What is the difference between Latino and Hispanic? Which term should you use?

1. Difference Between
Latino and Hispanic
Carlos F. Martinez, MHA, M.Ed.
carlosFmartinez.com

2. Latino or Hispanic?
The terms Latino and Hispanic are somewhat
controversial, and many people are divided on
how they should be applied. Many within this
population prefer the term Hispanic, whereas
others prefer Latino.

3. What Do Experts Say?
Some experts recommend that
people should use the term Latino
while others suggest the term
Hispanic.

4. Is it Geography?
 Geographical position may correlate with a
preference of terms.
 In South Florida, where the majority of
Latinos/Hispanics are of Cuban heritage, the
term Hispanic is generally preferred.
 The designation of Latino is more often used
in southeastern states such as North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

5. What Does RAE Say About the Term
Hispanic?
The Dictionary of the Real
Academia Española (RAE) defines
Hispano as someone who belongs to
or is related to Spanish-speaking
countries.

6. What Does RAE Say About the Term
Latino?
 Latino is used to describe people of European
or American descent whose languages derive
from Latin itself.
 This definition obviously includes not only
citizens of every nation in Latin America and
Europe whose primary language is either
Spanish or Portuguese, but also technically all
people whose native languages derive from
Latin, such as the French, Romanians, and
Italians.

7. Are Brazilians Hispanics or Latinos?
 Individuals of Brazilian and/or
Portuguese descent, though
geographical neighbors to those in
Spanish-speaking nations, have a
different linguistic and cultural heritage.
 The term Hispanic is more generally
defined as an individual whose native
language is Spanish.

8. So, Which Term Should Be Used?
 Many people are using the terms Latino
and Hispanic interchangeably.
 When addressing a Hispanic or Latino, just
ask the person which term s/he prefers.

9. Questions?
THANK YOU!
¡GRACIAS!
carlosMHA@att.net
carlosFmartinez.com