Gringo

For other uses, see Gringo (disambiguation).

Gringo (/ˈɡriːnɡoʊ/, Spanish: [ˈɡɾiŋɡo], Portuguese: [ˈɡɾĩɡu]) (masculine) or gringa (feminine) is a term in Spanish and Portuguese for a foreigner. In Spanish, the term usually refers to English-speaking Anglo-Americans. There are differences in meaning depending on region and country. In Latin America, it is generally used to refer to non-Latin Americans. The term is often considered a pejorative,[1] but is not always used to insult,[2][3][4] and in the United States its usage and offensiveness is disputed.[5]

The word derives from the term used by the Spanish for a Greek person: griego.[6][7] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first recorded use in English comes from John Woodhouse Audubon's Western Journal of 1849–1850,[8][9] in which Audubon reports that his party was hooted and shouted at and called "Gringoes" while passing through the town of Cerro Gordo, Veracruz.[10]

  1. ^ English dictionaries:
    • "gringo". Cambridge Dictionaries Online. Cambridge University. Retrieved 17 November 2021. used in Latin American countries to refer to people from the US or other English-speaking countries Note: This word is usually considered offensive.
    • "gringo". definition of gringo. The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 17 November 2021. Often Offensive: (in Latin America or Spain) A foreigner in Latin America, especially an American or English person.
    • "gringo". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 17 November 2021. often disparaging: a foreigner in Spain or Latin America especially when of English or American origin;
    • "Gringo". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021. Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive: a term used in Latin America or Spain to refer to a foreigner, especially one of U.S. or British descent (often used facetiously).
    Spanish dictionaries:
    • "gringo, ga". SM Diccionarios. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2021. desp.: Persona nacida en los Estados Unidos de América (país americano)
    • "gringo - Definición - WordReference.com". www.wordreference.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2018. Persona nacida en Estados Unidos, en especial la de habla inglesa.
    Portuguese dictionaries:
    • "gringo, ga". Dicio. Retrieved 17 November 2021. Pessoa que não nasceu no Brasil; estrangeiro
  2. ^ Llorente, Analía (2020). ""Gringo", "yanqui", "yuma" y "gabacho": por qué los estadounidenses tienen tantos apodos y de dónde viene cada uno". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  3. ^ Carl Franz; Lorena Havens (2012). The People's Guide to Mexico. Avalon Publishing. p. 494. ISBN 9781612380490.
  4. ^ Ramirez, Aida (2013). "Who, Exactly, Is A Gringo?". NPR. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ^ Shepard, Alicia C. (2011-01-24). "Is The Word "Gringo" Offensive Or Just Distracting?". NPR. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference snopes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Gringo: origen y significado de la palabra". MILENIO (in Mexican Spanish). 7 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  8. ^ Audubon, John Woodhouse; Audubon, Maria Rebecca; Hodder, Frank Heywood (20 September 2017). "Audubon's western journal, 1849-1850; being the ms. record of a trip from New York to Texas, and an overland journey through Mexico and Arizona to the gold fields of California". Cleveland, A. H. Clark. Retrieved 20 September 2017 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ "Gringo"[permanent dead link‍] From the Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  10. ^ Audubon, John W. (1906). Audubon's Western Journal 1849–1850, p. 100. Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Company.