mechón

Mechón is a Spanish term with multiple related senses. In everyday language, a mechón is a small tuft or lock of hair, wool, or fiber. It can refer to a visibly distinct strand, such as un mechón de pelo rizado or un mechón de lana. The word derives from mecha, wick, with the augmentative suffix -ón, signaling a lump or bundle that stands out.

In addition to its physical sense, mechón is widely used in Latin American universities to mean a first-year student, especially among freshmen. The female form mechona is common in several countries. The term often appears in informal speech and campus culture, where initiation events, welcome rounds, and pranks associated with new students are described as activities involving the mechones. The exact practices vary by country and institution, and the usage can be affectionate or pejorative depending on context. Some places have moved toward more inclusive terminology or limited initiation rituals.

Culturally, the mechón identity is part of student life in many universities in Argentina, Chile, and other Spanish-speaking regions, reflecting rites of passage from novice to member of the academic community. Outside education, the word remains common for any tuft of hair or fiber and can appear in medical or cosmetic descriptions.