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PIGS

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PIGS (name) means a now-outdated financial-media acronym for Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain, used during the European debt crisis to describe countries with struggling economies and heavy government debt. Example: “Analysts once grouped Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain together under the label "PIGS" during the eurozone crisis.”

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A now-outdated financial-media acronym for Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain, used during the European debt crisis to describe countries with struggling economies and heavy government debt.

"Analysts once grouped Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain together under the label "PIGS" during the eurozone crisis."

"The term PIGS fell out of use as those economies stabilized."

How to use PIGS

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dated economic-journalism shorthand, not the plural of the farm animal "pig" — capitalized as PIGS when used this way.

When to use it

Considered offensive and outdated by many; rarely used in serious writing today.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Analysts once grouped Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain together under the label "_____" during the eurozone crisis.

Rhymes for PIGS

digs

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Frequently asked questions

What does “PIGS” mean?

The word “PIGS” means a now-outdated financial-media acronym for Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain, used during the European debt crisis to describe countries with struggling economies and heavy government debt. In plain terms, a dated economic-journalism shorthand, not the plural of the farm animal "pig" — capitalized as PIGS when used this way.

How do you use “PIGS” in a sentence?

Here is “PIGS” used in a sentence: “Analysts once grouped Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain together under the label "PIGS" during the eurozone crisis.”

What part of speech is “PIGS”?

“PIGS” is a name.

Is “PIGS” a common word?

“PIGS” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between PIGS and PIIGS?

PIGS grouped Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain — euro-area economies with heavy government debt during the European debt crisis. PIIGS is the variant with a second I for Ireland, added when Ireland's finances also came under severe strain. Both were financial-media shorthand rather than official designations.

Why is the acronym PIGS considered offensive?

Because it likens four countries to pigs, the acronym was widely criticized as derogatory toward Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain and their citizens. Officials from the affected countries objected to it, and a number of publications chose to avoid or restrict its use.

Is PIGS still used today?

The term is now largely outdated. It belonged to the vocabulary of the European debt crisis of the early 2010s, and as those economies stabilized the label fell out of everyday financial commentary. Today it appears mainly in retrospective discussions of that period.