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What is GRINGO?
The word originated in Mexico, when the United States of America invaded Mexico in order to appropiate half of its territory, back on mid 19th century. Of course this action against "peace and freedom" is not in elementary school textbooks in USA, but it is in any other serious document about USA history.
American soldiers entered the country through the Gulf of Mexico, taking down the main port of Veracruz and then heading towards Mexico City. The troops were wearing GREEN COATS.
Mexican people along the way from Veracruz to Mexico suffered the advance of the enemy and many battles were fought. However, the American army finally reached Mexico City and took the city down in an epic battle still remembered by all the Mexicans: The battle of Chapultepec Castle. This palace, in the top of a hill, is the highest point over Mexico City: there was the Mexican flag, so it was a symbolic target.
The headquarters of the Military College were in Chapultepec castle too, and when the "green coats" were climbing the hill, a few young cadets refused to leave and decided to defend the castle to death. Then, when the battle was helplessly lost, one of the cadets took the Mexican flag, wrapped himself on it and jumped off the cliff were the castle is set, dying in the rocks below, thus avoiding the American army to take the flag. When the American commander saw the corpses of the cadets, he said in amazement "They are only children!". So they became in death Los Niños Héroes, the symbol in Mexico of the resistance against invaders: the American army... the green coats.
The war was over and USA claimed half of Mexico's territory... then the green coats went home, having gained possesion of Texas and other territories -and their resources- (the same old motif than nowadys, but the speech has changed).
Ever since, the relationtship USA-Mexico has developed into a very complex love-hate relationtship and the destiny of both nations is linked together, but back then, a new term was born in popular language: gringo (green coat)
Now, let's make clear that the term is used nowadays the same as affectionate as pejorative and as none of the above too. As complex as it seems, Mexican people can use the word with different intentions but in any case with just one meaning: it refers in a common way to USA citizens, who are distinctive not because of the colour of their skin, but because of their culture and behavior (anyone outside USA knows exactly what behavior is it!)
Other derivatives of the word include:
gringa: female for gringo, as substantive.
gringo/gringa: as adjectives.
agringado: something/someone that resembles USA culture or the American way of life.
Gringolandia: U.S.A.
As a final note i must say that the word spread to other countries over Latin America (even to Spain) where it is used to refer to foreigners and/or white people: but that's just the way some people outside Mexico understand the word!
Nevertheless, in Mexico, a "gringo" is just an American citizen. And it implies nothing else.
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Gringo loco!
Crazy American!
Las películas gringas tienen los mejores efectos especiales.
American films have the best special effects.
Las gringas son facilotas.
American girls (springbreakers) are promiscuous.
Esa casa es de estilo agringado.
That house has an American-like style (meaning it is a new rich tasteless house)
Los gringos creen que son los policías del mundo.
Americans think they are the police of the world.
En Gringolandia pasan todas las desgracias: meteoritos, tormentas y ¡hasta Godzilla!
In U.S.A. happens all kind of disfortune: meteores, storms and even Godzilla!
GRINGO - meme gif
GRINGO - video
GRINGO - what is it?
1. A person from the USA.
2. A tourist in Mexico with the stereotype of northern European race.
3. In Mexico, common nickname to a person with pale skin, Brown or blond hair and blue/green eyes.
PERIOD
1. I'm afraid the gringos (americans) will be fearful with us because of the swine flu.
2. Look at the gringo with the citymap, he's asking for help, maybe he's lost.
3. Hey dude you always got your skin red by playing soccer in the sun.. You're a god damn gringo.
What does "GRINGO" mean?
Gringo is a word used mostly by spanish speakers to define an anglo-saxon person, depending the connotation it can be offensive, neutral or even friendly. Also the meaning can change depending on the people that uses it.
For example in Mexico and central America is mostly used in an insultive way.
In Argentina due that most people has italian and spanian roots (white and brown hair) it's merely to describe someone that's anglo-saxon or very white and blonde, due to many "Gringos" that went to live to Argentina.
-No lo viste al gringo?
-Haven't you seen gringo?
-Ey gringo pasame la pelota!
-Hey gringo pass me the ball!
-Ese es un gringo de mierda
-That one is a fucking gringo
GRINGO - what does it mean?
1.-In Monterrey, Mexico, we use the word "gringo" for people who were born in the US.
It has nothing to do with race. It's not derogative.It's a nationality.
If someone says "pinche gringo" the derogative word is "pinche", not "gringo".
