In an article published by NPR a debate is going on whether the term gringo/gringa is viewed as racially charged or derogatory. I have to say that by living in Brazil I don't think it is offensive. Not that people really say it to my face or that I hear it from Brazilians. I believe it means anyone other than Brazilian or at least that's the way I take it.
Then again I have used it negatively. For example a stupid driver, who you just know is a foreigner, trying to figure out how to make a right hand turn in Brazil. Yes, we were there once but the words just come out, "Stupid Gringo." So maybe in some circumstances it could be derogatory.
Better yet, it could be used to describe someone who has not fully adapted to the Brazilian/Latin culture. I think that's the definition that I am going to stake my claim. It can be positive or negative based on the context of the conversation. It's that true with anything though? Ahhh people and their sensitivities :)
Tchau,
Sara
Sara,
ReplyDeleteGringo translates to foreigner, not derrogatory at all.
Anyone who is not from Brazil is considered a "gringo".
You could say stupid foreigner or stupid gringo, the same thing, but the word itself is not derrogatory at all.
Ray