Hispanic vs Latino: What’s the Difference?

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People mix up Hispanic vs Latino because the two terms overlap so much. Both are widely used in the United States to describe people with roots in Spain or Latin America, and many people qualify for both. The difference is in what each term is based on, and that is why a few groups fit one term but not the other.

What does “Hispanic” mean?

Hispanic describes people who speak Spanish or who come from, or are descended from, Spanish-speaking countries.

Because it is tied to the Spanish language, the term includes Spain as well as most of Latin America. A person from Madrid, Mexico City or Buenos Aires can be called Hispanic. The word comes from Hispania, the Latin name for the Iberian Peninsula. In the United States, it is also the term used in many government forms and surveys.

What does “Latino” mean?

Latino describes people who are from, or descended from, Latin America.

It is based on geography rather than language, so it includes Portuguese-speaking Brazil and excludes Spain. The word is a shortened form of latinoamericano, meaning Latin American. In Spanish, Latino is masculine (or the general form) and Latina is feminine; in English, Latino is often used for a mixed group, though many writers now say “Latino and Latina” or “Latinos.”

What is the difference between Hispanic vs Latino?

Hispanic is defined by the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking heritage, while Latino is defined by Latin American origin. The two overlap for most of Latin America, which is why the terms are so often swapped.

• Spain: Hispanic, but not Latino (it is in Europe, not Latin America).
• Brazil: Latino, but not Hispanic (the main language is Portuguese).
• Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina: both Hispanic and Latino.

What does “Latinx” mean?

Latinx is a gender-neutral alternative to Latino and Latina, created so that a term would not have to specify gender.

It has been used since the early 2000s, and Merriam-Webster added it to its dictionary in 2018. It remains debated. A December 2019 Pew Research survey found that most U.S. Latino adults had not heard of the term, and many people prefer Latino, Hispanic or a national-origin label such as Mexican American.

Is Hispanic or Latino a race?

No. On U.S. Census forms, Hispanic or Latino is treated as an ethnicity, not a race, so a person can be Hispanic or Latino and also be white, Black, Asian, Indigenous or multiracial.

In everyday conversation, people sometimes treat the terms like racial categories, and some people choose to write in Hispanic or Latino as their race on forms. Strictly speaking, though, both terms describe cultural and ancestral background rather than race.

Which term should you use?

Use the term a person uses for themselves. Many people prefer to be described by their family’s country of origin, such as Mexican, Cuban or Salvadoran, rather than by a broad label.

Pew Research’s 2012 survey of Hispanic adults found that a slight majority described themselves by country of origin, and about half had no preference between Hispanic and Latino. Among those who did have a preference, more chose Hispanic. When you are writing about a specific person or group, the most accurate option is to name their country or heritage. If you are not sure, it is perfectly fine to ask.

How can you remember which one to use?

Think “language” for Hispanic and “location” for Latino. The memory tricks below add two more shortcuts.

Common mistakes with Hispanic vs Latino

• ✗ Brazilians are Hispanic.
  ✓ Brazilians are Latino, but not Hispanic, because Brazil’s main language is Portuguese.
• ✗ People from Spain are Latino.
  ✓ People from Spain are Hispanic, but not Latino, because Spain is not in Latin America.
• ✗ Hispanic is a race.
  ✓ Hispanic is an ethnicity, and Hispanic people can be of any race.
• ✗ Every Latino person speaks Spanish.
  ✓ Many Latinos speak Spanish, but others speak Portuguese, Indigenous languages or only English.
• ✗ Hispanic and Latino always mean exactly the same thing.
  ✓ Hispanic and Latino overlap a lot, but they are not identical.

Memory tricks for Hispanic vs Latino

• Language vs location. Hispanic is about the Spanish language; Latino is about Latin America as a place.
• Hispanic sounds like Spanish. The two words share a root, which links Hispanic to Spain and to Spanish speakers.
• Latino has “Latin” in it. That points you to Latin America, which is why Brazil counts but Spain does not.

Hispanic vs Latino FAQ

Are Hispanic and Latino the same thing?

Not exactly. Hispanic is based on Spanish language and heritage, while Latino is based on Latin American origin. Many people are both, but some are only one.

Is someone from Spain Latino?

No. A person from Spain is generally called Hispanic, but not Latino, because Spain is in Europe and not in Latin America.

Is Brazil Hispanic or Latino?

Brazilians are generally called Latino, but not Hispanic, because Brazil is in Latin America but its main language is Portuguese, not Spanish.

Is Hispanic or Latino a race?

No. Hispanic and Latino are treated as ethnicities, not races, so people who identify with either term can be of any race.

What does Latinx mean?

Latinx is a gender-neutral alternative to Latino and Latina. It is used by some people but is not universally accepted.

Conclusion

The Hispanic vs Latino difference comes down to language versus geography: Hispanic points to Spanish-speaking heritage, and Latino points to Latin American origin. When in doubt, use the term a person prefers or name their country of origin. Share this with someone who mixes these up.