What Is the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?
Two of the most commonly used terms when describing people with roots in Latin America and Spain are “Hispanic” and “Latino.” These words appear in news coverage, government documents, census forms, and everyday conversation, often as though they mean exactly the same thing. While they do overlap in significant ways, they carry distinct meanings rooted in geography, language, and history. Understanding the difference between Hispanic and Latino is not simply a matter of vocabulary. It is a matter of respect, accuracy, and cultural awareness for the tens of millions of people these terms are meant to describe.
Where Did the Term “Hispanic” Come From?
The word “Hispanic” comes from the Spanish word “Hispania,” the ancient Roman name for the region that is now modern-day Spain. The term was adopted by politicians in the 1970s during the Nixon administration to classify people of Spanish-speaking origins, particularly those from Latin America. Cambio Center
The push to formalize the term came directly from community advocacy. The widespread use of “Hispanic” began when the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and other organizations lobbied the federal government to have their community included in the U.S. Census as a distinct ethnic category. Facing History & Ourselves. Before that moment, all Hispanics and Latinos were counted as white on the Census, a classification that advocates argued created serious problems for their communities by affecting the allocation of federal funds and the drawing of legislative districts.
In the simplest terms, Hispanic is a word rooted in language. The group of United States residents who share a connection to the Spanish language is called “Hispanics.” EBSCO This means that someone from Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, or any other Spanish-speaking country may identify as Hispanic. Notably, someone from Brazil, where Portuguese is the official language, would generally not be considered Hispanic, even though Brazil is in Latin America.
Where Did the Term "Latino" Come From?
Where Hispanic centers on language, Latino centers on geography. In English, the term Latino is a condensed form of “latinoamericano,” the Spanish term for a Latin American, or someone who comes from Latin America. Wikipedia
In essence, Hispanic denotes language, and Latino denotes geography. EBSCO This distinction matters because Latin America encompasses countries where languages other than Spanish are spoken, including Brazil, where Portuguese is dominant, as well as Indigenous-language-speaking communities throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America.
In general, “Latino” refers to almost anyone born in or with ancestors from Latin America and living in the United States, including Brazilians. Britannica This makes Latino a somewhat broader and more geographically inclusive term than Hispanic.
How Do the Two Terms Overlap?
The reason these two terms are so frequently used interchangeably is that for a large portion of the population, both words apply at the same time. A person born in Colombia is both Latino because Colombia is in Latin America and Hispanic because Spanish is the official language of Colombia. The same is true for someone from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, or Venezuela.
Where the terms diverge most clearly is at the edges. A Brazilian could be Latino and non-Hispanic, a Spaniard could be Hispanic and non-Latino, and a Colombian could use both terms. Britannica. This is the clearest way to understand how the two categories relate to each other. They overlap significantly but are not identical, and neither one fully contains the other.
language-speaking communities throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America.
In general, “Latino” refers to almost anyone born in or with ancestors from Latin America and living in the United States, including Brazilians. Britannica This makes Latino a somewhat broader and more geographically inclusive term than Hispanic.
What Do People Actually Prefer to Call Themselves?
One of the most important things to understand about these terms is that neither one is universally embraced by the communities they are meant to describe. A 2023 National Survey of Latinos found that 52% of respondents most often described themselves by their family’s country of origin, while 30% used the terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” “Latinx,” or “Latine,” and 17% most often described themselves as American. Pew Research Center
Among those who do use a pan-ethnic label, preferences vary. When asked in 2022 whether they preferred “Hispanic” or “Latino,” 18% of respondents had no preference, while 53% preferred “Hispanic” and 26% preferred “Latino.” EBSCO These numbers reflect the reality that cultural identity is deeply personal and that no single umbrella term can capture the full diversity of experience, nationality, race, and heritage that exists within these communities.
In general, the more specific and accurate name is the one favored by the group itself. Most people who fall under either the descriptive names of “Latino” or “Hispanic” prefer to identify with their country of personal or ancestral origin, such as “Mexican-American” or “Salvadoran.”
What About Latinx and Other Evolving Terms?
In recent years, newer terms have emerged as alternatives to Latino and Latina. Latinx is a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino and Latina, believed to have first been used in the mid-2000s. Cambio Center Another emerging term is Latine, which originated from LGBTQIA+, gender non-binary, and feminist communities in Spanish-speaking countries and replaces the “a” and “o” endings with the gender-neutral Spanish letter “e.” Cambio Center
However, adoption of these newer terms remains limited. Research from the Pew Research Center suggests that only 23% of U.S. Hispanic adults have even heard of the term “Latinx” and only 3% actually use it. Facing History & Ourselves The ongoing conversation around these terms reflects a broader dialogue within the community about who gets to define identity and how language can either include or exclude the people it is meant to represent.
Why This Matters for Baltimore’s Latino Community
For organizations like Nuestras Raices Inc. and Casa de la Cultura, this distinction is far more than academic. Baltimore’s Latino community comprises people from more than 25 nations, representing a wide range of languages, traditions, racial backgrounds, and lived experiences. Using language thoughtfully and accurately is one way of honoring that diversity and ensuring that no one feels erased or misrepresented.
Whether someone identifies as Hispanic, Latino, Latina, or simply by their country of origin, what matters most is that their identity is acknowledged with care and respect. At Nuestras Raices Inc., that commitment to cultural affirmation is at the heart of everything we do, from the programs at Casa de la Cultura to the annual celebration of Fiesta Baltimore, where the full breadth of Latino identity is welcomed, honored, and celebrated.
