Nicknames for Foreigners - Gringo, ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Nicknames for Foreigners - Gringo, Farang, etc.

Replies: 42 - Last Post: 04-May-2008 05:04 Last Post By: raymundlully

jump to

Posted
31-Oct-2007 07:41
by: shantidude

Posts: 43
Registered: 05/04/01

Nicknames for Foreigners - Gringo, Farang, etc.

So, what have you been called while traveling? Any idea where the nickname comes from?

I'll start with a couple of the better-known ones:

Farang - Thailand/Laos: From Farang Seht, the Thai pronunciation of Francais. The first Europeans to arrive in big numbers were the French.

Gringo - Latin America: When US soldiers invaded Mexico in the Mexican/American War, the song "Green Grow the Lilacs, Red, White and Blue," was popluar. The Mexicans heard, "green grow," and started calling them Gringos.

Who's got more?

Official Sergeant at Arms, The League of Gentlemen Adventurers, San Diego Chapter
Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu.

Posted
31-Oct-2007 09:59
by: Atocha

Posts: 122
Registered: 11/06/06

1

Once in the Italian Alps we were called 'Tedesci' which is Italian for Germans. Tone was hostile. They were mortified to find we were Americans, apologized all over the place.

Posted
31-Oct-2007 13:13
by: LiVaCo

Posts: 242
Registered: 04/10/03

2

In West Africa, "toubob" and in East Africa "wazungu".

Both are, I believe, specifically terms for white foreigners. I know "wazungu" is swahili, but I don't know any story behind its origin.

I've heard that "toubob" came from "two bob" as in two shillings.

Napenda kusafiri

Posted
01-Nov-2007 08:29
by: Doc_Sarvis

Posts: 1,301
Registered: 06/01/07

3

Once in Brussels a friend and I sat down to order a drink from the bar at a restaurant that was about 50% full. After we placed the order we were told that they were closed and we would have to leave. Looking at eachother and the bartender with blank faces we got up and made our way out of the restaurant. As we were leaving we were laughed at and called "Typical Americans". To this day (7 years later) I still have no idea what that was about....

Posted
02-Nov-2007 08:02
by: Oweena

Posts: 1,810
Registered: 03/02/03

4

Haole is what non-locals are called in Hawaii.

I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.

Posted
02-Nov-2007 15:32
by: VinnyD

Posts: 20,899
Registered: 06/10/04

5

OP, that story about the etymology of gringo is pretty doubtful.

And while it's true that the French had extensive early contact with Siam, farang most likely comes from Arabic, which used it for Frank, perhaps through Persian, perhaps directly.

Meet VinnyD.

Posted
03-Nov-2007 20:06
by: elbosqueterno

Posts: 130
Registered: 26/03/06

6

"Machita" is Costa Rica, referring to white-skinned females.

"Guera" (with a dieresissp? over the u, in Mexico. Same meaning as machita.

Both were employed by random men on the street, often in combination with "compliments" or requests for sexual acts.

Posted
04-Nov-2007 08:50
by: micvan

Posts: 1,033
Registered: 27/02/05

7

In cree the term for whiteys is monyass.

Posted
04-Nov-2007 12:08
by: julgran

Posts: 126
Registered: 21/03/07

8

In Madagascar "vazaha" is shouted in a friendly way (means foreigner/white person).

traveller

Posted
04-Nov-2007 13:12
by: Usher73

Posts: 2,052
Registered: 10/06/05

9

"yankees" are considered to be especially annoying travelers in some parts of the southern USA, and in Boston.

The origins of the term are uncertain.

Posted
04-Nov-2007 14:18
by: Joell

Posts: 7,508
Registered: 12/11/05

10

In Nicaragua, we were called Chele...

They said it meant Whitey from the word Leche (milk) spelled backwards.

There are plenty of ways to stir shit up that don't put the ol' noggin in jeopardy. - Msdanarae

Posted
05-Nov-2007 07:55
by: CheersTerry

Posts: 6,362
Registered: 07/03/01

11

In Cuba a white foreigner, in particular an American, is called a Yuma. The term comes from the Glenn Ford classic western, 3:10 to Yuma.

Cheers,
Terry

Posted
05-Nov-2007 10:35
by: Kerouac2

Posts: 5,501
Registered: 20/04/00

12

It is always interesting when names are based on the food that the foreigners reputedly eat. Two of the old disused pejorative names formerly common in France concerned the British ("les rosbifs") and the Italians ("les macaronis").

This is akin to Americans calling the Germans "krauts".

*http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com*

Posted
05-Nov-2007 13:36
by: Jeraboa

Posts: 375
Registered: 07/12/04

13

In Ethiopia your called Faranji, and where ever you go you'll here it in chorus from small children "faranji, faranji, money, money, you,you,you". Habishat is a fun response it's Amhara for Ethiopian.

Posted
06-Nov-2007 09:39
by: keoni

Posts: 28
Registered: 10/02/06

14

Ghana the traveller is called "Obruni" one who has travelled.

Web Site www.makaiohana.com International travel videos http://current.com/people/MakaiOhana

Subscribe to the latest messages in this branch.

Your Recent Threads

Announcements

Website speed - Facebook...
Posted By: VenessaP -- 07-Oct-2009 16:30

Latest Community News

	Speaking in Tongues Messages: 66,153 Last message posted at: 23-Nov-2009 03:54
	On Your Bike Messages: 28,935 Last message posted at: 23-Nov-2009 07:49
	Travel Tech Messages: 27,856 Last message posted at: 23-Nov-2009 03:43
	Kids To Go Messages: 25,780 Last message posted at: 23-Nov-2009 08:30
	Like a Sore Thumb Messages: 22,515 Last message posted at: 23-Nov-2009 07:48
	Trekking & Mountaineering Messages: 21,989 Last message posted at: 23-Nov-2009 07:24
	Travel on a shoestring Messages: 20,870 Last message posted at: 23-Nov-2009 06:42

Destinations

Destinations is our online guide to the world - you name it, we cover it. Fire your imagination with the richest source of global travel content on the web.

Shop Online

Get your next big trip on the roll at the Lonely Planet Shop - guidebooks, maps, downloads, DVDs, journals, audio guides and other great bargains.

Bookings & Services