gringo
UK[ˈɡrɪŋɡəʊ]US[ˈɡrɪŋɡoʊ]
n
A term, often used in Spanish-speaking countries, to refer to a foreigner, especially an English-speaking person from the U.S. or Britain.
Etymology
The word 'gringo' entered English directly from Spanish, where it is used as a colloquial term for a foreigner. Its ultimate origin is likely from the Spanish word 'griego', meaning 'Greek', used in the phrase 'hablar en griego' (to speak in Greek), i.e., to speak an unintelligible language. This follows a common European pattern of using 'Greek' metaphorically for something foreign or incomprehensible. The specific alteration from 'griego' to 'gringo' is thought to have occurred in Latin America in the 18th or 19th centuries, possibly influenced by the song "Green Grow the Lilacs" heard during the Mexican-American War, though this is a popular but disputed folk etymology. The term's journey reflects the linguistic and cultural contact between English and Spanish speakers in the Americas.
Analysis
This is a loanword from Spanish, adopted into English as an unanalyzed simplex. Its internal structure in Spanish is not productively segmentable using English morphemes.
Examples
The local kids shouted "gringo!" as the American tourists walked by.
After living in Mexico for a decade, he no longer felt like a gringo.
The term "gringo" can be considered offensive or neutral depending on the context and tone.