Gringo
The slang term gringo ( feminine gringa ) refers to people of Central European origin who are in North or Central America . There is also a newspaper of the same name.
Original meaning
According to the “Breve Diccionario Etimológico de la Lengua Castellana” by the Romance linguist Joan Coromines , gringo is etymologically derived from the Spanish griego (“Greek”), as Greek used to be the proverbial example of an incomprehensible language (in English: “It's all Greek to me ", German equivalent:" That seems Spanish to me "). The word is first mentioned in 1787 in the “Diccionario Castellano”. Accordingly, in the 18th century the word was applied to speakers of foreign languages, especially English who did not speak plain Spanish. Later it was extended to people of white skin color - even to Spanish-speaking whites - and in some places it simply means "blonde".
There are other folk etymological interpretations and traditions that are not covered by real circumstances or science, according to which gringo, among other things, on the supposedly green soldier coats (English: "green coat") of the American soldiers in the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848 or on them Slogans concerning soldiers in Mexico, “Greens go home” or simply “Green go”, are going back. There are similar traditions from other Latin American countries, for example from Panama at the time of the occupation of the Panama Canal Zone and regarding the Battle of Alamo between Mexico and the USA in 1836. In Brazil it is sometimes traced back to British railway designers of the 19th century who took part in the Set up the signal, exclaim “Red Stop, Green Go”. However, the word gringo appeared before the Mexican-American War and before the railroad was built in Brazil. In addition, the US Army did not wear green uniforms before 1854; at the time they were mostly blue.
The dictionary of the Real Academia Española states that the origin of the word has not been clarified.
Today's importance in various areas
- Mexico , Central America , Venezuela , Colombia , Ecuador : In these countries, the word usually specifically designates a US citizen, regardless of language or ethnic origin, but mostly white. The term is generally neutral, but can also be used derogatory.
- Brazil : Here the word stayed closer to its original meaning and stands for a foreigner who speaks a language incomprehensible to the local population. As a foreigner, the expression estrangeiro is usually used in Brazil , gringo is often derogatory, although it usually depends on who says it to whom.
- Argentina : Here the word refers to immigrants in general - especially those from Italy , but not from Spain.
- Spain and other Latin America (not listed above) : In most of these countries, gringo refers to a white person who speaks a non-Romance language. However, today many people from these areas, influenced by its Mexican importance, use it for citizens of the United States. Usually it shouldn't be seen as derogatory. In Spain, however, the term guiri is used today for Central and Northern Europeans .
- English speaking area: Hispanic migrants use the word in the USA as a synonym for Anglo , that is to say to express a relationship with England .
Other meanings
In Mexican cuisine, a gringa refers to a mixture of spiced pork ( carne al pastor ), cheese and pineapple cut into cubes, which is served between two wheat tortillas . The combination is heated and eaten with different sauces.