Offensive codeword Spanish people use for Brits as holidaymakers prepare to jet off to country

We just love going to Spain.

The weather, the tapas, the culture, the football, it's really got something for everyone.

More than 17 million Brits decided to head South for their holiday last year - up 15 percent from 2022.

Just a two and a half hour flight away, it can be an easy, relatively cheap, holiday destination - and sometimes there's a deal on flights now and then.

That being said, Spain welcomes over its fair share of boozy Brits who often give us a bit of bad rep abroad.

Taking that into consideration, there seems to be one word that the Spanish like to throw at British tourists.

As reported by The Sun, this word is 'guiri', which is pronounced ‘guee-ree’.

In order to be considered a 'guiri', you don’t actually have to be from the UK - you just need to be a tourist who acts in a way in which a lot of Brits tend to while letting their hair down in a sunny country.

For example, excessive drinking and participating in boozy behaviour are two ways to earn yourself the name, 'guiri'.

So, what exactly is it?

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A 'guiri' is supposedly derived from a term describing the Basque word of 'giri', which means ‘blonde’ or ‘fair-skinned’ and so it was originally used based on how tourists looked.

Now, the meaning has changed and encompasses the actions and characteristics of some naughty visitors.

Even though it may seem slightly offensive, locals use the term more broadly as a way to describe tourists, so don’t be offended if you get called it.

Instead, consider it a nickname of sorts.

It’s unlikely you will be shouted down in the street, but you may be poked fun at for doing stereotypical things a 'guiri' would do, such as drinking sangria or only ordering touristy foods.

So, how do you prevent yourself from being called 'guiri'?

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First, if you’ve watched shows such as Benidorm, you’ll know exactly the type of person this relates to.

The scantily clad, flip-flop wearing Brit who refuses to put on sunscreen or something warmer even when the weather takes a turn for the worst - and won’t attempt to speak a word of Spanish.

Drinking excessively will also get you the nickname, especially when drinking leads to some embarrassing moments like shouting, singing loudly or chanting your favourite footy song.

Basically, if you want to avoid being a 'guiri', it’s best to try to integrate into the culture, say ‘gracias’ every now and then and keep your sangria to a minimum.

Otherwise, you might hear the word every now and then, and it could be about you!