Is "Gringo" an offensive or derogatory word?
My Mexican non-English speaking cousin-in-law asked me if I thought that "Gringo" was an offensive term. My response was "no". My reasoning is that "Gringo" is a slang term for non-Mexican North A...
Forum Discussion
The word originated in Mexico during the Mexican American war, the soldiers of the U.S. army wore green uniforms and some of the Mexicans that new a little English started saying GREEN GO home, latter they shortened it to only gringo.
Trying to say "Estadounidense vete a tu casa" is a little long
Green go home is shorter the word stuck, gringo is only used for the "Americans",
Canadians are Canadienses, although any white persons will be called gringo until they speak and then you know if it is English or some other European language.
You have to remember that from Alaska and Canada to Tirra del Fuego in Argintina and Chile everyone born in between is an AMERICAN.
The real name of Mexico is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, United States of Mexico, the name of the country between Canada and Mexico is UNITED STATES of AMERICA, all persons born on the American Continent are AMERICANS, it would be one heck of a tong twister to say Estadounidense every time someone ask you where you come from, it is easier to say GRINGO.
The word gringo can be derogatory only in the way that it is expressed by the person using it, either affectionately or with contempt and anger.
It is up to the person receiving the comment to take it kindly or offensive.
This word did not originate in Spain at all, I have lived in Spain and they use the word Norte Americano not gringo.
navegator
Trying to say "Estadounidense vete a tu casa" is a little long
Green go home is shorter the word stuck, gringo is only used for the "Americans",
Canadians are Canadienses, although any white persons will be called gringo until they speak and then you know if it is English or some other European language.
You have to remember that from Alaska and Canada to Tirra del Fuego in Argintina and Chile everyone born in between is an AMERICAN.
The real name of Mexico is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, United States of Mexico, the name of the country between Canada and Mexico is UNITED STATES of AMERICA, all persons born on the American Continent are AMERICANS, it would be one heck of a tong twister to say Estadounidense every time someone ask you where you come from, it is easier to say GRINGO.
The word gringo can be derogatory only in the way that it is expressed by the person using it, either affectionately or with contempt and anger.
It is up to the person receiving the comment to take it kindly or offensive.
This word did not originate in Spain at all, I have lived in Spain and they use the word Norte Americano not gringo.
navegator
