Talk Quesada forum

I'm not bothered either way. I know I'm an immigrant, but if other people want to refer to me as an expat, that's fine by me. I don't know anyone who feels offended by the term "expat" but it does sound a bit antiquated and I can't imagine many younger people would use it to describe themselves.
As for "immigrant" I probably know one or two people who would take exception to the term being used to describe themselves. They have a few bob, they're not in Spain to work and don't consider themselves to be immigrants.It's a term that they would use to describe others, usually from poorer countries. You don't hear of Moroccan expats do you?.
I have seen, on Facebook, some Spanish people, living in the UK, commenting negatively about it. "They go and live in our country and call themselves expats. We go and live in theirs and we're immigrants". It would be interesting to see if there was any viewpoint on this from locals here.

JamieNichols asked "who is offended"

In the Rapid Visas for those who want to stay over the 90 days thread Paulr had posted this
-- I was fascinated & surprised by it (hence my earlier question) - [(edited part of Paulr's longer post)] -

..... And would others please stop calling UK people resident in Spain "expats" - we're not, we're immigrants. I have no desire to be associated with those who favour the outdated language of British colonialism to somehow elevate their status above immigrants to the UK, who were used shamelessly by the Far Right to fuel the Leave campaign."

Perhaps Pauls thoughts are not typical. I don't think I want to be be labelled either way. Completely unnecessary.
I just prefer to live in Spain - warts and all. I enjoy the lifestyle

JaimeNichols wrote:

elchedave wrote:Neither term offend me to be honest. I did however find it amusing when my wife & i were moving to Spain some 21years ago & my dear old parents told everyone we were emigrating, i always associated that term with people moving to Australia & other long haul destinations. I guess they were though correct in their terminology.

That's really sweet. Can I ask why did it make you laugh?

I think it's because we just told everyone we were "moving to Spain" in the same context as when we moved from one village to another in the UK. We never really looked at it as "emigrating" It didn't seem such a big deal to us in our 40's but obviously my elderly folks thought it a huge move.

I am quite happy being an expat. It's something I'm used to having spent my childhood in Zambia. My parents and their friends were all known as the British expats and as it was a former British colony, most of the expats were British.
It's a term used worldwide.

OED

Expat describes someone taking up positions outside their country or sent abroad by their company

Immigrant describes someone moving permanently abroad.

Expat V immigrants !!! in the UK we have many nationalities who have made their home here 99.9 ,% of local people refer to them as immigrants, why should a person from the UK who lives in another country not be refered to as a immigrant.The reasons and there is a few is downright snobbery.

william wrote:Expat V immigrants !!! in the UK we have many nationalities who have made their home here 99.9 ,% of local people refer to them as immigrants, why should a person from the UK who lives in another country not be refered to as a immigrant.The reasons and there is a few is downright snobbery.

I wonder what the Spanish call us and I bet it's neither of those.

Chrisdee wrote:I wonder what the Spanish call us and I bet it's neither of those.

Guiris is commonly used