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Etymology: GRINGO

Gringo

This term for white, English-speaking Americans has an interesting story attached to its etymology. Unfortunately, like so many of the interesting stories recounted in these pages, this one is not true.

The story goes that the name originated during the 1846-48 Mexican-American War. Supposedly, Yankee soldiers were fond of singing a song, based on a Robert Burns poem, which was popular at the time, the refrain of which went "Green grow the rushes, O." (Alternative versions of the tale give it as "Green grow the lilacs.") The Mexicans, probably as tired of hearing the song as you are of the latest Top-40 hit, began calling the Americans "green grows," which eventually became gringos.

The story does have some facts to recommend it, notably the timing of its entry into English. The earliest English-language cite of Gringo in the OED2 is from 1849 by John Woodhouse Audubon, the son of the artist. Also, the song in question was popular during the war years.

Partridge records a variant of the tale. In his version it was not Yankees, but rather that it was Irish volunteers in Bolivar's army that were fond of singing the song. While this would take the origin of the term back a few decades, it is not far enough back.

While the earliest English-language usage is from the 1840s, the earliest use of gringo in Spanish is far older than the Mexican-American War or Bolivar's 1819 liberation campaign. According to Rawson, it appears in the Diccionario Castellano in 1787. That dictionary says that it was used in Malaga to refer to anyone who spoke Spanish badly, and in Madrid in reference to the Irish. Gringo probably comes from the Spanish griego, or Greek. So it is akin to the phrase it's Greek to me (or in Spanish hablar en griego) and the word barbarian.

Given its 1849 English debut, it seems likely that it was in fact brought back by US soldiers, but had nothing to do with any songs.

By love2colombia on Dec 20, 2005, 00:30 in Friendly Talkzone.

la recta final.... says on Dec 21, 2005, 05:58:

GREEN GO! i heard that the term "gringo" comes from "Green go!".
i was told a few years back in Nicaragua by a post-Sandanista guerillero in a short story, my spanish wasn´t great at the time, but from what i could understand was that it was during some sort of invasion (nowadays "liberation") that involved foriegn soldiers in green uniforms, and that the indeginous people would shout "Green go!" hence gringo.
has anyone else heard of this???

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fugdis says on Dec 23, 2005, 15:39:

grin its definately a name for americans.you say something bad about the U.S.A to an american and watch his happy grin go.

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 23, 2005, 20:07:

Question for gringos But I have a question. Do you guys fell that the term is derogatory? Or has it become in any way derogatory? I know some gringos who don't like it, but to be honest, when I use the term I never ever mean it to be derogatory, its just like a nickname. But with all the craziness about being PC I always wonder. ( Not that I'm interested n being PC really.. it's too boring):):)

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ElPadrino1 says on Dec 23, 2005, 20:53:

I wouldn't take it as an insult anymore then a Latin Person would if they were referred to as a Spic or Mojado. If they would not object to being tagged with a Nic like this, then by all means use the Gringo term. If not, refer to the person as Northamerican. Many take insult at this term and definetely an Educated person would not find this term in their vocabulary.

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utopiacowboy says on Dec 23, 2005, 21:08:

Here is the problem with the word "gringo". It may be meant harmlessly when a Colombian says it but this is not its only use. Mexicans use it and when they use it they use it as an epithet. No Mexican would call a Northamerican a gringo without malice. It just is not used that way. Sometimes I jokingly use the term to describe myself and any Mexicans present visibly cringe when I say it.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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ElPadrino1 says on Dec 23, 2005, 22:13:

The Term Gringo is found someone's Vocabulary who is UNEDUCATED and Racist. In Mexico, Panama, Colombia I have never heard an educated person refer to a Northamerican as a Gringo or at least not in their presence. No more then someone(w/education) in the USA would refer to a Black as a N*GGER or some Latin as a Spic. This type of lingo demonstrates a lack of Education and Class but we all know our cultural shortcomings.

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 23, 2005, 23:08:

I grew up hearing the term referring to Americans and never as an insult. It doesn't have the same context of Nigger and its historical weight. I had never heard the term spic or mojado, but it sure doesn't sound friendly. Nonetheless I was asking the question because it seems to me that the spanish origin of the word is very appropiate and not at all derogatory...

I get what you say UC. There is very weird relationship between Americans and Mexicans and they might mean it differently.

As for the generalizations El padrino makes... they are offensive and demonstrate a narrow mind, as generalizations always do. A simple answer like: Yes the term gringo is not PC would have been enough.
Thank god I dont live in the States!!!!

