It can be, but its also just used to refer any individual who is American. Maybe you can feel offended by being labeled based on your nationality, but Mexicans like to use descriptors like that as nicknames for people. We have guero for white skined, moreno for dark skinned, flaquito(a) for skinny person, gordito(a) for a fat person. Take the last example: gordita when translated literally means little fat girl, but its often used endearingly and without the heavily negative connotation the English translation would bring. Kind of the same deal with gringos.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Would you consider gringo a derogatory term?
- Thread starter Boom Boom Pow
- Start date
- Status
It's regional as fuck. Even more than that, "gringo" means something different to different people. Where I live, about sixty percent of people are white and Hispanic. Gringo is used to describe anybody who isn't Hispanic. People used to call a Filipino classmate "gringo chino", and Black kids at my high school were described as gringos all the time.
In 12th grade, a couple friends (Cuban and Colombian) of mine got into an argument about whether or not a Black Brazilian kid could be described as a gringo or not.
Not even this. Hispanics born on the usa are often called pochos, but also gringos. My grandmother just told me last week that aunt and my gringo cousins will visit us for her birthday.
Because, in her eyes, my aunt is mexican and her sons are gringos.
Edit:
Maybe off-topic but it's almost a sure thing that every mexican knows somebody that they call "el chino" (may be asian or with curly hair), "el güero" (blonde or white skinned) and "el negro" (dark skinned or black)
Reneledarker
Banned
In Spain gringo was used to refer to people who did not talk Spanish, foreigners.
In Mexico at first it was used as a derogatory term to citizens of the United States because the Mexico-USA war.
Now it can be anything. I live in Tijuana, border with San Diego and most of the time it is used as a way to call citizens of the United States (race and color does not matter). But sometime it can be used in an offensive way, but gabacho is usually the one used for that.
Regarding chino, in Mexico we have a big Chinese population and lots of places that sell Chinese food, so usually all Asians are called chinos, but in places like Tijuana where we have considerable Japanese and Korean population, Asiatic is starting to be used more.
I guess most use gringo because there is not an easy way to translate estadounidense in a way that does not sound like you are the only ones from the American continent
In Mexico at first it was used as a derogatory term to citizens of the United States because the Mexico-USA war.
Now it can be anything. I live in Tijuana, border with San Diego and most of the time it is used as a way to call citizens of the United States (race and color does not matter). But sometime it can be used in an offensive way, but gabacho is usually the one used for that.
Regarding chino, in Mexico we have a big Chinese population and lots of places that sell Chinese food, so usually all Asians are called chinos, but in places like Tijuana where we have considerable Japanese and Korean population, Asiatic is starting to be used more.
I guess most use gringo because there is not an easy way to translate estadounidense in a way that does not sound like you are the only ones from the American continent
Yeah, it's super fluid. 95% of the Hispanic people I know were born in the US, so their grandparents might have considered them gringos.
Charles Foster Kane
Rosebud
I don't think I could ever be offended at anyone calling me tico, but it can have negative associations. Like any other nationality label.
I only ever call my father gordo. I used to only call my mother gorda or gordita too. It doesn't translate well to English. lol
Is this not a proper definition?:
Would an American born black guy be called a gringo?
MorisUkunRasik
Member
Yes, as others have pointed out even American born Mexicans are referred to as gringo by Mexicans from Mexico.
Charles Foster Kane
Rosebud
yeah. he might be called negro though.
FO-totality
Poet Centuriate
No, but (in addition to its use as a national demonym) it is an ethnicity of White Americans that 6.75% of the US population claim, as opposed to Irish Americans or German Americans, for example.
News to me. I have only ever heard it used to reference to white people.
Except that there also are Mexicans of European descent. I've only heard it used to refer to Americans.
And_Gignac
Member
All English speaking people are "gringos", even Hispanics (Because it is assumed that if they speak English they must be Americans).
I personally don't use it, I find the word too informal and "vulgar".
what if your a white kid living in a majority Latino neighborhood and you feel left out because they make fun of you behind your back and call you gringo and what not? And does it really matter in what way something hurts? I have broken leg but you got 2 broken legs. Is now all of a sudden your pain more important? Racism is bad in anyway of form.