We call them gringos because it'd be stupid to call them "americans", since America is a continent, not a country.
2.- Something from the US
1.- Derek is gringo. He was born in Boston.
2.- Q:Where did you get those jeans?
A:They're gringos.
GRINGO - meaning
Contrary to some things that have been posted here, the US did not wear green coats, or green uniforms, during the Mexican American War, so that explanation for the origin of this word is bogus.
But the term is indeed related to American soldiers who invaded Mexico during the Mexican-American war. It actually came from the lines of what was then a song that was very popular with American infantrymen.
See the example.
A popular American song during that time--one sung by many American troops as they marched--contained the repeated refrain:
"Oh, the ash and the oak and the willow tree,
And green grows the grass on the infantry"
Being members of the infantry, the second line was sung with particular fervor. "Green grows" sounded like "gringoes" to the non-English-speaking Mexicans, so they used that term to refer to all of the American soldiers.
GRINGO - definition
Term used by Latin Americans to talk about an American, it doesnt matter the color of his skin
fucken gringo :D
GRINGO - slang
a gringo is just a north american or anglo-saxon. it is usually a white person but doesnt have to be. it isnt a hateful term but it can be used hatefully. it also represents behaviour and attitudes latinos consider to be "american".
is he latino?
no hes a gringo
why wont you share your smokes, dont be such a gringo
GRINGO
In Mexico proper, "Gringo" can have a derogatory, or casual/ non pejorative meaning depending on the context of which it is delivered. "Gabacho" has more insulting connotations. A commonly held myth within the environs of Mexico itself is that the origin of "Gringo" was an allusion as to the U.S. Army under the commands of generals Taylor/Scott fielding green coloured uniforms, hence the "Green-Go!!!" silliness. (This is utter rubbish, as any serious student of the Mexican-American War knows that it was the colour blue, and remained so till khaki, and later, onward thence to green, replaced it many decades later. A popular song commonly sung by the intrepid American troops, whilst they marched along was, "Green Grow the Rushes," these words being repeated (refrained) throughout the song, "Green grow,..etc," being taken by (the then) contemporary Mexican ear as "gringo." (The most "likely" origin...) In other regions, apart from Mexico itself, it basically refers to any "european looking" individual.
"Mira a los pinche Gringos de mierda! Como es posible se ganan cada batalla, aunque se tienen erjecitos tan pequeno!?!" "Look at those damned shit Gringos! How is it possible they win every battle, when they have armies so small!?!" (Outnumbered 2-3 to one in every major battle of the 1846-1848 war, when facing an actual standing army... Buena Vista, Chepaltepec, etc...)
GRINGO
While a commonly used slang term for Americans used by Mexicans, gringo is used throughout Latin America to refer to Americans. It isn't inherently negative, but in some regions - especially Puerto Rico - gringo often is used to refer to white Americans, and many times in a derogatory fashion.
Those hipster gringos think they run this city now.
That guy speaks horrible spanish. You can tell he's a gringo.
GRINGO
It depends who saying it( but the spanish used it correctly)
The Spanish used it correctly to distinguish themselves from other white people.It does not mean Blonde person. The spanish used it to refer to White people with simliar complexion like those of southern europeans to distinguish themselves from them.Since they don't run with the spanish but are similar complexion they used the word gringo to notify other spanish decend that this person may look spanish or they may speak spanish well but that they are from from another language or country, derived form the work greek, like they speak some greek language or something strange or wierd or hard to speak, the spanish used the word gringo in meaning that this person is speaking in greek,like when the american use the word greek to describe something they don't understand. Now in this century, the word gringo hasn't been used correctly, Morenos people call anyone gringo that not of dark skin, or a mexican that doesn't speak spanish and there are alot of wrong assuption of the word gringo out there. Gringo was primarily used by the spanish to distinguish thenselves and classifying someone else that looks white but comes from a different country of origin. If A spanish or mexican back in the days where to see a blonde person, then they would just call them guerro(blonde person)or if they see a black person, then they would call him Negro etc, but if they see a white person that looks of spanish decent then they would call him gringo, this word was used to distinguish themselves from from spanish.They are not going to call him Blanco since the word blanco referes to someone of white spanish decent that also has a spanish surname and who's country of origin is of the hispanic coountries, this was a blanco, but a gringo is someone who surname and country of origin was not of spanish decent therefore the spanish would just say, " he's talking greek" meaning some weird language, which they used the word " el gringo"
There are alot of gringo in the united states of American