What is the meaning of the word 'guerillo'?

Question

I was watching the documentary 'Which Way Home', which is about Mexican and Central American children trying to get to and then across the U.S. border. (It's very good, by the way.) The children were describing the behavior of what I believe were Mexican police, who treated them roughly and robbed them of their coats, money, watches, etc. One of the children said a "guerillo" robbed from him. What does this mean? Some of my friends call me a guerita. Is that similar?

Answer 1

Note the spelling:

güero(a) güerito(a) ........ a light-skinned person or someone with blond hair (this is slang. the correct term is rubio(a))

guerrillo / guerillero ...... someone who does battle in a civil war or rebellion. This is what Ché Guevara was - a mercenary, but with a mission of more than just money.

Thanks Julian :) - cheskasullivan, May 20, 2012

My pleasure - 005faa61, May 20, 2012

Very good Julian, thanks! - rac1, May 20, 2012

Thank you. On the English news it's pronounced 'gorilas', and I did not make the connection. - Intense, May 23, 2012

Answer 2

Where I'm from, "guerilla" means someone who's part of a resistance group (usually against the government). It's possible that it means the same thing. "Guerilla" comes from the word "guerra" meaning war. He probably just said "guerillo" to indicate that he was a male member of the force.

I don't know what guerita means. If I am to make a guess, I'd say it's a term of endearment to refer to a girl friend who's white.

By the way, you don't have to take my word for it. I am not a native Spanish speaker. I, too am interested to know what it means.

I've read that word a lot this afternoon while reading Che Guevara's wikipedia page. 'Guerrilla' - sinsonte, May 20, 2012

Ah, no wonder. That guy's practically a guerilla icon. :p - cheskasullivan, May 20, 2012

"Practically" is an understatement, jaja - sinsonte, May 20, 2012

Es cierto. Jaja :)) - cheskasullivan, May 20, 2012

Thanks. Guerita means 'whitey'. It's been a long time since I've even heard the word guerilla, and I've never heard it used to describe any Mexican. But he was a teen from Central America, so it makes sense now. - Intense, May 23, 2012

Answer 3

I think guerita means, "white girl". I am not sure what "guerillo" means. It must be some sort of slang. Let's wait for a native speaker.

Could he have said, guerrilla, inferring that the policeman was part of a "gorilla force"? - Nilda-Ballardo, May 20, 2012

That is a distinct possibility Nilda! - rac1, May 20, 2012

Thanks everyone. - Intense, May 23, 2012