‘Latino’, ‘Latina’, and ‘Latinx’ are all terms used to refer to people of Latin American descent. But what are the differences here? Why is ‘Latinx’ controversial? And when should you use these terms in your writing? This post will explain the basics.
Spanish is a gendered language. This means that all nouns in the language are assigned a gender, which determines how they are spelled: typically, male nouns end in the letter ‘o’, while female nouns end in ‘a’.
The difference between ‘Latino’ and ‘Latina’, then, is a matter of gender:
Mixed groups have traditionally taken the male form of the word.
In the past, those seeking a gender-neutral term for people from a Latin American background had to rely on ‘Hispanic’. However, this word excludes Latin American people who aren’t from Spanish-speaking countries, such as Brazil or Guyana. Some also consider it old-fashioned or problematic.
Since around 2014, though, the word ‘Latinx’ has emerged as a gender-neutral alternative to the words ‘Latino’ and ‘Latina’. For those who prefer to use gender-neutral language, the ‘x’ ending provides a useful way of describing:
‘Latinx’ is now fairly widespread, especially among English and dual Spanish–English speakers. However, some people have rejected the term.
There are two key reasons that some people have rejected ‘Latinx’ as a term.
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For some, it misunderstands the role of gender in Spanish, where it is a way of classifying nouns rather than saying something is inherently male or female. And without the usual male and female word endings, it is hard to know how to spell any connected adjectives so that they agree grammatically.
Another objection is that the word ‘Latinx’ is unpronounceable to many Spanish speakers and impossible to understand if they are not fluent in English. This has led to some seeing it as something English speakers are imposing on Latin Americans.
Other gender-neutral alternatives to ‘Latino’ and ‘Latina’ have emerged. One that sidesteps the pronunciation problem is ‘Latine’, with the ‘-e’ ending simple to say in Spanish as well as English. This word is not yet as widely known, though.
The best term to use for a person or group of people of Latin American heritage will depend on your situation and preferences. However, we have a few tips:
In addition, if you are writing about an individual, do your best to respect their identity. If someone refers to themselves as ‘Latina’, for example, use this rather than imposing a gender-neutral term on them. And if someone describes themselves as ‘Latinx’, it is common courtesy to follow their example.
Finally, if you need more help, our editors can offer tailored advice on vocabulary. Why not give our free proofreading trial a go today?
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