form chetera is also used. The term appears in everyday speech, journalism, music, and popular culture, often to characterize petty criminals or swindlers rather than organized crime.

Because of its pejorative nature, the term can be insulting; in some places chetero may be used jokingly among friends to call out someone who is exaggerating or bragging, rather than committing a crime. As with many slang terms, usage and acceptability vary by country, region, and generation.