Meaning of gringo

[Van2004]

And ...what is the exact meaning of a Gringo? sorry guys im just curious....and i am trying to prove something to a person who's never been lol

[AnnaC]

here's one thread about it. I was looking for a more indeepth thread but can't find it.

http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php...ghlight=gringo

[samanasuenos]

Lesley D will undoubtedly know better than I.

That said, here is what I have heard.

Some of the first foreign visitors to the Iberian peninsula were seen to be "Greeks" and refered to as "griegos" which morphed over time to sound like "gringo".

Others say it was coined by folks wanting the US forces OUT of their countries, "Greens Go".

Either way, it usually is used by Spanish speakers to refer to pale foreigners.

Sometimes it is nice, sometimes it is an insult.

Here is a link to a good article.

Enjoy the controversy..............Sam

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Van2004

And ...what is the exact meaning of a Gringo? sorry guys im just curious....and i am trying to prove something to a person who's never been lol

What? A person who has never been a gringo?

[Victor Laszlo]

...again

This is the can of worms I was referring to in the thread Anna listed above:

I'm offended by the term Gringo


Bring some snacks...

[mofi]

When I hear ginga/gringo I take it as an issult.
( I don't usually get called this)
What I do get called that I don't find as insulting is another word that starts with a G- it kind of sounds like guerra(which means war) but isn't spelt the same....and I forget how to spell it. If anyone wants to spell it properly feel free. It means pale skin, light hair, blue/green eyes.


Also wanted to add, when I was working in the hotel, when locals used the word gring/gringa they usually were talking trash about the person, and more often then not the person was american, but it has been used for anyone with light skin. Hence why I find it insulting.

[Gringo]

I have lived here in Puerto Plata 16 years and heard the word Gringo/Gringa many times but never in a bad or disrespectfull way. I'm not saying it never happens however I have never been a party to the term.

[jrzyguy]

last year someone called me "gringo shamu" when i was swimming...made me lose wait before i travelled again :-)

Even tho i am half mex...i still get called gringo cuz of my white skin. Very rarely do i find it as a true insult tho. I usualy rattle back some quick retort in spanish and their mouths drop...and all is ok.

but i THINK it originates from mexico and the spanish american war

[easygoin]

I think the term implied, on a negative basis is mostly due.... because of lack of education from the individual and uses it in a derogatory manner.


Uneducated in the US will say something like.... gringo greenside up.

But yet in Brazil it is not mentioned to be derogatory at all..... just that you are and not from Brazil. No harm done, nor should you take it that way.

[jrzyguy]

Originally Posted by easygoin

I think the term implied, on a negative basis is mostly due.... because of lack of education from the individual and uses it in a derogatory manner.


Uneducated in the US will say something like.... gringo greenside up.

But yet in Brazil it is not mentioned to be derogatory at all..... just that you are and not from Brazil. No harm done, nor should you take it that way.

that is EXACTLY how i have interpreted it to mean. Just another word for tourist. even when that guy called me "gringo shamu"...it was sort of a joke...we ended up...oh never mind :-)

Do white dominicans (i am talking red hair w/freckles...yes i have met some)..do they every get mistaken for tourists and called gringo?