What does ‘guiri’ mean in Spain?
In Spain, a guiri is a foreigner, usually a tourist from northern Europe, the UK or the US who stands out by looks, clothes or habits. It is colloquial and usually teasing rather than hostile, but it is not a compliment, so tone and company matter.
Hear it in a real scene
In the Lince app, you hear guiri in a scene from Zapeando, “¿Yo cómo voy a ser guiri?”:
«¿Yo cómo voy a ser guiri?» How could I possibly be a foreigner?
What guiri means
A foreign tourist Colloquial
The core use: visitors who look and act like tourists. Esta playa en agosto está llena de guiris means “This beach is full of tourists in August”.
Any foreigner, often one who lives in Spain Colloquial
A guiri does not have to be on holiday: people also say it about foreign neighbours, colleagues and partners. It is the same for men and women (el guiri, la guiri), and it is rarely applied to Latin Americans.
Muy guiri, muy de guiri — touristy Colloquial
Used as an adjective, guiri describes places and habits: un bar muy guiri is a touristy bar, and cenar a las siete es muy de guiri means that eating dinner at seven is such a tourist thing to do.
Where and when you will hear it
Most of the time guiri is light teasing, and many foreigners in Spain happily call themselves guiris. It can still sound dismissive, particularly in complaints about mass tourism, so do not use it about someone who might take it badly.
The word is usually traced to the 19th-century Carlist Wars, when Carlists called their liberal opponents guiristinos, from cristinos, the supporters of the regent María Cristina. It is a Spain word; in Latin America people say extranjero or gringo instead.
Examples from everyday Spain Spanish
- En agosto el centro está lleno de guiris.In August the town centre is full of tourists.
- Mi compañera de piso es guiri, de Manchester.My flatmate is a foreigner, from Manchester.
- Cenar a las siete es muy de guiri.Having dinner at seven is such a tourist thing.
- Ese bar es muy guiri: la carta está en cuatro idiomas.That bar is really touristy: the menu is in four languages.
- Llevo diez años en Madrid y sigo siendo la guiri del grupo.I’ve lived in Madrid for ten years and I’m still the foreigner of the group.
How to say it
GHEE-ree: gu before i is a hard g, as in “geese”, with no w sound, and the r is a single tap, like the tt in American “kitty”. The stress is on the first syllable.
Frequently asked questions
Is guiri offensive?
Usually not. Guiri is mostly teasing rather than hostile, but it can sound dismissive, so it is better not to call a stranger a guiri to their face.
Who counts as a guiri?
Mostly visitors from northern Europe, the UK and the US, especially obvious tourists. Latin Americans are rarely called guiris.
Is there a feminine form of guiri?
No. Guiri does not change: el guiri for a man and la guiri for a woman, and los guiris or las guiris in the plural.