adj
Common
Hispanic
hih-SPA-nihk
Hispanic (adj) means relating to Spain, or to Spanish-speaking countries and cultures, especially in Latin America. Example: “The festival celebrates Hispanic music and food from across the Americas.”
adj
1
Relating to Spain, or to Spanish-speaking countries and cultures, especially in Latin America.
"The festival celebrates Hispanic music and food from across the Americas."
"Houses in New Mexico, California and Florida exhibit a strong Hispanic architectural influence."
noun
1
A person from, or descended from, a Spanish-speaking country.
"Hispanics make up a large and growing share of the U.S. population."
How to use Hispanic
Learner’s notes
Common mistake
"Hispanic" refers to Spanish-language/culture ties, while "Latino/Latina" refers to Latin American origin — the two overlap a lot but aren't identical (e.g., Brazilians are Latino but not Hispanic, since Portuguese is spoken there).
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- Hispanics
- Comparative
- more Hispanic
- Superlative
- most Hispanic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The festival celebrates _____ music and food from across the Americas.
Etymology
From Latin Hispanicus, from Hispania, the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for Hispanic
See all rhymes for Hispanic →Frequently asked questions
What does “Hispanic” mean?
The word “Hispanic” means relating to Spain, or to Spanish-speaking countries and cultures, especially in Latin America.
How do you pronounce “Hispanic”?
“Hispanic” is pronounced hih-SPA-nihk (/hɪˈspænɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Hispanic” in a sentence?
Here is “Hispanic” used in a sentence: “The festival celebrates Hispanic music and food from across the Americas.”
What is another word for “Hispanic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Hispanic” include of Spain.
What part of speech is “Hispanic”?
Depending on how it is used, “Hispanic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Hispanic” come from?
The word “Hispanic” comes from Latin. From Latin Hispanicus, from Hispania, the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula.
Is “Hispanic” a common word?
“Hispanic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Hispanic” have?
“Hispanic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Spain, or to Spanish-speaking countries and cultures, especially in Latin America.
What is the difference between Hispanic and Latino?
Hispanic refers to people or cultures connected to Spain or Spanish-speaking countries, so it is based on language. Latino refers to people from Latin America regardless of language, which is why Brazilians are usually considered Latino but not Hispanic, and Spaniards Hispanic but not Latino.
What is the difference between Hispanic and Spanish?
Spanish refers specifically to people, things, or the language of Spain. Hispanic is broader, covering Spain and the many Spanish-speaking countries and cultures, especially in Latin America.
Is Hispanic always capitalised?
Yes. Hispanic is a proper adjective and proper noun, so it is written with a capital H in all standard usage, just like other words derived from place names.
Is Hispanic a race or an ethnicity?
Hispanic is generally described as an ethnic or cultural category based on Spanish-speaking heritage, rather than a race. People who identify as Hispanic may be of any racial background.
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