Latino

The term Latino is a demonym used primarily in the United States to refer to people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity. Shortened from the Spanish word latinoamericano, it gained prominence in the late 20th century as an alternative to "Hispanic." While "Hispanic" strictly denotes a connection to Spanish-speaking countries (including Spain), "Latino" is a geographic classification referring to people with ties to Latin America, which generally includes Brazil (where Portuguese is spoken) but excludes Spain.

Perspectives on the term vary based on geography, generation, and politics. Many prefer "Latino" over "Hispanic" because they view the latter as emphasizing a colonial connection to Spain. However, because Spanish is a grammatically gendered language, "Latino" is the masculine form (used for men or mixed-gender groups). This has sparked debate regarding inclusivity, leading to the emergence of gender-neutral variations like "Latinx" and "Latine." While these newer terms are popular in academic and progressive circles, polling data suggests a significant portion of the population still prefers and identifies with "Latino" or "Hispanic," or simply by their specific country of origin.

Example:
"The museum opened a new exhibit dedicated to the history of Latino art in Los Angeles."

Example:
"While the census uses both terms, he prefers to identify as Latino rather than Hispanic because of his Brazilian heritage."