Home Living in Mexico Origin of the Term ‘Gringo’ Origin of the Term ‘Gringo’ by Brent May October 13, 2014 by Brent May 4.4K It does not come from soldiers signing ‘Green Grow the Rushes O’ during the Mexican-American War (1846-48), or from Panamanians urging our soldiers in green uniforms to go home during the canal uprisings, in 1903 when the US established the exclusive Canal Zone or in 1964 when the Panamanians demanded that their flag be flown in the Zone. The chronology does not work. In reality it may be traced back to the late 18th ot 19th century: Spanish, literally ‘foreign, foreigner, or gibberish,’ an alteration of griego ‘Greek.’ We still say ‘Sounds like Greek to me’ when we don’t understand something. From Snopes: ‘ The Diccionario Castellano of 1787 noted that in Malaga “foreigners who have a certain type of accent which keeps them from speaking Spanish easily and naturally” were referred to as gringos, and the same term was used in Madrid, particularly for the Irish. Additionally from Snopes: The English version of the proverb shows up in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (1599), when Casca, one of the conspirators against Caesar, proclaims: Nay, an I tell you that, I’ll ne’er look you i’ the face again; but those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. (I was unable to verify either of these references as I was unwilling to buy the Diccionario, although it looks fascinating and supposedly copies are available for purchase on line). According to another reference, The Real (Royal) Academia Espanola, gringo means: 1. Adjective: Foreigner, especially one who speaks English, in general one who speaks a language other than Spanish. 2. Foreigner. 3. In Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, an American 4. In Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru a blond, fair skinned person. 4. Unintelligible language. Written by Julie Etra – The Eye, Huatulco 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Brent May Brent May is the GM and Founder of Mexico Living. He is highly motivated and strives for excellence in order to provide the best service possible for foreigners buying property in Mexico. He understands some of the frustrations people may have while searching for a property in paradise and has learned from his own experiences buying and living in Mexico. Brent and his wife are grateful for the opportunities they have and to be able to live in a place most people vacation in. Brent's extensive knowledge and experience in the buying process will leave you at ease while buying property in Mexico. previous post Fonatur: The Birth of Huatulco next post Playa Mermejita You may also like How to Create a Stunning Xeriscape Garden in... May 1, 2024 How To Conserve Water in Your Home in... April 10, 2024 Holiday & Festival Dates in Oaxaca Throughout the... January 6, 2024 December’s posadas mix dancing, fireworks, drink and devotion December 16, 2023 How To Celebrate the Holiday Season in Mexico December 15, 2023 Oaxaca’s Zapotec Heritage: A Modern Ceremony at Villas... December 11, 2023 Get to Know 5 Exceptional Oaxacan Artists on... December 1, 2023 How to Experience Day of the Dead in... October 25, 2023 3 Things I Learned About Mexico While Traveling... October 4, 2023 10 Reasons Why Moving Your Family to the... September 27, 2023 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.