What is a « gringo »? Who is a gringo? What is the story of the word origin?

We hear the word “gringo” and right away, we think about a Mexican with moustache and big sombrero coming from old western movies. In reality, if this word is now relatively famous, its origin isn’t. Two main versions of the story; the first tells that during the war between United-States and Mexico at the end of the 19th century, the uniform of American soldiers was green, from there the shouts of their generals “GREEN GO!”, taken up and ridiculed by Mexican peoples with the word “gringo”. The second version tells that during this same episode of war, the American soldiers were walking singing a song which refrain said “Green Grow the Lilacs”, from there again “gringo”.

In any event, from the end of the 19th century, this word has been integrated in the current language of Mexico and rapidly in all Latin America. In Peru, “gringo” is currently used. This term isn’t necessarily pejorative, on the contrary, it is generally used in a neutral way but it depends on where you are and the tone with which it is used. Even if it is used a habitant of North America, the term “gringo” (or “gringa”) generally designate a foreigner (especially white) from North America or Europe and which mother tongue is rarely Spanish… 

In a word, you are the gringo ☺