What does "guiri" mean?

Question

I keep reading it on the spanish-only.com site, usually in the context of "gringo."

Answer 1

Hola, terri

It's a colloquial word using in Spain aimed at foreigners.

It has quite an interesting history You can read about that here.

Other countries and cultures have similar words.

I am familiar with the word "ghauri". That's a term meaning "foreigner" used in India and Pakistan.

In Turkey, they used "gâvur" and Arabic speakers use "gaouri".

Dear Sonrisa, as I mentioned to SpanishPal, I checked dictionaries and Google before posting. Did I do it in my sleep or something?? Anyway, thanks a gillion for your link! - territurtle, Aug 12, 2011

You're welcome, terri :) - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 12, 2011

Answer 2

Hola Terri

guiri link text

adjective

1. foreign (informal) (peninsular Spanish)

masculine or feminine noun

2.foreigner

Thanks so much. Interesting -- I did, of course, check the dictionary (actually many!) before posting, but must have made a typo or something? - territurtle, Aug 12, 2011

Answer 3

Duh. He actually explains it in one of his posts guiri.

I try to research things for myself before posting, but looks like I somehow slipped off the keyboard here? [Note to non-native English speakers: "slipped off the keyboard" is a phrase of my own invention. It's one of the joys of English. You can play with the language as much as you like, and you are still speaking English!]

Anyway, it sure feels wonderful when I reach out and there's always someone to kindly take my hand and never, ever embarrass me!!

:-) - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 12, 2011