Difference between Hispanic and Latino

By Marta Díaz on Thursday, August 8, 2024

Have you ever heard the term Hispanic and the word Latino? Probably, the answer is yes, although they are often used as synonyms in everyday life, but these two terms have different meanings and cover different cultural and geographic aspects.

So, if you want to learn Spanish, it is essential that you know how to differentiate the terms Hispanic and Latino, which are often confused and used as synonyms, especially in the United States. Therefore, in this article you will find the differences between these two words.

Meaning of Hispanic

The word Hispanic refers primarily to people, countries and cultures that speak Spanish as their primary language. This term focuses on the language and cultural heritage associated with Spain.

This term comes from the word Hispania, the Roman name given to the Iberian Peninsula, now Spain and Portugal. Hispania was a province of the Roman Empire, and, over time, the term evolved to refer to everything related to Spain and the Spanish language. Likewise, the word Hispanic is used to describe people and cultures that have a linguistic and cultural connection to Spain, especially those who speak Spanish.

Thus, a Hispanic person is someone who comes from a Spanish-speaking country, including Spain and most Latin American countries. For example, someone from Mexico, Colombia or Argentina would be considered Hispanic.

Meaning of Latino

On the other hand, the term Latino refers to people from Latin America, a region that includes all countries in the Americas where languages derived from Latin, i.e. Spanish, Portuguese or French, are spoken. This means that the term Latino is more inclusive in terms of geography and language.

The origin of the word Latin is in "Latium," a region in central Italy where Latin was spoken, a language that gave rise to the Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and Romanian). Over time, this term came to be used to describe the people and cultures of Latin America, a region influenced by these Romance languages. Today, Latin America includes Spanish-speaking countries (Mexico), Portuguese-speaking countries (Brazil) and French-speaking countries (Haiti).

Thus, the term Latin is also used in Spanish-speaking countries, including those where Portuguese is spoken, such as Brazil, or where French is spoken, such as Haiti.

An important note is that the term Latino is not generally used to refer to people from Spain, even though Spanish is a Romance language derived from Latin.

Why are Hispanic and Latino confused?

The confusion between these two terms is due to several reasons:

In the United States, the terms Hispanic and Latino have evolved and are sometimes used interchangeably, especially in censuses and demographic studies, to group people of Latin American and Spanish origin.

This can lead to confusion between the two words, so it is important to understand the roots and connotations of each term to appreciate the cultural and linguistic diversity they represent.

Cultural and linguistic similarities are another reason. Both Hispanics and Latinos share many cultural and linguistic similarities due to their common heritage of Romance languages and European colonization. This heritage can make the distinctions seem less clear to those unfamiliar with each term.

Another reason is that many people may self-identify themselves in different ways, Hispanic or Latino, depending on their personal experience, cultural heritage, and geographic context. For example, a person of Mexican origin in the United States may identify as Hispanic, Latino, or both, depending on the context.

In addition, education and media in the United States do not always make a clear distinction between these terms, which contributes to this confusion. In addition, marketing campaigns often use the terms interchangeably to reach a broader audience.

To make the differences between these two terms, Hispanic and Latino, clearer, these practical examples may help:

• A person from Brazil would be considered Latin because Brazil is part of Latin America and Portuguese, a Romance language, is spoken there. However, he or she would not be considered Hispanic because Spanish is not spoken in Brazil.
• In the case of a person from Mexico, he or she would be considered both Hispanic and Latino, since Mexico is a Spanish-speaking country in Latin America.
• On the other hand, a person from Haiti would be considered Latin because Haiti is part of Latin America and French, another Romance language, is spoken. But he or she would not be considered Hispanic because Spanish is not the main language of Haiti.
• A person from Spain would be considered Hispanic because Spanish is spoken in the country. He or she would not be considered Latin in the American context because geographically Spain is in Europe.

On the other hand, as discussed above, each person may define him or herself differently. Some may define themselves as Latino and Hispanic, as Latino, as Hispanic, or as neither. It all depends on the individual.

In summary, the word Hispanic refers specifically to the connection to the Spanish language and Spanish cultural heritage; whereas the word Latino encompasses a broader category of people from Latin America, including those who speak Portuguese and French.

Recognizing these differences is essential for a more accurate and respectful understanding of identities and cultures within the Spanish-speaking world.