Posted by KRICO on January 18, 2001 at 05:27:34:
In Reply to: What does Gringo really mean? posted by LaredoJim on January 18, 2001 at 04:41:39:
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My readings have indicated that it is a corruption of "griego", the Spanish word for "Greek"...The Greeks traded along the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian (Spanish) peninsula...Spanish is derived from Latin, and was considered soley a language of trade at one time, sort of like "pidgin English" functions in island trade groups of the Pacific. Thus the word "griego...gringo" became the generic term for any "foreigner" (extranjero) who dealt with the Spanish... Italians use the word, as well... "Guero" (proununced "Where-oh") means (pale) and is the more common term for "white guys" used by Mexicans. "Gringo" does have a pejorative connotation but I'm not sure what it is, other than primarily indicating a cultural "outsider"... KRICO |
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