Guiri

Guiri (pronounced [ˈɡiɾi]) 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. Although somewhat pejorative, it is not considered a slur by Spanish-speakers if used as a light-hearted tease.^[1][2]

According to the Real Academia Dictionary, 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 María Cristina).^[3] It entered the Diccionario de la lengua española de la Real Academia Española 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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