Nuestras Raices | What's in a Name?

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Perhaps no other group in the United States is as culturally diverse as the Latino community. While many ethnic groups are commonly identified by a single country of origin—Irish from Ireland, Germans from Germany, Italians from Italy—Latinos are often grouped together because of a shared language: Spanish. In reality, people from Latin America come from more than twenty-one different countries, each with its own history, cultures, foods, traditions, religions, and racial makeup. These countries are shaped by Indigenous, African, and European roots, and many people continue to speak ancient native languages, using Spanish primarily as an official or shared language.

In Latin America, people do not usually describe themselves as “Hispanic” or “Latino.” Guatemalans call themselves Guatemaltecos, Colombians Colombianos, Dominicans Dominicanos, and so on. Identity is closely tied to nation, culture, and lived experience. In the United States, however, people from many different countries are often grouped together under broad labels such as “Hispanic” or “Latino,” or with hyphenated identities like Mexican-American or Colombian-American.

For many recent immigrants, this can be a surprising shift. Someone who has always identified as Salvadoreño, Mexicano, Argentino, or Cubano may suddenly find themselves placed into a single, generalized category. For some, learning these labels becomes part of the early process of adapting to life in the United States—sometimes among the first English words they encounter. Over time, many terms have been used to describe Spanish-speaking communities, including Latin Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Spanish-speaking Americans, Spanish-surnamed Americans, and others.

The term “Hispanic,” however, is not embraced by everyone. Naming a group—much like naming a child—is deeply connected to identity, history, and belonging. For a name to feel meaningful, it must reflect how people see themselves and their shared experiences. Many feel that “Hispanic” does not fully acknowledge the racial, cultural, and historical realities of people from Latin America, particularly those who have faced discrimination based on race, language, or culture. Others feel the term was applied from the outside, rather than growing from within the communities themselves.

Some people prefer the term “Latino” or “Latina” because it is seen as broader and more reflective of shared histories across Latin America. More recently, some younger and socially conscious generations have adopted the term “Latinx” as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina, especially to be more inclusive of people who do not identify within a gender binary.

The fact that there is no single, universally accepted term does not reflect a lack of shared culture or pride. Instead, it speaks to the many different experiences of people who move between countries, cultures, generations, languages, and social classes. Identity is shaped by place, history, and personal experience—and it continues to evolve.

Ultimately, each individual has the right to define their own identity. When in doubt, it is always best to ask people how they identify and which terms they prefer—“Latino,” “Hispanic,” "Latinx" and now "Latiné"—recognizing that no single word can fully capture the diversity of Latin American communities. ◼︎

Nuestras Raices | Rhode Island

What's in a Name?

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