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 23, 2005, 23:10:

Thank god I dont live in the States and I can say Gringo whenever I want. (Plus my goverment is not wire tapping my phones)

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Dec 24, 2005, 03:26:

ElPadrino you're mistaken, badly. The term "gringo" is a broad generalization for almost all foreigners in Colombia, used widely by all social classes and educational levels, but it is slang. The correct word for you is "estadounidense" in Spanish. Gringo is NOT derogatory unless it is used in a derogatory context, preferably preceded by the demonstrative "este" like in "este gringo". "Este/esta/esto used as a qualifier before a noun indicating a person makes almost any term referring to a person derogatory.

"Gringo" is vernacular for "estadounidense" and is used in all circles in Colombia but especially it's preferred by people like myself that acknowledge the right of any South and Central American to the gentilicio "americano". It's a political statement. No offense is intended by it. To compare it with "spik" or "mojado" is ludicrous.

I'm often called "gringa" in Colombia and take no offense. I'd never, ever call a latino immigrant spik or mojado or whatever racist and derogatory expressions are used by ignorant and narrow-minded people.

"Independencia" grita
El mundo americano:
Se baña en sangre de héroes
La tierra de Colón.
Pero este gran principio: "el rey no es soberano"
Resuena, Y los que sufren
Bendicen su pasión."

The second verse in the Colombian National Anthem sets a precedent to this concept of the Americas being one: The American World". Obviously the meaning is not limited only to the United States of America.

Merry Christmas to all americanos, north, south and central.
Merry Christmas to all!

Cheers,
Desi

http://rr.mediaibox.com.br/asx/cadenabasica.asx

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Gator says on Dec 24, 2005, 05:55:

Once Again... Desi peels away the curtain of darkness with her rapier-like pen.

"(Thank god I dont live in the States!!!!)"
I'm sure most people who live in the States are thankful also.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 24, 2005, 07:55:

Not only in Colombia dude
In the whole of latin america and its no only used for americans but for every foreigner who doesnt speak spanish. Sorry If you ghavent been anywhere else in latin america dude
your loss

As for desi you are right I agree 100%.

Gator... fortunately I can travel there whenever I want.. dont have to beg for permission or find a gringo to get married to.Its My choice not to live there. Not the americans choice. But I can go whenever and criticize as much as I want.
same as you guys do with colombia

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ElPadrino1 says on Dec 24, 2005, 10:15:

as I posted, we all know our Cultural and Educational Shortcomings,so don't be offended when someone refers to your nationality in an unflattering manner. Like I posted, if you, as latin, aren't offended when someone refers to someone(or yourself) in your Nationality as a "Spic", "wetback" or "Mujado" by all means use the terminology, just don't take offense when this word pops up in reference to you . Personally its not in my Vocabualry nor is it in the Vocabulary of latins I associate with. "Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres" To say all Northamericans are not insulted being tagged Gringo is making a Generalization, whether in Mexico, Colombia or China. Many feel insulted as many Colombians would feel insulted(and rightly so) if they were referred to as a "Spic" I guess the message is , never assume you know what the other person feels as you may be mistaken. In my Nationality, Italian, we would feel very offended if someone referred to us as a "Wap" and many Italians on the street would have the fists up in your face and I consider Gringo having the same cononotation as Wap but then I never assume I know how someone else feels when as far as how they should be referred to. Nice to hear others opinions on this subject and I while I may not agree with you on ths, I respect your opinions(we are all entitled to one) *******L. Rojas-How do you know I live in the USA?***** I never posted where I live? See there you go generalizing and assuming and you very well may be wrong.....You know what they say about the word assume...Ass/U/Me.... Feliz Navidad

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utopiacowboy says on Dec 24, 2005, 11:51:

When a Colombian says it, I don't take it as an insult at all. It's like calling "Gordo" gordo, hell I don't even know what his real name is any more. OTOH, when a Mexican says it, it is definitely an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Gator says on Dec 24, 2005, 12:06:

How do you know?? "(Plus my goverment is not wire tapping my phones)"

¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿"Gator... fortunately I can travel there whenever I want.. dont have to beg for permission or find a gringo to get married to.Its My choice not to live there. Not the americans choice. But I can go whenever and criticize as much as I want."????????

