Hispanic, Latino or Latinx: which one is right?

Both “Hispanic” and “Latino” are fine. A 2024 Pew survey asked Hispanic adults which word they like. About half (52%) said “Hispanic.” About 3 in 10 (29%) said “Latino.” Only 2% chose “Latinx” and 1% “Latine.” The rest had no preference. Many would rather you name their family’s country, like Mexican American or Puerto Rican. Best of all, use the word your neighbor uses.

1 · MindWhat people believe, and how they know

We know this from asking people, which is the right way. Pew Research Center surveyed U.S. adults with roots in Latin America or Spain in 2024. A majority picked “Hispanic.” About 3 in 10 picked “Latino.” Very few picked “Latinx” or “Latine.” About 15% didn’t care.

Labels by country often matter more. In Pew’s 2019 survey, about half of Hispanic adults said they most often describe themselves by their family’s country of origin. That was most common among immigrants (56%). By the third generation, a third most often just say “American.”

What each tradition or community says

“Hispanic”

Points to Spanish language and Spain’s history. The U.S. government started using it on forms in the 1970s. It includes people from Spain, but not usually Brazilians, who speak Portuguese.

“Latino” and “Latina”

Points to Latin America. It includes Brazilians, but not people from Spain. Many use it as a point of pride.

“Latinx” and “Latine”

Gender-neutral forms, since Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine. They’re used mostly by younger people, activists and colleges. Pew found only 4% of Hispanic adults use “Latinx” themselves.

Country of origin

Mexican, Cuban, Dominican, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican. These are the names many families use at the dinner table.

2 · HeartWhat it feels like

For your neighbor, a label can feel like a form someone else filled out for them. A Cuban grandmother in Miami and a Mexican American rancher in New Mexico may share a language and not much else. One word has to cover a lot of people.

For you, the fear is picking the wrong word. Breathe. Nobody’s offended by an honest “Hispanic” or “Latino.” People get offended when you act like they’re all the same.

Marketers spent years telling Hispanic Americans what they wanted to be called. Then somebody asked them. That’s the whole history of polling, really.Neighbor Radio

3 · HandsHow to be a good neighbor

Listen for how your neighbor talks about themselves, and use that. If you need a general word, “Hispanic” or “Latino” will do. In writing for a group, “Hispanic or Latino” covers it.

Then get specific. Ask where their family’s from, and what they cook on holidays. “Latino” is a category. Your neighbor’s abuela’s tamales are a story.

This weekAsk one Hispanic or Latino neighbor or coworker where their family is from, and what that place is known for.

Four questions to take with you

From Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, about the stranger who stopped to help. We call it the Samaritan Test.

Did they see? Or look right past?
Did they stop? Even when it was inconvenient?
Did it cost them? Time, money, comfort, reputation?
Did they treat the person like a person? Not like a label?

Try it on: the last time you lumped a group of people under one word. Did you see the person, or the label?

Quick questions

Is “Latinx” offensive?

Not offensive to everyone, but not popular. In 2024, Pew found 75% of Hispanic adults who’d heard of it said it shouldn’t be used for their community. Some like it. Ask, or skip it.

Is “Hispanic” a race?

No. The U.S. Census treats it as an ethnicity. Hispanic people can be of any race.

Are Brazilians Hispanic?

Usually not, since they speak Portuguese. Many do call themselves Latino.

Sources and research

How this answer was made

Written in plain words by the Neighbor Radio team. Each faith's and community's section is checked by someone from that faith or community. Until then, this page says so. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We read every note and fix mistakes.