20+ Differences Between Hispanics And Latinos (Explained)

The question of identity and preference of identities remains to be a big question in today’s society, regardless of their actual heritage. For example, a number of persons who identify as Haitians do not call themselves Latino despite being a country in Latin America.

The question in regards to the key difference between Hispanics and Latino lies in how people identify themselves, i.e., whether they have a background in a Spanish-speaking country or whether they come from Latin America. However, it still remains to be a soup for a healthy bite of discussion.

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Key Differences:

Hispanic:

1. The Hispanic-speaking population refers to that part of the population who belongs to Spanish-speaking countries.
2. ‘Hispanic’ as a term refers to the Spanish language in action, i.e., while being spoken.

Latino:

1. The Latino population refers to a part of the population that belongs to Latin America, which includes Central America, South America, as well as the Caribbean.
2. ‘Latino’ as a term majorly refers to the geographical history of where someone comes from.

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Comparison between Hispanic and Latino

Parameter	Hispanic	Latino
Literal Meaning	People who descend from Spanish-speaking countries.	People who descend from the land of Latin America.
Grammatical Meaning	It refers to the language in action, i.e., while it is being spoken. It may also be translated into the meaning that it is the native language of a Spanish individual, or it may be a language that their ancestors spoke.	In a grammatical sense, it refers to the geographical classification of people who belong to Latin America, which includes Central America, South America, as well as the Caribbean.
Geography	The term is more widely referred to in rural places such as Texas and New Mexico.	The term is more widely referred to in urban areas and coastal areas.
History	The people who belonged to the rural areas who were prone to poverty and discrimination in the Mexican Americans in the southwest and Puerto Ricans on the east coast of the United States of America in the 1960s identified themselves as Hispanic.	Individuals from the Hispanic community in the 2000 census decided to join the Latino community to remove discrimination from their daily bread.
Inclusivity	It has extremely limited access. It may be considered as the ‘pure blood’ of Spanish-speaking people who never mingled off with other groups.	It includes a wide array of ideas. A Latino may identify themselves as Hispanic, but a Hispanic can never identify themselves as a Latino. The Latino Community also gave birth to a new ‘Latinx’ Community which is distinct from both the Hispanic and Latino communities.
Popular Culture	The term is widely used to refer to the Spanish language. It is not widely referred to in popular culture and mainstream media due its limited access and inclusivity.	The phrase may relate to the common usage amongst topics, including but not limited to people, music, culture, etc., in a more general meaning. Additionally, the term ‘Latino’ is broader in its definition and more inclusive in nature.

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Major Differences Between Hispanic And Latino

Who exactly is a Hispanic?

The term ‘Hispanic’ is used to distinguish an individual through race, identity, and ethnicity; however, in complex terms. It has been most often referred to in the eastern United States, which includes the areas of Florida and Texas.

People who belong to various different kinds of races and ethnicities may identify as Hispanic. This includes people who identify as white.

In the history of America, people have relied on a census to identify themselves as belonging to a Hispanic or Latino identity.

In the case of the Hispanic population, however, aside from being an original group of people who later submerged into other groups, the Hispanic people self-report themselves to carve out their identity in the American census.

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Geographic Identity of Hispanic

1. The term is more widely referred to in rural places such as Texas and New Mexico.
2. The Hispanic population includes people residing in the eastern United States, which includes the areas of Florida and Texas, who identify as Hispanic.
3. Latinos can be Hispanics, but Hispanics cannot be Latinos.

Who Exactly Is Latino?

The term ‘Latino is used to distinguish an individual through race, identity, and ethnicity; however, in complex terms. Any person who is from Central or South America or the Caribbean might be referred to as Latino.

Latinos can be of any race, including white, black, native American, mestizo, mixed, and even Asian ancestry. They could be Hispanic as well, albeit not necessary. In simpler words, people may identify themselves as Hispanic but not Latino at the same time.

In the history of America, people have relied on a census to identify themselves as belonging to a Hispanic or Latino identity. In the case of the Latino population.

However, aside from being a group of people who submerged into a new community to stand up against discrimination, the Latino people started to self-report themselves as early as the 2000 census in the United States of America to carve out their identity in the American census.

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Geographic Identity of Latino

1. The term is more widely referred to in urban areas and coastal areas of the United States of America.
2. Any individual who belongs to the lands of Central or South America and the Caribbean may be described as Latino.
3. Latinos may be Hispanics, but Hispanics cannot be Latinos.

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The Contrast Between Hispanic And Latino

Literal and Grammatical Meaning

• Hispanic: The term ‘Hispanic’ is used for the population who hail from authentic Spanish-speaking countries.
  