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 25, 2005, 00:48:

THIS FORUM HAS BECOME DISGUSTING. FIRST THAT IDIOT MARIO ATTACKS ME THROUGH PMS FOR SOMETHING I SAID MONTHS AGO ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THEN HE GETS ANGRY BECAUSE I ANSWER BACK. MARIO THIS CONVERSATION WASNT WITH YOU.SAPO

AND THEN WHEN I ASK AN INNOCENT QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THE TERM GRINGO IS DEROGATORY, GATOR INSULTS ME, CALLS ME SPIC OR WHATEVER, AND INSULTS MY EDUCATION. ASSUMPTIONS?? YES BUT THEN HIS DEFENSE IS THAT I AM MAKING ASSUMPTIONS. WHAT AN IDIOT! AND IF YOU LIVE IN COLOMBIA YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE TERM GRINGO HERE IS NOT DEROGATORY UNLESS ITS ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER WORD, LIKE GRINGO HP. OH AND THE REFERENCE TO WIRE TAPS ( IF YOU DO WATCH ANY NEWS) HAS TO DO WITH THE CIVIL RIGHT VIOLATION DISSCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE STATES AT THE MOMENT. THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE ON THIS POST SHOWS THAT THE TERM GRINGO IS OLDER THAN THE STATES ITSELF, ON THE OTHER HAND THE TERMS SPIC AND MOJADO ARE JUST COMEBACKS YOU GUYS INVENTED WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT MEXICANS HATED YOU AND WHERE INSULTING YOU WITH IT. CALLING ME A SPIC BETWEEN THE LINES WAS AN ATTACK ON AN INNOCENT QUESTION. OH AND LASTLY, REWRITING MY MESSAGE DOESN'T TELL ME ANYTHING.

YOU ARE ALL PATRONIZING WHEN TALKING TO COLOMBIANS WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IGNORANT TRAITS THAT YOU HAVE. THAT WAY OF ALWAYS BEING PATRONIZING, ASSUMING YOU ARE ALWAYS IN THE RIGHT AND THE REST OF THE WORLD (SPECIALLY THE "UNDERDEVELOPED" PORTION)IS ALWAYS IN THE WRONG. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OF YOU DO IT UNCONSCIOUSLY, BUT IN GENERAL MOST OF YOU TEND TO DO IT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. THANK GOD IM GOING ON WONDERFUL HOLIDAY THIS WEEK AND I WILL BE TAKING A BREAK FROM THIS FORUM AND THE BITTERNESS AND NASTINESS IT HAS BEEN INITIATING. IT WAS FUN AT THE BEGINNING AND I WAS HAPPY TO HELP WITH INFORMATION ABOUT COLOMBIA AND JUST HAVING GENERAL FUN DISCUSSIONS. BUT BEING ATTACKED BY SOME GUY INSISTING THAT PIZZA DOESNT EXIST IN COLOMBIA IS JUST RIDICULOUS. THIS GUY ACTUALLY GOT OFFENDED BECAUSE ME, A COLOMBIAN, SAID THAT WE DO HAVE GOOD PIZZA AND THAT HE DIDNT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT COLOMBIA IF HE INSISTED THAT THERE WASNT ANY GOOD PIZZA HERE. WHAT A SENSITIVE ITALIAN FIORELLINO. OH AND HE INSULTED ME IN ITALIAN, TRYING TO SHOW HIS SUPERIORITY IN ITALIAN KNOWLEDGE, NOT EXPECTING ITALIAN TO BE ONE OF THE FIVE LANGUAGES I SPEAK PERFECTLY. PIZZA! ? WHAT A STUPID THING TO GET OFFENDED FOR. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME.

THERE ARE SOME REALLY COOL PEOPLE HERE AND I HAVE MET MANY IN PERSON AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT. BUT IT ONLY TAKES A FEW TO RUIN THE FUN. SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE HOLIDAY FROM PBH IS WHAT I WANT. TO MANY GOOD, NICE THINGS GOING ON IN REAL LIFE TO BE WASTING MY TIME WITH THIS NASTINESS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!! I WILL BE BACK WITH A TAN, NEW DRUMS, AND LOADS OF GOOD VIBES FOR THOSE WILLING TO RECEIVE THEM!!!!

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 25, 2005, 01:08:

OH, BTW, The fight with the italian fiorellino actually got pretty nasty on both sides, something I'm not proud of. But I had already forgotten it. It thought the civil thing was not to direct any post at him or talk to him anymore to avoid pushing his buttons and viceversa... but he is just nasty and completely intolerant and pushing my buttons, as his comment above shows. Lo cortes no quita lo valiente.

