Showing results for "gringo"

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Slang dictionary results for gringo.

gringo

American  

[gring-goh] / ˈgrɪŋ goʊ /

noun

Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.

• gringos
  plural

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).

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gringo British  

/ ˈɡrɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

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

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gringo Cultural  

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

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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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gringos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of gringo

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. Cf. Greek

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gringo gringos

When Maduro learned that a gringo was engaging with his energy minister, he called Sargeant into the Miraflores presidential palace.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026

An old-school nationalist, he saw the D.E.A. as a symbol of gringo arrogance.

From New York Times ● Dec. 8, 2022

But Garcia agreed to let me come by so she could take a look at the gringo with this crazy idea to study Spanish at a hair salon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2019

A stuntman, Roy N. Sickner, imagined a story about gringo outlaws robbing a train in the United States and escaping to Mexico, its climax a massive shootout.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 13, 2019

Three days later Mr. Brown, a tiny gringo, arrived at the train station clutching a mysterious suitcase; Esteban introduced him as an agricultural technician specializing in insecticides.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

“Los gringos were not going to confide in the Mexican government for an operation that was so delicate, historic and sensitive,” columnist Carlos Marín wrote in Mexico’s Milenio newspaper.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2024

As much of Europe and Asia shut their doors to Americans in 2020, Mexico, which adopted few COVID-19 restrictions, was one of the few places where gringos were welcome.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 21, 2022

Whenever my family in Chile wants to show gringos how prosperous Chile is, how close to “first-world” status, there is one thing they always point to: its malls.

From Slate ● Dec. 7, 2021

In Mexico, the inside joke is to tell gringos that the “mole” sauce on their chicken is made from chocolate and not the real ingredient, blended Mexican mole lizards.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 16, 2018

I’d notice, moreover, that my parents’ voices were softer than those of gringos we’d meet.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

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