Gringo

Gringo (feminine, gringa) is a term in the Spanish and Portuguese languages used to refer to foreigners, especially those from the United States. Although its original meaning was perhaps derogatory, its usage today is not necessarily pejorative, even though it may be considered offensive by English-speakers. The American Heritage Dictionary does however classify the term as offensive slang ^*.

In informal Spanish speech, "gringo" offers a convenient shorthand to refer to a person from the U.S., since the term "American" is used to refer to anyone from the entire American continent (North, Central and South), while the more specific term "estadounidense" ("United States person") is somewhat cumbersome to pronounce.

"Gringo" is almost never used to refer to people from the U.S. of Asian, Native American or Latin American origin and its usage appears reserved almost exclusively to U.S. residents of white or black descent.

The term does lend itself to derogatory, paternalistic or endearing connotations, depending on the context and the intent of the user. In contrast, the term "yanqui" ("Yankee") is used almost exclusively in a derogatory way, to refer to any U.S. citizen, even those from the American South.

In some regions of Argentina, Paraguay and nearby areas, "Gringo" is used to refer to anyone of blonde hair and/or light skin color, regardless of their origin. It is not a pejorative term. It is also used (jokingly) as a nickname for people who are dark skinned. Another word for gringo is Polaco (Polish).

Meaning

Mexico, Central America, and northern South America: In these countries the word normally means specifically a U.S. citizen, regardless of language spoken or ethnic origin. Its use is sometimes derogatory. However, in Mexico the term "gabacho" is much more commonly used than "gringo" when referring to such a person. This should not be confused with gachupín, which is used only for people of Spanish origin, and makes reference to the Spanish colonists of the 15th century.

Southern South America: In these countries a gringo is a person from North America, and the term is less derogatory than in northern Latin America.

In Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, the word most often just means generally a foreigner (when used as a noun) or foreign (as an adjective); it may refer more specifically to the typical foreigner that visits the country as a tourist, being very light-skinned and/or speaking a foreign language. In Argentina, a country of large European immigration, all European immigrants other than Spaniards, particularly Italians, are colloquially called gringos. It is most often not pejorative and may even carry positive connotations, especially when used as an adjective. It is often used as an endearing nickname for any fair-skinned or fair-haired person of whatever origin.

The Anglosphere: "Hispanic" (i.e., variously Spanish-speaking) migrants to the USA occasionally use the term as a synonym of anglo. In the United States, the term can provoke reactions incommensurate with its largely innocuous Spanish-language sense. Unless it is used together with an expletive, the word is not considered either insulting or racist by native Spanish speakers.

Other uses

In the context of Mexican cuisine,a gringa is a flour tortilla taco of spiced pork (carne al pastor) with cheese (mostly manchego, chihuahua or oaxaca cheese). The combination is heated on the comal until piping hot and then served with a choice of salsa.The flour tortilla is white, with brown spots, similar as a white sking with freckles. In 1950's in Mexico, the 50 pesos bill was called "ojo de gringa" ("Gringa's eye") because it was blue.

Etymology

The Spanish etymologist Joan Corominas states that gringo is derived from griegoGriego at Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico, Vol. III, Joan Corominas, José A. Pascual, Editorial Gredos, Madrid, 1989, ISBN 84-249-1365-5 (Spanish for "Greek"), the proverbial name for an unintelligible language (a usage found also in the Shakespearean "it was Greek to me" and its derivative "It's all Greek to me"). From referring simply to language, it was extended to people speaking foreign tongues and to their physical features - similar to the development of the ancient Greek word βάρβαρος (barbaros) - "Barbarian".

Popular etymologies

A recurring fake etymology for the derivation of gringo states that it originated during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. It has been claimed that Gringo comes from "green coat" and was used in reference to the American soldiers and the green color of their uniforms. This is an example of an invented explanation, because gringo was used in Spanish long before the war and during the Mexican-American War; what is more the U.S. Army did not use green uniforms, but blue ones .

Yet another story, from Mexico, holds that Mexicans with knowledge of the English language used to write "greens go home" on street walls referring to the color of the uniforms of the invading army; subsequently, it became a common habitual action for the rest of the population to yell "green go" whenever U.S. soldiers passed by.

Another legend maintains that one of two songs – either "Green Grow the Lilacs" or "Green Grow the Rushes, O" – was popular at the time and that Mexicans heard the invading U.S. troops singing "Green grow..." and contracted this into gringo.

Another version, heard in Brazil, refers to the United States Air Force base near Natal, Brazil during World War II. The American soldiers, wearing green uniforms, would be commanded "green, go!" by their sergeants during training.

The story of "Green Coat" can also be heard in most other Latin American countries, with numerous variations. Some stories have the term originating as recently as the Vietnam war. Other stories attribute the term to other conflicts, all of which occurred too late in history to account for the earliest usages of the word.

Yet another version, also heard in Brazil, claims that when the British were building the railroads in Brazil in the beginning of the century, they would instruct the locals on how semaphores worked: Red, Stop. Green, Go. The British were thereafter known as "gringo".

In the Dominican Republic it is said that the term was a mispronunciation of the words green gold, referring to the green color of USA currency. This theory has yet to be proven.

Quotation

"To be a Gringo in Mexico – ah, that is euthanasia!" — Ambrose Bierce

References

Ethnic slurs | Mexican Spanish | Mexican-American history | Spanish terms