Guiri

() is a colloquial Spanish word often used in Spain to refer to uncouth foreign tourists, usually those with Northern European looks. However, it can also be applied to people from other foreign countries, particularly to white individuals. Although somewhat pejorative, it is not considered a slur by Spanish-speakers if used as a light-hearted tease.

Origins According to the Diccionario de la lengua española of the Real Academia, the word can be traced back to 19th century Carlist Wars in the form "guiristino", the pronunciation of Basque-speaking Carlist forces of the name of their enemies, the Cristinos (after regent Queen Maria Christina).guiri at the Diccionario de la Real Academia Española It first entered that dictionary in the 15th edition in 1925. When a "guiri" would be the term used by the opposing political parties of the time, later to be exclusively used for the Guardia Civil and Policía Armada (Armed Police) under the Francoist régime.The Spanish Republic and the civil war 1931-39, by Gabriel Jackson, New Jersey, 1967

There is another theory by Juan Goytisolo that guiri is a neologism from Caló, which itself derives from the Moroccan and Algerian Arabic gaouri, a word with a similar meaning applying to Europeans, which in turn stems from Ottoman Turkish gâvur.Pesquisas en la obra tardía de Juan Goytisolo, page 66, Volumen 33 de Foro hispánico, , Brigitte Adriaensen, Marco Kunz, Rodopi, 2009, , . Quotes Estambul otomano, page 62, Juan Goytisolo, 1989, Barcelona, Planeta.

See also Gringo List of common nouns derived from ethnic group names List of ethnic slurs List of ethnic slurs and epithets by ethnicity List of terms for ethnic exogroups Lists of pejorative terms for people Xenophobia

References