Spanish people have 'offensive' slur to describe nuisance British tourists

Pronounced "guee-ree", the term typically refers to visitors who enjoy letting their hair down and purchasing a glass or two of alcohol.

The origin of the word can vary which determines how offensive the term is perceived.

Some suggest a "guiri" derives from a term describing the Basque - an autonomous community in northern Spain with strong cultural traditions - word of "giri", which means "blonde" or "fair-skinned".

Others argue that it goes back further and is a Hindi word used by the Indian diaspora for white people.

Today, "guiri" typically refers to a white person who is paler than most Spaniards.

According to the Real Academia Dictionary, the word refers to the Carlist Wars of the mid 19th century when Basque speakers called their enemies "guiristino".

Leah Pattem, a journalist who spends a lot of time in Spain, argues that the term is offensive.

She said: "A guiri is also categorised as naïve and/or ignorant, trapped in their own culture due to refusal or inability to integrate.

"They will dress wrong, be sunburnt and generally look hot and bothered.

"Most Spaniards will argue that the word guiri is not offensive, but it undeniably makes sweeping assumptions about a person based on either their appearance, their nationality, or their behaviour."

Some Spanish regions are attempting to cut down the number of British tourists who visit.

Leaders in Lanzarote are hoping to declare the island "saturated" and is aiming for a tourist decline to "guarantee the future of generations to come."

Proposals include becoming less dependent on Britons who currently account for more than half of holiday numbers.

The Island Council has advanced the idea of declaring itself a "tourist-saturated area" and claims that the idea enjoys "a broad social consensus".