Is "Gringo" an offensive or derogatory word?

4X4Dodger wrote:

bigcitypopo wrote:
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

Words are important and so is how we use them. Words carry weight, meaning and can hurt.

That is why there are a number of words that used to be common in our language here in the US that are no longer socially acceptable. I am sure I dont need to write the list.

I for one am offended anytime I hear the derogatory slang words for Gays or people of color or any racial or ethnic slur. And I dont believe I am alone in this even though I am not included in the group being defamed.

A little sensitivity doesnt hurt. And yes my friends from Guatemala and Bolivia and Columbia tell me that the word Gringo, as used among themselves is a derogatory term.

let me rephrase... Offense is generally left for something so appalling that it requires emotional response. If people learned to communicate and not sling slurs at one another, we'd only be offended... Rarely. I'm very sensitive... But I voice when things aren't appropiate and set it straight right from the get go. I don't let things get out of hand.

Btw- I'm white/ Mexican mixed... I've been called every name in the book, "wedo, gringo, negro... I'm dark skinned when tanned" not effected here... Even when it was meant to be rude...

I am not sure where the word originated. I have heard many stories but none referring to Spain.
I spoke only Spanish until 5 years of age. And today even being Californized I still have a pretty good handle on my Spanish. Having family and friends in Mexico and even living there for a while I have never felt the word was derogatory only a description of an American and or Candadian. Now if a derogatory adjective is added then it becomes derogatory. "pinchi" or "fu&@*ng for instances can apply to many words.
Gringo is not only used in Mexico it is used here in Cali by Mexicans.

navegator wrote:
Stnbnv you are correct, I have been repeating the song in my head over and over and Green grow the rushes fits right in, to a non English speaker it sounds like gringo.

That fits the various stories that I have heard over the years, Thank's.

navegator

X2
"Green Grow the Rushes"- Mexicans probably picked up the first syllables of the song, sung by homesick soldiers and began referring to them as "Greengos". I've heard/read that too.

Any of the Mexicans that we befriended over the years did not refer to Canadians as gringos but as Canadienses. I don't think its an offensive word any more than calling a Costa Riquensa a "Tico"

I hope it is not derogatory. It is one of only two Spanish words I know:

estúpido gringo.

Got called this a lot.

It was intended to be and is an offense. Whether you're personally offended by words or labels is a personal choice.

I guess I didn't get the gene to make me wander around all my life waiting to be offended. Call me anything you want, any time, any where and I'll just laugh at you.

Think of it as how some of we southerners think of the term Yankees. When used to refer to the New York baseball team we will tend to cheer. When used to refer the tourists who visit our lovely part of the country, again all things are good. Those that call themselves Yankees and don't know when it is time to return home, then the term may have a few expletives inserted before it. ??

Like use of the Argentinian word 'boludo"; It means many rude things, the most polite being "stupid". However, "Che, boludo" is often said as a greeting to a buddy. Said to a taxixta who cut you off it would likely result in a fight.

Not meaning to disagree but Gringo is not just a word or term used in Mexico and all my research over the years indicates it did not originate in Mexico. There is history of the term or variations of the term going back hundreds of years in Spain. They may not use it today but it was used long ago. Many other Spanish speaking countries besides Mexico use the term. In Puerto Rico they have a very different way of explaining the origin than those in Mexico have.

Anyone is free to call themselves "Americans" if they live in this hemisphere. North, South, and Central America as well as the Caribbean Islands have been known as "The Americas" since Columbus. All in this hemisphere are "Americans". Citizens of the US are the only ones not having any other name. But Mexicans and Canadians and all the other countries are also still all "Americans".