Do people get offeneded when we call them gringo?

Question

I mean, it is not a racist word, it came from the Mexican-American War when the Mexicans wanted the U.S. people to leave, [[since the U.S. had green uniforms]] they would say Green-Go or Green-goes...however, right now it is just a word for a Estadounidense [person from the U.S.A]. I was just wondering, do people get offended? I know many people who don't or they call themselves that, they don't take it to the heart, not that it means anything bad. But do others have an opinion? I know I don't mean it offensively.

That word doesn't really compare to s pick, or w etback, the n word, or those kinds of words. That's my opinion. Wondering about others. =)

If you do, can you explain why please??

I appreciate each and every answer but now I have another one.
Is it really 'okay' because everybody else does it?? Like oh it's okay for me to call you a gringo because you call me a wet back?? I mean, honestly I don't get offended. ******* means hardworker, most people think it means they crossed the border and translate it from mojado but in reality it came from California. But I don't get offended, and my friends and I joke around like that but it does bother me when people mean it as an insult. So is it really okay? I want to hear opinions because I don't think it's okay. At a time before, everybody was using slaves, that didn't make it okay did it?

Answer 1

Well for one, it is used a lot as a racist term. It is all about the tone in which it is said. But I dont take offense to it, i take offese to being called gabacha because that is a racist term. It doesnt matter what the word meant a lon time ago, it matters what it is used for today. A fag was a cigarette a long time ago and now look what it means the same with being gay. Gay used to mean happy, but use the word today and see where it gets you. It is all about context and intent of the user. But why take offense at ignorance? They are the one's looking stupid.


False etymologies

A recurring false etymology for the derivation of gringo states that it originated during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. It has been claimed that Gringo comes from "green coat" and was used in reference to the American soldiers and the green color of their uniforms. Yet another story, from Mexico, holds that Mexicans with knowledge of the English language used to write "greens go home" on street walls referring to the color of the uniforms of the invading army; subsequently, it became a common habitual action for the rest of the population to yell "green go" whenever U.S. soldiers passed by. This is an example of an invented explanation, because gringo was used in Spanish long before the war and during the Mexican-American War. Additionally, the U.S. Army did not use green uniforms at the time, but blue ones. [4]

Another legend maintains that one of two songs – either "Green Grow the Lilacs" or "Green Grow the Rushes, O" – was popular at the time and that Mexicans heard the invading U.S. troops singing "Green grow..." and contracted this into gringo.

Another version, heard in Brazil, refers to the United States Army base near Natal, Brazil during World War II. The American soldiers, wearing green uniforms, would be commanded "green, go!" by their sergeants during training.

The story of "Green Coat" can also be heard in most other Latin American countries, with numerous variations. Some stories have the term originating as recently as the Vietnam war. Other stories attribute the term to other conflicts, all of which occurred too late in history to account for the earliest usages of the word.

Yet another version, also heard in Brazil, claims that when the British were building the railroads in Brazil in the beginning of the previous century, they would instruct the locals on how traffic lights worked: Red, Stop. Green, Go. The British were thereafter known as "gringo".

In the Dominican Republic it is said that the term was a mispronunciation of the words green gold, referring to the green color of USA currency, as well as the corruption of the exclamation: "green go!", said to have voiced local opposition within the volatile context of both U.S. military interventions to the Island.

Answer 2

Doesn't bother me a bit. I'm about the whitest gringa you'll ever see but I've also spent a lot of time in Mexico & Central America and speak Spanish so I'm used to it. I think some people almost use it like an affectionate term. I've been called a "gringita" by lots of sweet older ladies who wouldn't have used the term if it meant anything offensive.

Answer 3

Dear friend, you have the background history about the gringo and people don't like this word because they don't like to be compared with the American who hurt the other nation, for example if we just call somebody " donkey" it means he has the quality of donkey, so people don't have a good memory about the American that's why they don't like to be called so

Answer 4

Well, see the thing is that the person who is called the word is the one who gets to decide whether it is an insult or not. You don't - when anyone is doing the whisper/discuss thing about someone else within hearing, it's likely to offend so just don't do it. Remember this is about FEELINGS not logic.

Answer 5

They usually say gringo in a derogatory way. Its alright though because we got words for you guys too.

Answer 6

I'm a Norteamericano, and understand that "gringo" is not necessarily pejorative. Buenos dias, amigo!

Answer 7

I would find it offensive. Why not describe someone in politically correct terms?

Answer 8

oh plz, thats not effensive, you should hear what dah gringos are calling you beaners when yo baks are turned.

Answer 9

Most people do not.

Answer 10

THEY SOULDNT CUZ WERE BEANERS!!!
JKJKJKJK
but no they shouldnt!!
they call us good for nothing beaners[[wetbacks]]
so they shouldnt care if we call them

((gringo))
((galleta))
((cracker))