Is "Gringo" an offensive or derogatory word?

It's just like "Redneck" here in the U.S. To some, it's a term of endearment. To others, it's an insult. I personally am not offended by either.

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

It's not the word, only the context in which it is used. Any word will do to start a fight.

As above - it all depends on how it is used by whoever is using the term. We lived in Puerto Rico for 8 years and we all called ourselves Gringos. But some Puerto Ricans use it as a derogatory term just as some Mexicans do. I did a lot of online research back then to track down the origin of the term. Also as above my research led me to conclude it originated in Spain - and also that it was used to refer to anyone not born in Spain or anyone whose native language was not Spanish. Nowadays the term can also be used (as above) to mean US citizens - and probably Canadians. In this hemisphere we are all "Americans" - even those in the Caribbean Islands think of themselves as "Americans" - but many US citizens seem to think the term refers exclusively to them. People from anywhere in North America, Central America, South America are all "Americans". So the term "Gringo" has come to mean US citizens because there doesn't seem to be another term to differentiate them from all the other "Americans". We need to find a better name for ourselves.

cbshoestring wrote:
"However, the word gringo originated in Spain long before there was a Spanish-speaking Mexico and at one time, the word in Spain was often used to refer specifically to the Irish"--Wikipedia.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

We are currently staying just north of San Patricio in Mexico. It's quite the celebration here with lot's of fireworks and festivities for the week before St. Patrick's Day. Irish soldiers fought against the US in Mexico during the war 1846-48. Many were US soldiers (Irish immigrants) that were conscripted into the US Army, were very poorly treated, and defected. Some were given property in Mexico as a reward after the war, but many were hanged. It's an interesting bit of history, and probably helps account for blue-eyed Mexicans.

There's a current discussion on some message boards here in Mexico about the term "Gringo". US citizens seem to accept the term, while Canadians are not as embracing of it. We use it to describe ourselves, but our Mexican friends do not use the term.

i think if you are offended by a "word" than there is a lot more in your life that you are unable to deal with....

just my hay-penny

I grew up in Mexico as that "gringo" and it was never said as a derogatory word, but as a term of my heritage. IMO, it runs with the word Tejano, which is how I identify myself.

Just like RED NECK, in so part (South)you just don't use it. JMO

I've been called lots of things in my life, but doesn't bother me.

Growing up, I heard that word many times. But, I've never heard it used in such a way that it would lead one to think about it as an insult. I also heard the word "americano" used in the same way, which was to, more or less, describe a anglo person.
However, the same is not true of a certain term, which I also heard sometimes. This term, "pinchi gringo" is offensive, without a doubt.