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ElPadrino1 says on Dec 25, 2005, 01:30:

Lucia Rojas----Please read what I wrote.. I said three words Spic, mujado, NiG*er were not in my Vocabulary, I cannot vouch for others. Now as far as the Term Gringo, I have attended many formal and Informal types of meetings in Colombia, Panama and with the people I associate with, never once was a Northamerican tagged with the nomer "Gringo". I was at New Years Eve Celebration earlier attended by Latins from 5 different countries and NOT once were the Northamericans tagged Gringo. So it really is a misnomer to say the term Gringo is used so freely because it isn't, at least in circle of my associates. All I have to say about it and again, I wish you Feliz Navidad and Prospero A~o Nuevo. Sincerely....

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Gator says on Dec 25, 2005, 08:00:

LIER, LIER PANTS ARE ON FIRER!!!!!!!! "Desi peels away the curtain of darkness with her rapier-like pen.

'(Thank god I dont live in the States!!!!)'
I'm sure most people who live in the States are thankful also."

"Once Again...
Desi peels away the curtain of darkness with her rapier-like pen.

"(Thank god I dont live in the States!!!!)"
I'm sure most people who live in the States are thankful also."

Reviewing your post

A. I do NOT even see the word "Spic" much less call you one.
B. Never said the term "gringo"is derogatory.
C. Made no reference to your education.
1. Have you considered professional help?
2. Put a rubber band around your head and snap out of it.
3. Yo creo que tú no tiennes raæon. Ten cuidado no metas la pata.

¡¡EL QUE RÍE ÚLTIMO RÍE MEJOR!!

Have you considered professional help?
GATOR INSULTS ME, CALLS ME SPIC OR WHATEVER, AND INSULTS MY EDUCATION. ASSUMPTIONS?? YES BUT THEN HIS DEFENSE IS THAT I AM MAKING ASSUMPTIONS. WHAT AN IDIOT! AND IF YOU LIVE IN COLOMBIA YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE TERM GRINGO HERE IS NOT DEROGATORY UNLESS ITS ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER WORD, LIKE GRINGO HP. OH AND THE REFERENCE TO WIRE TAPS ( IF YOU DO WATCH ANY NEWS) HAS TO DO WITH THE CIVIL RIGHT VIOLATION DISSCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE STATES AT THE MOMENT. THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE ON THIS POST SHOWS THAT THE TERM GRINGO IS OLDER THAN THE STATES ITSELF, ON THE OTHER HAND THE TERMS SPIC AND MOJADO ARE JUST COMEBACKS YOU GUYS INVENTED WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT MEXICANS HATED YOU AND WHERE INSULTING YOU WITH IT. CALLING ME A SPIC BETWEEN THE LINES WAS AN ATTACK ON AN INNOCENT QUESTION. OH AND LASTLY, REWRITING MY MESSAGE DOESN'T TELL ME ANYTHING.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 25, 2005, 08:37:

sorry Gator you are 100% right. It wasn't you who said anything about my education and all. We had just gotten home after X-mas, 5 in the morning and all tipsy. Came on to post a merry christmas message and found this.
Im sorry Gator... and dont worry i am very hapopy not to love in the states... I hope yopu dont come and live here either. / to answer what you said).. El padrino was the one who said it. Must be some kind of italian too.

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 25, 2005, 08:38:

sorry Gator you are 100% right. It wasn't you who said anything about my education and all. We had just gotten home after X-mas, 5 in the morning and all tipsy. Came on to post a merry christmas message and found this.
Im sorry Gator... and dont worry I am very hapopy not to live in the states... I hope you dont come and live here either. (to answer what you said).. El padrino was the one who said all thge stuff. Must be some kind of italian too.
"Lo cortes no quita lo valiente"

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 25, 2005, 08:42:

bye have a good new year people...I off to the airport. see you when we come back from paradise.

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 25, 2005, 08:47:

fiorellino dont you dare PM ever again either. and I didnt say: dont post on a public forum... I just said: SAPO. sorry the name calling makes you cry.

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 25, 2005, 08:56:

Sapo, salte aca.

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utopiacowboy says on Dec 25, 2005, 10:20:

If it's paradise why don't you stay the hell there? There is nothing like a bunch of ex-patriates babbling about what a paradise is the land they left. If I choose to live in Colombia, I would not spend all my time whining about Colombia's shortcomings and announcing what a paradise North America is. Seems slightly crazy to me.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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