The reason we in Spain call foreign tourists "guiris" is not modern, it's a tradition that started in the early 19th century

Every summer, when the beach is filled with fisherman hats, socks with sandals, and sunburned skin, the average Spaniard casually says: "this place is full of guiris." But what few know is that this very Spanish term didn't originate with the British tourists or the charter flights of the 1970s; it goes back much further. It hails from civil wars, Basque dialects, and even a bit of 19th-century literature. And no, this is not a joke.

It was the year 1833. Spain was experiencing the First Carlist War, one of those periods when half the population wanted a king and the other half wanted him in exile. In this civil war, supporters of the regent queen Maria Cristina were known as "cristinos." But in the Basque Country, where Basque was the everyday language, that word became "guiristino," a more natural phonetic form for Basque speakers.

Over time, "guiristino" was shortened to "guiri," marking the beginning of its story. Originally, it did not mean foreign tourist by any means, but rather political enemy and outsider. For the Carlists, "guiris" were the liberal soldiers who came to impose their state model. In short, it had nothing to do with getting sunburned on a sunbed in Benidorm.

So how did we go from "liberal enemy" to "tourist with a fanny pack"? Like so many words; through everyday usage. During the 20th century, "guiri" came to designate anyone who wasn't from here, especially focusing on foreigners who stood out: unusual accent, different schedules, and a slight tendency to wear a Spain t-shirt without knowing why.

With the advent of the tourist boom in the 1960s and 70s, tourists from northern Europe (mainly British, German, and Scandinavian) arrived en masse to the Spanish coasts. They didn't speak the language, dined at six, and tanned in the sun as if there were no tomorrow. "Guiri" found its place again, this time with an ironic, affectionate, and cheeky tone. Today, the term has crossed borders; some tourists even proudly call themselves "guiris." But in Spanish usage, it continues to imply a cultural and aesthetic contrast that remains picturesque. A "guiri" isn't just a foreigner; they are very foreign. And you can tell.

Here comes the dilemma: is "guiri" a derogatory term? Technically no. Although it was originally used with political disdain, today it is used colloquially and in most cases without malice. It depends heavily on the tone and context. Even British media have picked up the word: The Sun and The Guardian have published articles questioning whether it's offensive. The answer is almost always the same; it depends on how you say it.

In short, "guiri" is not a recent invention or a tourist meme, but a word with over 190 years of history, born in the heat of war, reshaped with the advent of mass tourism, and still alive in popular jargon today. So, the next time you see a foreigner wearing a safari hat, sandals, and holding a guidebook, remember that the word you're about to use comes from a 19th-century war. And that, dear reader, is not something just anyone can say.