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raferguson

Aug 16, 2008, 10:27 AM

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Yonke

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I have recently seen words that are new to me, "Yonke", or "Yonkeros". I believe that it is an Anglicism of "Junk". The Yonkeros are, as far as I can tell, the Junkyard men.

I was reading about it in the context of members of their organizations being kidnapped or killed. Junkyards are potentially chop shops, used to part out stolen cars, so I can imagine ties to the mafias.

If anybody can comment further on the words "Yonke", or "Yonkeros", I would be interested.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

esperanza

Aug 16, 2008, 11:33 AM

Post #2 of 5 (4923 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Yonke

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"Yonke" is a corruption of "yonque", which is itself, as you suspected, a corruption of "junk". Yonque does mean an automotive junkyard. The term is used primarily in the north of Mexico, but it's begun to filter south as people who have been to or worked in the north come back to the interior. Here in the interior, an automotive junkyard is usually known as a huesario--boneyard.

There's another meaning as well. Some wag might say, "Rosa se ha puesto bien yonque, verdad?" This translates to, "Rosa is all used up, isn't she?"

But you wouldn't want to say that about Rosa, would you?

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Rolly