I call all colored Khakis, Khakis, but chino wasn't a foreign word for me, I think both are slang derivatives for any generic twill pants, If I had to guess Chino probably originated outside of NE. Answer from Sharkhottub on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/malefashionadvice › khaki vs. chino
r/malefashionadvice on Reddit: Khaki vs. Chino
January 20, 2014 -

I read that the difference between Khaki pants and Chinos is that khakis has a seam on the side whereas chinos do not, thus making the chinos slightly more formal.

-Is that true? And are there any other differences?

-Can you really tell the difference when someone is wearing kahkis pants and chinos?

Top answer
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Some sources will make a distinction between those two terms. Many will use them interchangeably. You can't assume that the word choice means something one way or the other unless you know the person writing it makes that distinction.

It's the same as the sportcoat/blazer issue. Sometimes people use "sportcoat" more often for a hunting-inspired jacket, especially if it's tweed. A "blazer" is more likely to be nautical-inspired and might have brass buttons. But just because a jacket is described by one term rather than the other, that doesn't necessarily tell you anything.

There's also the famous shoe terminology issue. Sometimes an "oxford" is a shoe with closed lacing, while a "derby" or "blucher" is one with open lacing. Other times, an "oxford" is any lace-up dress shoe, and only the name "balmoral" specifies closed lacing. And then, sometimes "derby" and "blucher" are used as synonyms, but occasionally they refer to different styles.

These are all just terminology differences. There's no sense getting worked up over them.

This is the first time I've heard of a khaki/chino distinction, so I'd normally assume the words are being used as synonyms unless I know the writer means to draw a distinction. However, it is good to keep in mind that, whatever you call them, sometimes they are more or less formal due to various details like seams, the presence of a crease in front, how thick or rough the fabric is, etc.

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i'm pretty sure khaki is a color and chinos are just cotton pants

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/preppy › khakis or chinos?
r/preppy on Reddit: Khakis or chinos?
December 29, 2023 -

In my prep upbringing (Greenwich/Nantucket/ New England Boarding school) chinos was never a word that we used. Pants unless they were jeans or gray flannels were called khakis for the most part regardless of color. Of course khaki is a color too but we would call a pant of another color “khakis” too. Am I wrong? Do you do the same? Discuss.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/malefashionadvice › what exactly is the difference between khaki’s and chino’s?
r/malefashionadvice on Reddit: What exactly is the difference between Khaki’s and Chino’s?
December 13, 2014 - The distinction is about the fabric in some ways. Really, the distinction is that khaki is a color; but the term chino, while now broadly used as a word for "non-jean, non-dress pant," is actually a specific type of cotton twill fabric.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/malefashionadvice › eli5: differences between dress pants, trousers, slacks and chinos?
r/malefashionadvice on Reddit: ELI5: Differences between dress pants, trousers, slacks and chinos?
November 27, 2017 - Chinos/khakis will usually have slash front pockets, almost always have two back pockets, often have a flap pocket, or a pocket with a button. Chinos very rarely have a cuff and pleats are less common.
Find elsewhere
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Real Men Real Style
realmenrealstyle.com › home › difference between khakis and chinos – a man’s guide
Difference Between Khakis and Chinos - A Man’s Guide
September 8, 2025 - Khakis are thick, straight-legged, and typically pleated (although plain fronts are available from most brands these days). They have cuffs at the bottom hems. Chinos are lightweight, tapered so that they narrow as they go lower on the leg, ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/malefashionadvice › what is the difference between khakis and chinos?
What is the difference between khakis and chinos? : r/malefashionadvice
December 28, 2013 - All of this to say, chinos are a twill pant and khakis refers to a khakis colored chino pant.
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Ask Andy About Clothes
askandyaboutclothes.com › home › forums › ask andy's style discussion › trad style
Still Don't Know Difference Between Chinos and Khakis | Men's Clothing Forums
I know about the different history behind each, but what is the difference today? Are chinos cut slimmer? Danka! ... I believe khakis are tan and cotton, while chinos are cotton pants of any color. I guess technically khakis are chinos, just more common than other colored cotton pants.
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SANVT
sanvt.com › blogs › journal › khakis-vs-chinos-whats-the-difference
Khakis vs Chinos | Differences, Similarities & Style Tips
It’s not uncommon to see chinos and khakis used interchangeably, despite them being two different types of trousers. Don’t worry if you’re confused – you certainly aren’t the only one. Even fashion brands keep confusing the two terms. The reason for this is that the chino evolved from the khaki pants – as a more elegant alternative.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/malefashionadvice › khakis vs jeans
r/malefashionadvice on Reddit: Khakis vs Jeans
April 28, 2010 -

So I have enough money (ca 150 USD) to buy myself a new pair of jeans or khakis. I already have three pairs of jeans, however only 1 is useful: I have learned, to my horror, that boot-cut jeans aren't that great in the summer :D

I never wore khakis. Should I buy a pair? Over here, you can get Dockers for about 125 USD. My other options would be H&M or Zara.

What do you guys wear your chinos with? Should I buy another pair of jeans or rather go for khakis?

Thanks!

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Pant Project
pantproject.com › translation missing: en.general.breadcrumb.home › pantology › pantology
Khakis vs Chinos: What's the Difference and How to Choose
March 14, 2024 - Yet, the terms "khakis" and "chinos" are often used interchangeably, leaving many in a state of bewilderment. Understanding the nuances between these two wardrobe essentials is paramount for creating effortlessly stylish outfits. In this comprehensive guide, we aim to demystify the difference between chinos vs khakis and offer expert advice on wearing them with panache.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/malefashionadvice › your favorite ___ for $___: chinos
r/malefashionadvice on Reddit: Your favorite ___ for $___: Chinos
October 15, 2017 -

Last week's thread on Down Jackets | All past threads (_/$ and Building the Basic Bastard) | All Bottoms | Chinos (2017)

I love chinos.

Compare 'em to Jeans. Jeans are, for some reason, the standard staple... But navy chinos are more subtle, more comfortable, softer, better-looking, easier to dress up but still great with a tee shirt... More versatile and more pleasant in almost every way. And then, olive, grey, khaki, burgundy, cream, wine... pastels, bright colors, whatever else you're thinking... Chinos lend themselves to all sorts of colors, whereas denim feels strange if it's anything other than blue or black.

Compare 'em to wool dress pants. A dressy pair of chinos can be a proper pair of trousers, or at least pass as one in most contexts. Or a not-too-dressy pair could be a very subtle way to dress a blazer a half-step down. And then, after a few wears, you can just toss 'em into the wash.

And Chinos run the gamut in terms of warmth -- from thick, toasty, flannel-lined chinos to thin summerweight chinos (perhaps with a linen blend, although "chino" does imply cotton).

Perhaps the worst think about chinos is all the assholes who call them khakis. "Khaki" is a color named after dirt. Chino is the fabric, and khaki is generally not the best color for it. But these guys go around trying to convince everybody that chinos are bland pants for boring insurance salesmen when they are, in fact, everything.

So unless you're into sick fades or need wool trousers for work... buy a mountain of the chinos we recommend in this thread and bask in their glory.

That's my recommendation, at least.

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