gringo

[gring-goh]

noun

Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.

plural

gringos 

1. a term used in Latin America or Spain to refer to a foreigner, especially one of U.S. or British descent (often used facetiously).

gringo

/ ˈɡrɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a person from an English-speaking country: used as a derogatory term by Latin Americans

gringo

1. In Latin America, a foreigner, especially a North American or Englishman; usually a term of contempt.

Sensitive Note

Use of this term implies that the foreigner is an outsider who does not understand or respect Hispanic culture or does not treat Hispanics well. However, gringo is often used consciously for humorous effect, without intent to offend.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gringo¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Spanish: literally, “foreign language, foreigner, especially an English-speaking one who speaks Spanish poorly”; often pejorative; probably alteration of griego “Greek, incomprehensible language”; compare English “It's Greek to me,” first recorded in English in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (1599). The English and Spanish come from the Latin Graecum est; non legitur, “It's Greek; it isn't read” (either because the Greek was incomprehensible or because it was possibly heretical), supposedly dating from medieval monastic scriptoria. The belief that this word is from the song “Green Grow the Lilacs,” popular during the U.S.-Mexican War, is without substance. Greek

Word History and Origins

Origin of gringo¹

C19: from Spanish: foreigner, probably from griego Greek, hence an alien

Example Sentences

Petro's policies were "pandering to the gringos, who are thirsty for the blood of Colombian children," Mordisco said, referring to Americans.

Read more on Barron's

Enemies of Western values in the region that used to rely on Soviet largess now fund themselves by selling drugs to gringos and Europeans, practicing extortion and trafficking weapons.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The only good thing about the Dodgers is that they aren’t winning with a gringo,” said Mary, who actually doesn’t care much about baseball because she finds it boring.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We’re this country’s perpetual scapegoats and eternal invaders, with harming gringos — whether by stealing their jobs, moving into their neighborhoods, marrying their daughters or smuggling drugs — supposedly the only thing on our mind.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“They need that blocking minority and they need to make sure that the gringos don’t see them as losers,” Lansberg-Rodriguez said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal