# Mexicans calling me "guero". WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2006, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179 "2006-09-02T07:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/1 "2006-09-02T07:26:09Z")
OK, a bit of linguistics so we’re all on the same page here. “Guero” (pronounced “WHERE-oh”) is a Spanish slang term generally used to refer to white people. [Here’s a source](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=guero&r=f) that offers a couple of different definitions. One says “it is not derogatory but can be used that way.”, another “sometimes-derogatory term” and 'the Spanish equivalent of ‘whitey’". The third definition straight up calls it a “Spanish deragatory term for a person of European descent”. I work with a lot of Spanish-speaking people. I also _lived_ in frigging Mexico for 6 months and had to endure this term constantly, as well as the more well-known but actually-less-used “gringo”. (yes, I am a white person) Regardless of whether or not it is officially “derogatory” according to the Societal Standards and Practices Manual, since when do we address people with racial epithets? I don’t say, “Hey, Mexican!” (I happen to know that several of the people I work with who use the term with me are from Mexico, but of course not all Spanish-speaking people are Mexican so I don’t assume nationality). But I don’t say “Hey Latino” or “Hey Hispanic guy” either. I don’t meet black people and say “What’s up negro?” or even “How’s it going African-American?”. So why the fuck do you think there’s nothing wrong with calling me “guero” all the time? (I don’t even usually use the word fuck, and don’t feel _that_ incensed, but I’ve been accused of benign pittery before, so I have to throw something in to give it that extra spice) What am I supposed to say to them to stop the madness? I even speak Spanish fluently. But I’m not about to say “Uh, please stop calling me guero because it hurts my feelings”. It doesn’t hurt my feelings, but it makes me think of you as a degenerate racist fuckstick who can’t help categorize people based on skin color, which last I heard, was totally out of fashion in this country. And it just generally annoys me that this is considered acceptable practice. Any Spanish speaking Dopers have additional insight? What’s the deal? ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/2 "2006-09-02T07:28:47Z")
If you must, directly tell them to stop using ethnic slurs around you. Explain to them that you have a fucking name, and to use that name. Explain to them that “guero” to you is similar to “spic”, “beaner” and “wetback” are to them. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/3 "2006-09-02T07:33:17Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > And it just generally annoys me that this is considered acceptable practice. Well if you’re in a room full of latinos, and you’re the only white person in there, it only makes sense to label you as the white guy. It wouldn’t make sense to say, the guy at the bar (in which there may be many), or the guy with blue shirt (in which again, there may be many). It’s just easier to say the whitey at the bar surrounded by latinos. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/4 "2006-09-02T07:43:42Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > Well if you’re in a room full of latinos, and you’re the only white person in there, it only makes sense to label you as the white guy. It wouldn’t make sense to say, the guy at the bar (in which there may be many), or the guy with blue shirt (in which again, there may be many). It’s just easier to say the whitey at the bar surrounded by latinos. So when we have one Hispanic guy in a room full of white guys we can call him “The 'Spic Dude”? What about the black dude… I haven’t noticed them calling the black people at work Africanos. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/5 "2006-09-02T07:51:46Z")
I think this is a matter of the location, there is indeed an element of race, but to be insulting it depends on context. I agree that you have the right to demand them to use your name, just because many think it is not insulting is not a good reason to ignore what a minority (in this case) may feel, but I have my doubts on it being an automatic insult, to me it depends on the circunstanses they told you that. There are even Mex-Tex bands that use the moniker, and that is because one or more members are white latinos (yep, they do exist) [http://www.cemusicalatina.com/Artists/El%20Guero/Pg-El%20Guero.htm](http://www.cemusicalatina.com/Artists/El%20Guero/Pg-El%20Guero.htm) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/6 "2006-09-02T08:01:30Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > So when we have one Hispanic guy in a room full of white guys we can call him “The 'Spic Dude”? What about the black dude… I haven’t noticed them calling the black people at work Africanos. I do remember that in cases like that we would say “El Moreno” meaning the guy with the brown skin, the interesting origin of that word is that it referred originally to the brown skinned people of Moorish descent (northern Africa). When Spaniards began to mingle with the Indians they reused the word since the color of the skin was similar to the northern Africans. And yes, depending on who is saying that, to whom and the context, it can become an insult too; but I have to say I rarely found that. ---
**Author:** ![Chotii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/7 "2006-09-02T08:41:40Z")
When I lived in Mexico (20 years ago), one of the nicknames I was given was _Guerita_, which I was told meant ‘blondie’. I was also called ‘chaparrita’ (shorty) and ‘gordita’ (toward the end of my stay, because I’d gained 30 lbs). But, everybody had a nickname. The kid of Chinese descent was Chino. The kid from the northern tree country was ‘Pino’. The kid with the flat face was ‘Chato’. One particularly dark-skinned fellow was called ‘Guero’, probably because he wasn’t. Somebody named Ignacio was ‘Nacho’. I can’t remember their real names anymore, but they never used them anyway. One possible explanation is that these folks honestly think this is your nickname, regardless of why the first one started calling you that - the others heard it, and simply think it’s what your name is. Of course you should correct them, but I’m not sure it’s fair to assume it’s meant as an insult. Unless you find out it is, and then all bets are off. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/8 "2006-09-02T08:44:02Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > So when we have one Hispanic guy in a room full of white guys we can call him “The 'Spic Dude”? What about the black dude… I haven’t noticed them calling the black people at work Africanos. The “latino guy”, or the “black guy” is sufficient. And just because it’s used to identify someone, doesn’t mean it’s racist or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/9 "2006-09-02T13:23:58Z")
