IS IT HISPANIC OR LATINO?
Both terms are used interchangeably, but there is a difference between Hispanic and Latino.
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to ancient Hispania (Iberian Peninsula). Now it relates to the contemporary nation of Spain, its history and culture; a native of Spain residing in the United States is a Hispanic.
Latino refers more exclusively to persons or communities of Latin American origin. While there is a significant overlap between the groups, Brazilians are a good examples of Latinos who are not Hispanic (they speak Portuguese).
Many of us prefer to be refered by our country of origin instead of a blanket term grouping all of us into a group.
Comparison chart
Hispanic |
Latino |
|
|---|---|---|
| Terminology | Hispanic refers to language. Hispanic if you and/or your ancestry come from a country where they speak Spanish. | Latino refers to geography. Specifically, to Latin America, to people from the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic), South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, etc.) and Central America (Honduras, Costa Rica, etc.) |
| In the U.S. | Was first adopted by the United States government during the administration of Richard Nixon It has been used in the U.S. Census since 1980. "Hispanic" is used more often in states such as Florida and Texas. | The government adopted these terms because they did not have an inclusive term to identify and segregate the mixed white with black and native "mestizo or mulato people of Central and South America. |
| Derived from | The term "Hispanic" comes from a Latin word for Spain "Hispania", which later became "España". It refers to a person of Latin American or Iberian ancestry, fluent in Spanish. | The term "Latino" is shortened from Spanish latino americano, "Latin American" thus narrowing the scope of meaning to Central and South America, and Spanish speaking Carribean Islands. |
| Usage | "Hispanic" is primarily used along the Eastern seaboard, and favored by those of Caribbean and South American ancestry or origin. | “Latino” is principally used west of the Mississippi, where it has displaced “Chicano” and “Mexican American.” |
