Parcero can be used as a synonym for crony.
If we look for the word parcero in the dictionary prepared by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) , we will not find it. That does not mean, however, that the term is not used. In some countries, it is a quite popular concept that is used in colloquial language.
The origin of parcero is found in sharecropper , a notion that was used in several nations to name a friend, ally or crony . Nowadays, a partner is a trusted friend, who is esteemed and valued.
Use of the term in Colombia
This use is common in Medellín and other Colombian cities . For example: “Oscar is my partner, don't mess with him” , “I find myself far from home, without any partner with whom to share my sorrows” , “I thought you were my partner, but I discovered that you have betrayed me” .
The term can also be shortened and used as parce . The meaning, of course, is the same: “Last night I saw Mauricio in a bar: he was with a guy drinking some beers,” “I can't believe my guy left the party without telling me,” “You are my friend.” Apparently, I can't lie to you."
Some sources suggest that the origin of the word parcero is found in the Portuguese language , more precisely in the term parceiro , which can be translated as companion or partner . In Colombia, parcero is used in everyday speech and belongs to a series of idioms that are very common among youth from the suburbs of Cali and Bogotá, as well as the popular communes of Medellín.
The notion of partner is linked to friendship.
Partner in other countries
In Medellín, both parce and parcero are words that have taken root in popular language; Over time, its use spread to the rest of the country, to the point of having become a very common Colombianism. It is important to note that in Colombia people tend to be friendly and close even with people they have just met, and this warmth is reinforced with the use of words such as parce or mano (which comes from brother ), which shorten distances . and invite exchange.
This phenomenon is not normal in all Spanish-speaking countries, just as not all languages have such warm ways of relating to others. In Argentina, for example, although there are regions in which the term friend can replace the name of the interlocutor in an informal dialogue, the most common thing is to use the diminutive of their first name, or a nickname in an affectionate tone.
Just as the concept of love can and is usually interpreted in different ways by each person and in each culture, the use of parcero reflects a way of understanding and maintaining relationships of friendship and companionship. Through the constant use of a term such as partner, we seek to reinforce that bond, to leave evidence of its existence, of the fidelity implicit in each exchange of words.
The sharecropping
A term related to sharecropper is sharecropping , a type of contract in which a person who owns land in the countryside (who receives the title of sharecropper assignor ) transfers said space to another person with legal independence (who is called sharecropper assignee ), granting him the benefits of his exploitation; The only requirement is to receive a percentage of the results obtained.
In addition, it is common for this agreement to include an annex in which the transferee's right to stay in a building located on the land itself is recorded whenever they wish.
The surname Parcero
It should be noted that Parcero is also a fairly common surname in our language . Tatiana Parcero , to name a person who bears this surname, is a Mexican psychologist and photographer, born in 1967 and based in Argentina .
Juan Antonio Cruz Parcero , for his part, is a Law graduate who works as a researcher and teacher. Also worth mentioning is Adriana Parcero , a Mexican designer who lives in Canada .