Gringo

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Gringo (feminine, gringa) is a term in the Spanish and Portuguese languages used in some countries of Latin America to refer to foreigners from different cultures especially from the United States, but also from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere, including in some cases other countries of Latin America itself.^[1]

Some controversy exists regarding whether gringo is a derogatory term. The American Heritage Dictionary classifies the term as offensive slang.^[2] The term gringo does lend itself to derogatory, paternalistic or endearing connotations sometimes, depending on the context and the intent of the user. The enunciation of the word can often give away whether it was meant in a derogatory manner or not. However, many native speakers who use it do not do so pejoratively. There is also some variation in the connotation of this word from country to country within Latin America. In some regions of Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and nearby areas, gringo is used nonpejoratively to refer to any European immigrant other than one from Spain or Portugal.

Contents 1 Meaning 2 Etymology 2.1 False etymologies 3 Other uses 3.1 Gringolandia 4 Quotations 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Meaning

• Mexico, Central America, South America, Caribbean: In these areas the word may mean specifically a U.S. citizen, though it is also used in referring to Europeans (not often). 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. In Central America, the word is not pejorative, it is just used to refer to a person from North America; though sometimes is used by expatriates to refer to themselves. In the Caribbean (especially Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) the term refers to U.S. citizens. In the Dominican Republic it also means a non-free range store bought chicken (Pollo Gringo).^[3]
• 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.
• In Peru the word "gringo" is generally often used in the countryside ("sierra") against all Europeans and North Americans of white skin. In Lima, "gringo" is also used to refer to white people, not only to U.S citizens. It is not pejorative.
• The Anglosphere: Hispanic migrants to the USA occasionally use the term as a more derogatory synonym of anglo.

[edit] Etymology

The Spanish etymologist Joan Corominas states that gringo is derived from griego^[4] (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 (bárbaros) - "Barbarian".

[edit] False etymologies

A recurring false 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. 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. This is an example of an invented explanation, because gringo was used in Spanish long before the war and during the Mexican-American War. Additionally, the U.S. Army did not use green uniforms at the time, but blue ones. ^[5]

The "green go" etymology can also be heard in Panama, where it is said that during the time when the U.S. Army occupied the Canal Zone, people would chant it alongside "yankee go home!" when partaking in street protests.

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 Army 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 previous century, they would instruct the locals on how traffic lights 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, as well as the corruption of the exclamation: "green go!", said to have voiced local opposition within the volatile context of both U.S. military interventions to the Island.

[edit] 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 to white skin with freckles.

In the 1950s in Mexico, the 50 Mexican pesos bill was called ojo de gringa ("gringa's eye") because it was blue.^[6]

[edit] Gringolandia

The word Gringolandia is often used as a replacement word for United States of America. It comes from a tongue-in-cheek play of words between 'gringo' and 'Disneyland', or Disneylandia, in Spanish. It refers to the United States, with connotations that it is also a fake and make-believe world like Disneyland.^{[citation needed]}

A possible motive for resorting to the word is that The United States of America lacks a true, one-word name, such as France, Japan. or Russia. The make-up word Gringolandia would hence serve that purpose, albeit in an humorous fashion.

[edit] Quotations

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

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Alternative words for American
• Use of the word American
• Anglo
• Gweilo
• Farang

[edit] External links

• "Origin of the word gringo", J.H. Coffman, letter to the editor, Honduras This Week, Saturday, January 11, 1997 Online Edition 37.