Definition of "gringa"
I just had a quick read in the urban dictionary, but I'm still a tad confused. What is the current definition for gringa (and gringo, come to think of it) ?
I'm english living in Mexico, so a latin side definition would be greatly appreciated. Thanx!
5 Answers
I'm an American who frequently visits Yucatán, Mexico, and I've heard it used as a short way to refer to Americans/white folks ("norteamericano" is just too much of a mouthful!) But I've also heard it used as a perjorative, specifically as criticism of greedy/materialistic/touristy American actions "¡Que gringo!" Hope that's helpful.
If you ask a Costa Rican, they'll tell you it means someone from the USA. However, in practice, they use it for anyone who looks like a pale skinned Caucasian. So it is often used for Europeans, Russians, etc.
According to most dictionaries, the word is an alteration of "Greek", from an expression used in Medieval Latin (and later in Spanish and Portuguese) to refer to incomprehensible languages, and also to those who speak it. Funny enough, the Greeks created the word "barbarian" imitating the way they perceived foreigners babbling strange words (babababbararababarbab...)
There is a popular alternative etymology that is not recorded in dictionaries: during the Mexican-American War, the Americans wore green uniforms (they were actually blue!) and they could be heard shouting "Green, go!". The Brazilians have their own "green go" version too, but in a different time and place.
Mexicans use it to refer to people from USA specially, but other countries use it to refer to the English, and even the Russians (all with strange languages).
RAE definition:
Gringo(a): Foreigner, spaecially english speaking, and generally speaking of a language that is not spanish.
Colloquially: American man/woman.
That was supposed to go in the culture section.... oops!
