While they are often used similarly, it’s important to understand that they have different meanings.
Anyone can claim these identities, regardless of their heritage.
Researchers and publishers (including theU.S.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Census) do not dispute how people identify.
Understanding their differences and when to use each one is key to using these terms appropriately.
However, the groups that comprise Hispanics and Latinos are actually diverse in terms of race.
The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” refer to ethnicity, culture, and identity.
They are groups based on shared culture rather than skin color, race, or other physical features.
However, the groups are also broader than ethnicity, which can make the terms confusing.
Hispanic
Hispanicrefers to people who speak Spanish or who have a background in a Spanish-speaking country.
In other words, Hispanic refers to the language that a person speaks or that their ancestors spoke.
Some Hispanic people speak Spanish, but others don’t.
For example, the majority of Haitians do not identify as Latino despite being part of Latin America.
A person who is Hispanic may also be Latino, but this is not always necessarily the case.
A person who is Latino may also be Hispanic, or not.
What Does Latinx Mean?
For example, the word Hispanic is generally preferred and more widely used in Florida.
Mexican refers to people who inhabit or are from Mexico, a part of Latin America.
Spanish is the main language in Mexico, but not all Mexicans speak it.
This means that people from Mexico are Latino, and they may or may not be Hispanic.
The term Latino first appeared on the 2000 census as an option for ethnicity.
Moreover, it’s possible that in the media, the term Latino feels more inclusive.
Further, there are differences in how people self-identify within the Hispanic or Latino community.
For example, Black people may identify themselves as Afro-Latino or Afro-Caribbean.
This helps to distinguish themselves from those who share their race but have different cultural backgrounds.
When to Use Hispanic and Latino
How do you know when to use which term?
Takeaways
While Hispanic and Latino are sometimes used interchangeably, they have different meanings.
Hispanic refers to individuals who are Spanish-speaking or have a background in a Spanish-speaking country.
Latino refers to those who are from or have a background in a Latin American country.
These terms encompass culture, ethnicity, and identity and are rooted in shared cultures and not racial categories.
When using one of these terms to refer to a specific person, always respect their preference.
Pew Research Center.Who is Hispanic?.
- “New white ethnics” or “new Latinos”?
Hispanic/Latino pan-ethnicity and ancestry reporting among South American immigrants to the United States.Int Migr Rev.
2021;55(4):1061-1088. doi:10.1177/0197918321993100
Oprah Daily.More Latinas are choosing to identify as Afro-Latina.
Ramos SR, Portillo CJ, Rodriguez C, Gutierrez JI Jr.Latinx: Si, se puede?
A reflection on the terms past, present, and future.J Urban Health.
2023;100(1):4-6. doi:10.1007/s11524-022-00690-y
Berkeley News.I say Hispanic.
How did the whole thing start?.
Pew Research Center.The many dimensions of Hispanic racial identity.
