Do Latinos realize that Hispanic and Spanish are basically the same word?

[Mingle]

(This only applies to Latinos from Spanish-speaking countries obviously, so Brazilians are excluded)

I see some Latinos saying "We're Hispanic but not Spanish". This seems like a weird distinction. It would be like Barbadians saying "We're Anglic not English". The only difference between the terms "Hispanic" and "Spanish" is that the first one is from Latin while the second one is Anglo-French.

The prefix Hispano- is still used in reference to Spain as well the Spanish-speaking world as a whole (including Spain) sometimes. Some examples are "Hispano-Romance" (Romance languages of Iberia), Hispanophone (Spanish-speaking), as well as something mixed Spaniard and foreign being called words like "Hispano-French", "Hispano-Suiza", and so on.

Anyways, the point is that "Hispanic" is basically a roundabout way of saying "Spanish". So even though the terms "Spaniard" and to a lesser extent "Spanish" are more associated with Spain, if someone calls themselves "Hispanic", they're basically calling themselves Spanish. I know that here in New York, many (but not all) Latinos identify as "Spanish" (at least they're commonly called that by most people), but this is an atypical case and I'm not sure if they're called "Spanish" elsewhere.

So my question is do Latin Americans mind the term "Hispanic" since they don't consider themselves Spanish and it's basically the same word as Spanish? Do you Latinos of TA identify as both Hispanic and Latino or just Latino?

[samario]

No one uses Spanish or Hispanic over here to describe themselves. Those are mostly American terms. We’re just Colombian.

[samario]

There is a difference between Hispanic and Spanish, though. Spanish means from Spain as in nationality, regardless of the person's background. Hispanic can refer to Spanish-speaking people not necessarily from Spain. Most Hispanic Americans have Spanish ancestry to varying degrees but Hispanic Americans or Latin Americans for that matter don't really give genetics much importance. They care more about the land that raised them.

In the U.S., people usually know where their ancestors come from and the exact time they set foot in the country. Here most people don't. Spaniards settled centuries ago and mixed with the natives.

[hmaohma78]

As known the term hispanic is more of a American term.
I personally would much rather use the term Mexican American for myself, but Yes the term Hispanics does apply to me.
Spanish I have always associated with Spain so obviously it does not apply to me.

[Annie999]

Sorry such terminology from USA is alien in Uruguay. Spanish are people from Spain, and Hispanic is not a term we use or relate with, so neither.

[Mingle]

Don't some Latin Americans use Hispano/Hispánico or Hispanoamericano? I recall seeing the term online used in Spanish conversations.

[Fincher]

Click to edit

[Thambi]

I think latino is more commonly used in central/south america than both hispanic or spanish.

[hmaohma78]

Don't some Latin Americans use Hispano/Hispánico or Hispanoamericano? I recall seeing the term online used in Spanish conversations.

Nope i haven't seen any Latin American that describes themselves as hispano. Maybe they were talking about the hispanics from the usa perhaps. Anyways bascially all latin americans use their nationality to identify themselves. Latino isn't really used but i have seen Latin Americans use that in the term of Latino americano but the term hispanic never. Spanish is a nationality for the country of Spain btw.

[samario]

I think latino is more commonly used in central/south america than both hispanic or spanish.

Latinoamericano (not Latino) is used but it's not a cultural or ethnic term like in the U.S., it means people from countries who speak a Latin-derived language and it includes Brazil and also Québec. I know some people can't stand the fact that Québec speaks French but yeah, it is what it is.

People identify with their country of origin for the most part, though.