What Is the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?

What Is the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?

Hispanic refers to people connected to Spanish-speaking countries. Latino (or Latina/Latinx/Latine) refers to people from Latin America, regardless of language. A Brazilian is Latino but not Hispanic — they speak Portuguese. A Spaniard is Hispanic but not Latino — Spain is in Europe. A Mexican-American is both. The distinction matters because the words carry different histories, politics, and self-identifications.

Where the Terms Come From

"Hispanic" entered U.S. government language in the 1970s when the Nixon administration needed a census category for Spanish-speaking Americans. It was a bureaucratic invention — practical, broad, and intentionally vague. "Latino" gained traction in the 1990s as a community-driven alternative that centered geography (Latin America) rather than colonial language (Spanish).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's definition, "Hispanic or Latino" refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin — collapsing both terms into one category for data purposes, even though they mean different things.

Why People Have Strong Preferences

Identity labels aren't neutral. Some people prefer "Hispanic" because it connects them to Spanish language and culture as a source of pride. Others reject it because it centers Spain — the colonizer — rather than the Indigenous and African roots that shaped Latin America. "Latino" feels more inclusive to some, more vague to others.

And many people bypass both terms entirely, identifying by national origin first: Mexican, Salvadoran, Colombian, Puerto Rican. In practice, the most accurate label is usually the most specific one.

What About Latinx and Latine?

"Latinx" emerged in English-language spaces as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino/Latina. It's widely used in academia and progressive organizations, but surveys consistently show that most U.S. Latinos don't use it for themselves. "Latine" is a newer alternative that follows Spanish phonetic rules — it's easier to pronounce in Spanish and has gained more traction in Latin America itself.

The Bottom Line

Neither term is wrong, and neither is complete. "Hispanic" highlights language. "Latino" highlights geography. Both erase Indigenous and Afro-Latino identities if used carelessly. The most respectful approach is to ask — and to use the term the person in front of you actually prefers. When writing about the community broadly, many style guides now recommend "Hispanic and Latino" or "Latino/a" as the most broadly accepted options.

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