  However, according to the term’s literal meaning, ‘Hispanic’ simply refers to the Spanish language in action, i.e., while it is being spoken. It may also be translated into the meaning that it is the native language of a Spanish individual, or it may be a language that their ancestors spoke.

• Latino: The term ‘Latino’ comprises the population who descends from the land of Latin America.
  
  However, in a grammatical sense, it refers to the geographical classification of people who belong to Latin America, including Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

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Action and Speech

Hispanic:

1. The term ‘Hispanic’ is used to refer to the population who have Spanish as their native language, i.e., those who originally descend from Spanish-speaking countries or whose forefathers and ancestors belonged to such areas.
2. The term ‘Hispanic’ refers to the Spanish language in action, i.e., while it is being spoken.

Latino:

1. The term ‘Latino’ is used to describe the persons who descend from Latin America aside from other geographical locations in the United States today, wherein the Latino population is dominant.
2. The term ‘Latino’ is used to classify a geographical group of people, other than acting as a means to identify ethnicity. 

Race, Identity, And Ethnicity

• Hispanic: The term ‘Hispanic’ is used to distinguish an individual through race, identity, and ethnicity; however, in complex terms. It has been most often referred to in the eastern United States, which includes the areas of Florida and Texas.
  
  People who belong to various different kinds of races and ethnicities may identify as Hispanic. This includes people who identify as white.

• Latino: The term ‘Latino is used to distinguish an individual through race, identity, and ethnicity; however, in complex terms.
  
  Any individual who belongs to the lands of Central or South America and the Caribbean may be described as Latino. Latinos can be of any race, including white, black, native American, mestizo, mixed, and even Asian ancestry.

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The terms Hispanic and Latino do not identify an individual’s race but more of an ethnicity. The contrast between Hispanics and Latino becomes difficult to address because of the Hispanic population’s unique idea about race and ethnicity. This definition doesn’t fit within the American understanding of race and ethnicity.

Hispanic:

1. The term evolved from the Latin word ‘Hispanics,’ i.e., people who lived in Hispania (Roman Empire), i.e., the Iberian Peninsula in today’s Spain.
2. More of an element of culture.
3. Includes a wide array of people, i.e., white, black, Asian, American Indian, etc.

Latino:

1. The name originated from the Spanish word ‘Latinoamericano,’ which in English is translated literally as ‘Latin American.’
2. The term does not define a racial identity.
3. Latinos can be of any race, including white, black, native American, mestizo, mixed, and even Asian ancestry.

Geography

• Hispanic: The term ‘Hispanic’ is more widely referred to in rural places such as Texas and New Mexico. A large part of the Hispanic population belongs to the eastern United States today, which includes the areas of Florida and Texas.

• Latino: The term ‘Latino’ is more widely referred to in urban areas and coastal areas. Any individual who belongs to the lands of Central or South America and the Caribbean may be described as Latino.

History

• Hispanic: The Hispanic population in the 1960s formed a large part of the people who belonged to the rural areas that were at that time prone to poverty and discrimination in Mexican America in the southwest and Puerto Rica on the east coast of the United States America.

• Latino: As times changed and new dynamics entered the tired mind of the Hispanic population who wanted to bring a change, a new community was formed, which is today called the ‘Latino’ Community. Thus, people who are Latino may also be Hispanics, but Hispanics cannot be identified as Latinos. The Latino community also includes the geographical factor.

Inclusivity

• Hispanic: The term ‘Hispanic’ has extremely limited access. It may be considered as the ‘pure blood’ of Spanish-speaking people who never mingled with other groups.
  
  It is interestingly observed that people who are from the Latino community can identify as Hispanic due to their heritage.
  
  However, people from the Hispanic community cannot classify themselves as Latino. It all depends on their history and the inclusivity factor.

• Latino: On the other hand, the term ‘Latino’ includes a wide array of ideas. A Latino may identify as Hispanic, but a Hispanic can never identify as a Latino.
  
  The Latino Community also gave birth to a new ‘Latinx’ Community, distinct from the Hispanic and Latino communities. The Latinx community is inclusive of persons belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Popular Culture And Media

• Hispanic: The term ‘Hispanic’ is often referred to in order to refer to the usage of the Spanish language in action. It is, however, not widely referred to in popular culture and media for its limited access.

• Latino: As compared to the word ‘Hispanic,’ the term ‘Latino’ is frequently used to refer to a larger range of people.
  
  The phrase may relate to the common usage amongst topics, including but not limited to people, music, culture, etc., in a more general meaning. Additionally, the term ‘Latino’ is broader in its definition and more inclusive in nature.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

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