Guido (slang)
Encyclopedia
Guido (ˈɡwiːdoʊ) is a slang
term for a lower-class or working-class urban
Italian-American. The guido stereotype is multi-faceted. Originally, it was used as a demeaning term for Italian-Americans in general. More recently, it has come to refer to Italians who conduct themselves as thugs with an overtly macho
attitude. The time period in which it obtained the latter meaning is not clear, but some sources date it to the 1970s or 1980s. A character in the 1983 Tom Cruise
film "Risky Business
" says, "I don't believe this! I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp."
, Ohio
, Connecticut
, Pennsylvania
, Massachusetts
, Rhode Island
and New Jersey
, especially New Jersey
. In other areas, terms such as "Mario" (Chicago
) and "Gino" (East Haven
, Connecticut
, Toronto
, Montreal
) have a meaning similar to guido. Although some Italians self-identify as "guidos", the term is often considered derogatory or an ethnic slur.
The term caused controversy in 2009 when MTV
used the term in promotions for the reality television
show Jersey Shore
. This spurred objections from Italian-American organizations such as Unico National
, NIAF
, the Order Sons of Italy in America
, and the internet watchdog organization ItalianAware. Although MTV removed the term from some promotions, it remains closely associated with the show, and some of the cast members use it regularly to describe themselves while the females sometimes refer to themselves as a "guidette."
s, cornicello
s, or saint medallions), pinky rings, working class clothing such as plain T-shirts, muscle shirts or "guinea Ts" (derived from the term "guinea", an ethnic slur for Italians), leather jacket
s, sweat or tracksuit
s, scally caps, unbuttoned dress shirts, and often typical Italian "truzzo" club dress. Slicked-back hair and pompadours, blowouts, tapers, poofs, fades and heavily pomaded or gelled hair are also common stereotypes.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term for a lower-class or working-class urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
Italian-American. The guido stereotype is multi-faceted. Originally, it was used as a demeaning term for Italian-Americans in general. More recently, it has come to refer to Italians who conduct themselves as thugs with an overtly macho
Macho
Macho typically refers to machismo. Other uses include:*Macho , a short-lived disco group in the late 1970s*Pique macho, Bolivian dish*Macho Man , a 1978 disco song performed by the Village People...
attitude. The time period in which it obtained the latter meaning is not clear, but some sources date it to the 1970s or 1980s. A character in the 1983 Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
film "Risky Business
Risky Business
Risky Business is a 1983 American teen comedy-drama film written by Paul Brickman in his directorial debut. It stars Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay. The hit film launched Cruise to stardom.-Plot:...
" says, "I don't believe this! I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp."
Etymology
The word "guido" is derived from either the Italian proper name "Guido" or the Italian verb "guidare" (to drive). Many fishermen of Italian descent were once called "Guidos" during the medieval time period. At least one researcher has theorized that it may have developed as an insult among Italian-Americans applied to new immigrants.Modern usage and the Italo-American reaction
The term is used in metropolitan areas associated with large Italian-American populations, usually in the Northeastern United States, such as New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, especially New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. In other areas, terms such as "Mario" (Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
) and "Gino" (East Haven
East Haven
East Haven may refer to:*East Haven, Connecticut, USA*East Haven, Vermont, USA*East Haven, Angus, Scotland*"Easthaven", another name for the card game Klondike...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
) have a meaning similar to guido. Although some Italians self-identify as "guidos", the term is often considered derogatory or an ethnic slur.
The term caused controversy in 2009 when MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
used the term in promotions for the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...
. This spurred objections from Italian-American organizations such as Unico National
Unico National
Unico National is a service organization of Italian Americans established in Waterbury, CT in 1922 to "engage in charitable works, support higher education, and perform patriotic deeds". At that time, the trial of anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti was in the news, and many stories fostered a belief...
, NIAF
National Italian American Foundation
The National Italian American Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational foundation that promotes Italian American culture and heritage...
, the Order Sons of Italy in America
Order Sons of Italy in America
The Order Sons of Italy in America is the largest and oldest Italian American fraternal organization in the United States. A similar organization also exists in Canada.-History:...
, and the internet watchdog organization ItalianAware. Although MTV removed the term from some promotions, it remains closely associated with the show, and some of the cast members use it regularly to describe themselves while the females sometimes refer to themselves as a "guidette."
Style
Clothing associated with the stereotype includes gold chains (often herringbones chains, Figaro chainFigaro chain
Figaro is a popular gold or silver link chain design that incorporates a pattern of 2 or 3 small circular links with 1 elongated oval link. The most notable figaro chains are manufactured in Italy...
s, cornicello
Cornicello
Cornicello, Italian for "little horn", is an amulet worn to protect against the evil eye. In the Southern Italian Dialects, it is called cuornuciello or variants thereof.-Origins and styles:...
s, or saint medallions), pinky rings, working class clothing such as plain T-shirts, muscle shirts or "guinea Ts" (derived from the term "guinea", an ethnic slur for Italians), leather jacket
Leather jacket
A leather jacket is a type of clothing—a jacket-length coat—usually worn on top of other apparel, and made from the tanned hide of various animals. The leather material is typically dyed black, or various shades of brown, but a wide range of colors is possible...
s, sweat or tracksuit
Tracksuit
A tracksuit is an article of clothing consisting of two parts: trousers and a jacket usually with front zipper. It was originally intended for use in sports, mainly as what athletes wore over competition clothing and would take off before competition. In modern times, it has become commonly worn...
s, scally caps, unbuttoned dress shirts, and often typical Italian "truzzo" club dress. Slicked-back hair and pompadours, blowouts, tapers, poofs, fades and heavily pomaded or gelled hair are also common stereotypes.
See also
- GoombahGoombahcoommah may refer to* Pronunciation of "compare" in the Neapolitan language or dialect. In the feminine form it becomes "goomah", a mistress or lover...
- WogWogWog or Pog is a slang word with a number of meanings, generally considered derogatory and, in some instances, extremely offensive when used in relation to ethnicity...
- WopWopWop is a pejorative racial slur for people from Italy that originated in the United States but is also used in the UK. There is an urban myth that the term "wop" is an acronym for "without papers" as many of the Italian immigrants did not have identification or visas...
- GuappoGuappoGuappo is a word in Neapolitan dialect, meaning thug, bully, braggart, camorrista. It is often used to indicate a member of the Camorra, a Mafia-type organisation in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy.-Etymology:...
- Dago
- Greaser
- Guinea
- Tamarro
- Truzzo
- Ars (slang)
- CholoCholoCholo is an ethnic slur created by Hispanic criollos in the 16th century, and it has been applied to individuals of mixed or pure American Indian ancestry, or other racially mixed origin. The precise usage of "cholo" has varied widely in different times and places...
- PaninaroPaninaroPaninaro was a youth scene that took its name from a group of youngsters who used to meet at the Al Panino bar in Milan's Via Agnello during the early 1980s...
- Kiss Me, GuidoKiss Me, GuidoKiss Me, Guido is a 1997 independent film comedy. Written and directed by Tony Vitale, it stars Nick Scotti, Anthony Barrile, Anthony DeSando and Craig Chester.-Synopsis:...
- Jersey ShoreJersey Shore (TV series)Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...