How did the term Gringo originate?

Question

I know. I want to know if YOU know. Mexicans heard the Irish Brigades from the US singing an Irish tune called "Green Grow the Rushes" It is NOT RACIST.

Since Green is Verde in Spanish, the Green Go explanation makes no sense.

Answer 1

According to what I know, the version of the "Green grows" version is the most accurate one. Altough the "green go" sounds logical.

Indeed, "gringo" it's not a racist word, it is just slang. Is like the "brasilero" for Brazilians, "tico" for Costa Rican, or "gachupines" for Spanish.


Although sometimes people in Mexico can use it in a pejorative sense, but it is in reaction to an offensive attitude or action from part of a "gringo".

Also, for the "American invasion", well, in terms of politics, yes, Americans invaded Northern Mexico (now southern USA). But, actually, I believe that Americans back then just took an unoccupied, forgotten part of Mexico. In those times, Mexico was a "centralist" republic (that means that all economical and political power was based on the capital - Mexico City). The few towns and villages in that area offered little or no resistance at all.

If gold in California and oil in Texas would were discovered before the Mexico - US war, I think the Mexican immigration and Mexican government's interest in that region would be such, that nowadays (at least) Texas, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah would be part of Mexico.

So, to make it simple, i like this analogy: is like if you leave a box with your name on it next to the garbage can in the street. You are not aware that inside that box there are a million dollars. You see a guy that is passing by on the street that's taking your box. You yell at him from your house "Hey dude! leave my box!", but it's too late, he already took it. You think "well, it's just a box". 20 minutes later you get the news that inside that box you did not have any interest in, had all that money inside. "FCUK! If I only knew!"

Answer 2

I'll add my voice to those who derive it from "griego". This is by far the best explanation. The worst explanation I've ever heard, which was told to me earnestly by a gringo, was that Mexicans who enter the US legally are presented by a GREEN card, which means they can GO and find work. I'm constantly amazed by the preposterous rubbish people are prepared to believe. The stories about the greencoats and "Green grow the whatever" and so on are equally rubbish. Apart from the fact that the US soldiers at that time didn't have green coats, the word "gringo" existed in Spain before it was heard in the Americas. Apparently it was very often applied to the Irish, for some reason. But silly, made-up, unsupported etymologies get a life of their own. The word "posh", by the way, has nothing to do with "port out starboard home" either.

Answer 3

I heard a different story. I'm not sure which war it was but Mexicans heard the advance call of troops, "green go!".... those two words taking Spanish form produced "gringo".
I think it was the USA against Mexico, and not vice versa, when they illegimately took and annexed their territory to the existing States. There are always two versions of the facts but the truth has to be accepted. Mexico ruled over that territory before the "gringo" invasion. Otherwise, how would you explain all the Spanish names of states, cities, towns, mountains and rivers all over the actual territory of the United States?

Answer 4

I've heard different stories about it, one thing is for sure, it's origin ain't certain.

I do not only heard the stories about the Irish during the mexican war, I heard another story where it's said that it was used in Spain long time ago to refer to any person who spoke an unintelligible language and it changed its sound until it turned to "gringo" as it's used today.

Another thing is sure, it's not a racist term, even if some hate promoters claim it is.

Answer 5

Hey people, check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo

Scroll down to Etymology and Popular Etymologies. Explains it all.

Answer 6

what i know is that when Mexico had a war against USA, the us army was dressed in green, and mexican people didnt know how to speak english, and to tell them to go away they said: GREEN GO (gringo)

Answer 7

Really? You're the second guy who said that but the Irish weren't mentioned. I guess that's one impromptu concert that really made an impression, huh? Think Jimi Hendrix would approve?

Answer 8

I did not know that. Still, I hardly feel enlightened now informed.

Answer 9

mexicans started it

Answer 10

i'm mexican.
it originated from the sound their boots made and the verb ´go´
so its grin(grin grin grin) + go