When I lived in Chile, all my Chilean friends told me that gringo was an "affectionate" term unlike in other Latin American countries, namely Mexico, so I had no problem with it over there. If I heard it in NY, I probably would consider it derogatory, but then again it's never happened to me.
BumblebeeCody
Member
Never heard of it until now.
Still:
Sticks and Stones.
Still:
Sticks and Stones.
Dai Kaiju
Member
I'm half Irish and half Colombian. I look like your average brown haired, brown eyed white person. When I visit my family in Colombia or they come up to the States, they say gringo constantly. I think the word refers more to North Americans rather than white people specifically. They might even say it to their American born cousins (like myself), but it comes across as playful teasing if anything.
I guess it's like calling a Jewish person a Jew. It's all about context. When Cartman calls Kyle a Jew in South Park, it's supposed to be hurtful. That doesn't make it a derogatory term. Shitty analogy? Probably...but it's 6 in the god damn morning and I've been trying to fall asleep for the last 8 fucking hours.
boiled goose
good with gravy
Now this is weird. Neither american nor white being gringo? No way. That is definitely an extension of the more typical usage in latinamerica.
Crazy gringos i mean hispanics in usa i mean chicanos. :s
Boom Boom Pow
Banned
do they call canadians gringo too?
Revolutionary
Member
To you? That's exactly what it is. Except in Spanish.
David Incorporated Esq.
Member
My parents retired to Costa Rica and tell me that people use gringo and tico as foreigner and local, respectively, with no disrespect intended. Maybe it's just because it's a small mountain town with a large ex-pat community so everyone's pretty relaxed.
chalkitdown1
Member
I get called this all the time here in Bogotá and while I don't find it derogatory, it is really annoying and automatically implies that I'm north America (I'm not) so I don't particularly enjoy being called it.
chalkitdown1
Member
Yank is used as an offensive term in may parts of the UK and Ireland at least. Hell, it's usually only used when referring to America in patronizing or negative light.
I thought it applied to (American) English speakers in general. This white people thing is new to me. Wikipedia says it's not derogatory so I'll go with that.
If you get offended by yank I don't know what to tell you.
I believe you are referring to fucking yank.
I don't know how it is used in other countries, but in Brazil it's not derrogatory at all. People use it instead of "estrangeiro" (foreign).
Edit: In this case it doesn`t matter where country the person is from, or what color is his/her skin. Everyone who is not native from Brazil is a gringo here.
Edit: In this case it doesn`t matter where country the person is from, or what color is his/her skin. Everyone who is not native from Brazil is a gringo here.
Similar experience, I'm half Colombian too.
In my experience, it's used when Americans and Europeans visit Latin countries and are completely out of place due to culture and language. They act different, so they're called gringos. It's a neutral label. They are surprised at how much we hug, how loud we are, how much we like dancing, and the sayings native to that culture. In my experience, gringo has been said as a label, sometimes even affectionately like "gringo, let me show you how we do things here" or "haha, watch this gringo dance!"
I guess Mexicans in the US may use the term hatefully, but whatever.
I'm Latino and even I've been called gringo when I go home because I'm closer to American culture than my home culture.
Gordon Shumway
Banned
The other word my pops called me..Yankee. Can't say it bothers me.
Amen.
I have no reason to call a black man nigger, they have no reason to call me a cracker. One might have more cultural baggage behind it, but in the end it's still shitty behavior. If you want to resort to name-calling there's a lot of options out there that don't involve making some kind value judgement, implicit or not, about their skin color, but the best option is (gasp) not being jerks in the first place.
Where's your dad from?
As for it having a disparaging connotation in Mexico, it's possible, since it started being widely used after the Mexican-American war and I imagine there's still resentment toward the cessation.
You know, the Louis CK thing is funny, but it's not testament that needs to be applied to everything outside of a comedy club.
Not all Latinos use it as derogatory term. I think most just use it to identify a white american just like some white Americans refer to Latinos/Hispanics as Mexicans even though we're not all mexicans lol. Maybe some idiots try to use it in a negative fashion in both ethnicities but I assure you that's not the intention of the average latino
Its like someone posted earlier in the thread, many of our families have little nicknames to identify with different groups since we don't really straight up refer to people as that white guy, that black guy, that fat guy, etc.
Its like someone posted earlier in the thread, many of our families have little nicknames to identify with different groups since we don't really straight up refer to people as that white guy, that black guy, that fat guy, etc.
