Is "Gringo" a derogatory term? If a Spanish person called you "Gringo", how would you feel/react?
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Oor Galooly -
ANSWERS: 5
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Contrary to popular belief, it appears that "Gringo" did not originate in Mexico and citizens of the US were not the original recipients of the name. The Irish or the Greeks (depending on who one asks) were the first Gringos and they were called so by the Spanish long, long before Mexico was colonized. Any modern citizen of the US who is called a Gringo can smirk knowingly because it ain't them. (http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/gringo.asp)
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Gringo is spanish for thief..and I have been called much worse before..so I wouldn't really care:)
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As far as I have been told here in Latin America, the term "gringo", which is used quite frequently, was first used against the US soldiers when they were fighting the Mexicans. It came from "Green Go" but pronounced in Spanish. It is not derogatory it is only an expression. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo Regards.
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I would tell him' "OK spick dick, perhaps you didn't know this but *Gabacho* is the preferred term for white guys you hate."
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In 10 years of living in Spain I have never heard a Spanish person use the word 'gringo'. They are far more likely to use the word 'guiri', which just means foreigner, although the tone in which it is sometimes used makes it a bit like the Cornish 'Grockle'.
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