A ''grito'' or ''grito mexicano'' (, Spanish for "shout") is a common Mexican

interjection An interjection is a word or expression that occurs as an utterance on its own and expresses a spontaneous feeling or reaction. It is a diverse category, encompassing many different parts of speech, such as exclamations ''(ouch!'', ''wow!''), curse ...

, used as an expression.

Characteristics

This interjection is similar to the ''

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'' or '' yeehaw'' of the American cowboy during a hoedown, with added ululation trills and

onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Such a word itself is also called an onomatopoeia. Common onomatopoeias include animal noises such as ''oink'', ''m ...

closer to "aaah" or "aaaayyyyeeee", that resemble a laugh while performing it. The first sound is typically held as long as possible, leaving enough breath for a trailing set of trills.

Usage

The ''grito'' is sometimes used as part of the official remembrance of the Shout of Dolores, during the celebration of Mexican Independence Day. The ''grito mexicano'' has patriotic connotations. It is commonly done immediately prior to the popular Mexican war cry: "¡Viva Mexico, Señores!" (Long live Mexico!, Gentlemen!).

References

Mexican culture Mexican Spanish Spanish words and phrases Mexican-American culture {{culture-stub