Gordon Shumway
Banned
Dad was born in Cuba.
I think as others have pointed out that's just partially a function of what races and nationalities you rub up against.
My grandmother just assumed my cousin's fiancee was Chinese (her family is from the Phillipines.) I think that's just her "default Asian". We all have gaps we fill in with whatever's comfortable. Doesn't mean that it's not someone people shouldn't watch out for, especially if you're on the receiving end of some blanket term yourself (the Mexican one gets me too, especially since if you pay any attention to the news you know the majority of immigrants, especially these kids in the news, are from Central America.)
Mauricio_Magus
Banned
I'm Mexican, and I always say gringo, everyone does and it's because no one would say "Estadounidese" or "Americano"(as most of us believe that being American means living in AMERICA).
Maybe we need a new word? I use American when I talk in English but if in spanish forums I just say Gringo.
Over here everyone calls each other nicknames that sound awful if translated. Women are called Viejas(old lady), if you're more dark skinned than others you're moreno or Negro(no one says African-American over here, that term doesn't exist here). Hell, we always say the equivalent to "fat guy" and "fat girl" to everyone that's overweight but in a cute way that isn't fat shamming.
It's just different cultures.
Maybe we need a new word? I use American when I talk in English but if in spanish forums I just say Gringo.
Over here everyone calls each other nicknames that sound awful if translated. Women are called Viejas(old lady), if you're more dark skinned than others you're moreno or Negro(no one says African-American over here, that term doesn't exist here). Hell, we always say the equivalent to "fat guy" and "fat girl" to everyone that's overweight but in a cute way that isn't fat shamming.
It's just different cultures.
Jon Armdog
Member
Nailed it.
gutter_trash
Banned
yes, Gringo is derogatory. It is a negative pejorative for an entire nationality /ethnicity.
People who are speaking only about race race miss the point.
When whites on whites using derogatory words for a different nationality, it still has a negative connotation.
Mic, Dago, Kike, Limey, Wop, Krout, even if all white are still derogatory pejoratives with negative connotations that are considered offensive due to the singling out a nationality/ ethnicity in a negative manor
calling someone Gringo is negative.
like many said here, Gringo can be applied to Americans or applied to strangers. Such a term to brush outsiders, new immigrants, tourists, in one word is negative and xenophobic
People who are speaking only about race race miss the point.
When whites on whites using derogatory words for a different nationality, it still has a negative connotation.
Mic, Dago, Kike, Limey, Wop, Krout, even if all white are still derogatory pejoratives with negative connotations that are considered offensive due to the singling out a nationality/ ethnicity in a negative manor
calling someone Gringo is negative.
like many said here, Gringo can be applied to Americans or applied to strangers. Such a term to brush outsiders, new immigrants, tourists, in one word is negative and xenophobic
I'm from Puerto Rico so yes. It's not technically an insult but that's what anyone ever really uses it for anyways. And in my case it was less because I was light skinned (there are plenty of light skinned Latinos, some with waaaaay more "white" features than me) more it was just meant to insult me as I was born in America.
In fact until this thread I had always assumed gringo in many Spanish speaking countries was more of an insult to Americans in General, even if they are of Latino descent.
In fact until this thread I had always assumed gringo in many Spanish speaking countries was more of an insult to Americans in General, even if they are of Latino descent.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
I cannot see how the in the heck güero is not offensive, considering that it literally means "rotten egg" (white on the outside, but sickly and putrid inside).
It's like arguing that maricón (faggot) is an ok word because it can be used to address your mates.
It's like arguing that maricón (faggot) is an ok word because it can be used to address your mates.
gringo is basically american with a neutral connotation.
if any americans have ever felt offended by it, it must have been the context in which it was used, not the use of the word itself.
WTF... güero means rotten egg?? for real?
anyone who is blond is güero in mexico and nobody is thinking about a rotten egg when they use that word.
if any americans have ever felt offended by it, it must have been the context in which it was used, not the use of the word itself.
WTF... güero means rotten egg?? for real?
anyone who is blond is güero in mexico and nobody is thinking about a rotten egg when they use that word.
Mauricio_Magus
Banned
I've called people guero all my life, I've been called guero all my life too.
This is the first time in my ENTIRE life that heard that it means rotten egg. I'm going to assume no one knows that around here.
- Status