I agree that pointing someone out in a crowd is one situation that should be assumed to _not_ be racist unless evidence points otherwise, but is this the case with the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/10 "2006-09-02T13:44:07Z")
If it bothers you, just be equally bothering back. “Oy, guero!” “Ci, senor latino?” They’ll give it a laugh and start calling you by your name if you fight back. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/11 "2006-09-02T13:55:19Z")
Look them in the eyes (with a polite expression) the next time they call you guero, and say “Call me \ or \ please.” Explain that you don’t appreciate the nickname guero if they look surprised, and ask them to respect this and call you \. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/12 "2006-09-02T14:57:51Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > “Guero” (pronounced “WHERE-oh”) A question about this, since i’ve never heard the term used. Since when is the “g” silent in any Spanish words? Especially when followed by a “u.” The standard pronunciation for “gue” is a hard “g” sound, like in “get.” ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/13 "2006-09-02T15:06:09Z")
\*\*mhendo \*\* in Spanish Gu is usually (always?) pronounced like ju words, with a “wh” sound. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/14 "2006-09-02T15:07:20Z")
> [@Chotii](#): > > Somebody named Ignacio was ‘Nacho’. I’m told that’s actually the standard nickname for Ignacio. I’m not sure it’s spelled how it’s pronounced, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/15 "2006-09-02T15:09:12Z")
Just crush them a little harder under your imperialist jackboot. That’ll teach 'em. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/16 "2006-09-02T15:19:28Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > \*\*mhendo \*\* in Spanish Gu is usually (always?) pronounced like ju words, with a “wh” sound. 😉 Actually, g is only pronounced like “j” before “e” or “i”: _general, gigante_. However, in many parts of the world, the plosive (“hard”) “g” gets reduced (swallowed) but not fricated (turned into a “j”) before “u”. These are two different sounds. Note that the word in question is actually spelled “güero,” meaning that the “u” is pronounced; so you end up with “[g]wero.” Same with words like _lingüista, pingüino, ambigüedad_. This must be done when the “u” precedes “i” or “e” and is pronounced. Otherwise, it is a silent “u” that serves to indicate that the “g” is a plosive: _guerra, guiar_ (pronounced /gera/, /giar/.) ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/17 "2006-09-02T15:22:34Z")
I tip my hat to **matt\_mcl** ’s excellent explanation. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/18 "2006-09-02T15:24:16Z")
I should have been clearer - as I understand it, the swallowing of plosive “g” happens only in words where _gu_ is followed by a vowel, _gua, güe, güi_, making the _u_ a glide: _Guadalajara, güero, güito_. In other words, the “g” is not swallowed before “u”: _gusano_ etc. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/19 "2006-09-02T15:24:48Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > \*\*mhendo \*\* in Spanish Gu is usually (always?) pronounced like ju words, with a “wh” sound. 😉 Huh? Is this a whoosh? Cause i’m really not getting it. Admittedly, i learned by Spanish from professors who came from Madrid and Barcelona, and i appreciate that there are many regional differences in Spanish usage and pronunciation. Terms that are considered perfectly normal in Spain (coger, for example), can be offensive in some parts of Latin America. Also, “ju” and “gu” have quite distinct pronunciations in Spanish. The j is pronounced almost like an h, although some people (especially Spaniards) add a sort of scrape to it at the back of the palate. The g, by contrast, is pronounced as a hard g when followed by u, a, or o. When followed by e or i, it is pronounced like a j (i.e., sort of like an h). Of course, it is possible that the “wh” sound you attribute to the g is merely a regional or national pronunciation. My wife, for example, recalls hearing Guantanamera pronounced “Whantanamera.” But it would be just as correct to say “Gwantanamera.” And i’ve never heard anyone refer to the US military base in Cuba as “Whantanamo.” On preview, it seems that **matt\_mcl** ’s explanation has said some of the same thing, and has pretty much confirmed my suspicion that this is a regional pornunciation issue. The swallowed g very rarely happens in Spain, for example. Also, the OP might have made things a little more clear by including the accent over the u (ü), as i’m very well aware that, in such cases, the u shold be pronounced. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179/20 "2006-09-02T15:31:16Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Of course, it is possible that the “wh” sound you attribute to the g is merely a regional or national pronunciation. My wife, for example, recalls hearing Guantanamera pronounced “Whantanamera.” But it would be just as correct to say “Gwantanamera.” And i’ve never heard anyone refer to the US military base in Cuba as “Whantanamo.” If anything, it will be pronounced as sort of Ngwantanamo. It’s not necessarily the same sound as at the beginning of “Juan,” for example. But this isn’t completely out there: remember that “whisky” is hispanicized as “güisqui.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexicans-calling-me-guero-wtf/371179.md?page=2)