Hola Gringo...
Gringo : recorded evidence suggests that this word was used in Spain long before it crossed the Atlantic to denote the foreign, the non-native speakers of Spanish. Although it has various anecdotal etymologies, and various connotative or interpretive meanings, its source appears to be "griego", the Spanish word for "a Greek person" that serves as a colloquial shorthand for any foreign (non-Spanish) person… haha, that’s funny !
Gringo is a Spanish word used in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, generally to denote people from the United States. The term can be applied to any person who is known, or assumed to be from the United States regardless of race, or it can denote a strong association or assimilation into American society and culture. The term in its functional use is mostly encountered by Americans traveling abroad to Spanish speaking countries. The American Heritage Dictionary classifies gringo as "offensive slang," "usually disparaging," and "often disparaging." Hispanophones disagree on whether the term is derogatory.
The term is almost exclusively reserved for Americans; technically Canadians are not "gringos" though they are usually assumed to be from the United States regardless. What groups are more likely to be considered, or called "gringo" depends on the country where it is used. In Mexico, white and black people may be more readily thought to be Americans while Hispanic Americans may blend in. In Argentina, with its large Caucasian population, a white American may blend in while a black American may stand out as a "gringo". The opposite may be true in Caribbean or Central American countries.
Hola Gringo...
Gringo : recorded evidence suggests that this word was used in Spain long before it crossed the Atlantic to denote the foreign, the non-native speakers of Spanish. Although it has various anecdotal etymologies, and various connotative or interpretive meanings, its source appears to be "griego", the Spanish word for "a Greek person" that serves as a colloquial shorthand for any foreign (non-Spanish) person… haha, that’s funny !
Gringo is a Spanish word used in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, generally to denote people from the United States. The term can be applied to any person who is known, or assumed to be from the United States regardless of race, or it can denote a strong association or assimilation into American society and culture. The term in its functional use is mostly encountered by Americans traveling abroad to Spanish speaking countries. The American Heritage Dictionary classifies gringo as "offensive slang," "usually disparaging," and "often disparaging." Hispanophones disagree on whether the term is derogatory.
The term is almost exclusively reserved for Americans; technically Canadians are not "gringos" though they are usually assumed to be from the United States regardless. What groups are more likely to be considered, or called "gringo" depends on the country where it is used. In Mexico, white and black people may be more readily thought to be Americans while Hispanic Americans may blend in. In Argentina, with its large Caucasian population, a white American may blend in while a black American may stand out as a "gringo". The opposite may be true in Caribbean or Central American countries.