I was in mexico and i was ask if i was a greengo. what is a greengo?

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Maty

Nowadays the word "gringo" is used in Mexico to mean that someone or something is form the United States. The term is not depictive, but, the word "gringa" which is the feminine form of the term can be offensive depending of how it is used (see below).
The term "gringo" was first used in the Battle of Alamo in 1836, because the US army wore green uniforms, the Mexican started calling them "green go" or "green go home". The word stayed in the mexican vocabulary and it stopped having any depictive meaning, it just means anything that's american.
However in the decade of 1960, the first porno films came to Mexico from the U.S., and Mexicans started calling "gringas" the actresses that appeared in those films. So now "gringa" can be depictive depending on the context it is used, as it can mean something like "easy blond woman".
The person who asked if you were a gringo is probably not very educated, because even if the word doesn't have a depictive meaning it isn't the best way to phrase if you want to ask if someone is from the US. Some people might take offense from the word.

nanaa

many people here are very wrong. there been gringo means like you are from USA. that's all.

decker1203

Gringo (feminine, gringa) is a term in the Spanish and Portuguese languages used in some countries of Latin America to refer to foreigners from different cultures, especially from the United States, but also from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere, including in some cases other countries of Latin America itself.

Some controversy exists regarding whether gringo is a derogatory term. The American Heritage Dictionary classifies the term as offensive slang.[1] The term gringo does lend itself to derogatory, paternalistic or endearing connotations sometimes, depending on the context and the intent of the user. The enunciation of the word can often give away whether it was meant in a derogatory manner or not. However it is sometimes used toward an American or other English-speaking person who makes little effort to communicate or does so without an accent, mostly in Spain. However, many native speakers who use it do not do so pejoratively. There is also some variation in the connotation of this word from country to country within Latin America. In many Latin American countries it is considered a racial slur.

montse

The correct word is GRINGO and it is not a bad word or something is just a way of calling the people from the U.S.A. is not the way we call people form Canada, United Kingdom etc. just from the U.S.A. but sometimes by the appearence they call GRINGO maybe to a Canadian.

Chinguis Jan

Hahaha, it is like chikano for americans.

ramblin' robert

i live in mexico. it doesnt bother me anymore. i think it used to, but cant remember. it really only bothers me when preceeded by stupid, or 'pinche', lol. but it's people just showing their education, or lack there of, so.....who cares.

weechi

ok, i don't agree with chris at all...and he sounds little bias to me.

so....gringo/gringa is a term they call white people...usually americans...but i do think it depends on how you say it, as to whether it's mean or not. certainly in it's nicest form, you could assume the person saying it doesn't give a rip about you...because a more polite term is "guera" which means like..."blondie" and it's used to talk about white people/americans/canadians/english/etc.. i don't think a friend would call you gringo, but maybe someone just meeting you, if they couldn't remember your name, might say to a friend "what's that gringo's name again?"

Renata d

Gringo..... is what the Mexicans would yell at the Amricans back in the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848.
Since the American Soldiers wore green fatigue the Mexicans would yell... Gringo home...... basically Green go home.

Now.... the term gringo is used to refer to any American turist.

edujacobo

A "gringo" is an American. It isn't a polite term, or at least I think it isn't.

Chris C

A gringo is a racist slang word for American. Where I used to live I used to get called it alot-its used in areas that have large numbers of Mexicans living.

Naomi

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha your such a gringo. It means a white person duh ha ha ha

samantha24

its tranaslation is STUPID AMERICAN

but Im canadian and I think due to ignorance Id be yelled at to, except Im a woman, Some crazy local fallowed me around when I was 14 trying to marry me ....Thank god I ran into a huge american who saved me..... Dumb me Im severly asmatic and didnt think about that when I decided to run to the top of the highest pyramid I was both frightened and relieved when the American guy not only picked me up but somehow managed to carry me down

insp.harrycallahan

Actually, it's "gringo."
It means "white male."

piink baby!

who knows

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