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Latinx

This article is about the English-language term. For gender-neutral terms in Spanish, see Gender neutrality in Spanish.
For similar terms, see Latin (disambiguation), Latina (disambiguation), and Latino (disambiguation)

Latinx is a neologism in American English which is used to refer to people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the United States. The gender-neutral ⟨-x⟩ suffix replaces the ⟨-o/-a⟩ ending of Latino and Latina that are typical of grammatical gender in Spanish. Its plural is Latinxs or Latinxes. Words used for similar purposes include Latin@, Latine, and the simple Latin. Related gender-neutral neologisms include Xicanx or Chicanx.

The term was first seen online around 2004.[1] It has since been used in social media by activists, students, and academics who seek to advocate for non-binary and genderqueer individuals. Surveys of Hispanic and Latino Americans have found that the vast majority prefer other terms such as Hispanic and Latina/Latino to describe themselves, and that only 2–3% use Latinx.[2][3] A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that roughly half of U.S. Latinos were not aware of the term Latinx; of those aware of it, 75% said it should not be used including 36% who found increased usage to be a very/somewhat bad thing.[4][5]

Critics say the term does not follow traditional grammar, is difficult to pronounce, and is disrespectful toward conventional Spanish;[6] the Royal Spanish Academy style guide does not recognize the suffix -x.[7] Both supporters and opponents have cited linguistic imperialism as a reason for supporting or opposing the use of the term.[6] Democratic members of the Black and Puerto Rican caucuses introduced legislation to ban its use in government documents, citing cultural appropriation by Americanizers who disfigure the Spanish language.[1][8][9][10][11]

  1. ^ a b Yarin, Sophie (October 7, 2022). "If Hispanics Hate the Term 'Latinx', Why is it Still Used?". BU Today. Boston University. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference McGirt was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pew Research was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Awareness of 'Latinx' increases among US Latinos, and 'Latine' emerges as an alternative". AP News. September 29, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Lopez, Luis Noe-Bustamante, Gracie Martinez and Mark Hugo (September 12, 2024). "Latinx Awareness Has Doubled Among U.S. Hispanics Since 2019, but Only 4% Use It". Pew Research Center. Retrieved October 2, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Ramirez was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cataño, Adriana (November 28, 2018). "The RAE Has Made Its Decision About Latinx and Latine in Its First Style Manual". Remezcla.
  8. ^ Nir, Sarah Maslin (March 2, 2023). "Repudiation for Term 'Latinx' From Both Sides of the Aisle". New York Times. pp. front page, cont. A15.
  9. ^ "Opinion: I'm Latina. Here's why I won't use the term Latinx". NBC News. December 14, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "Latino groups want to do away with 'Latinx'". Axios.com. January 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Newport, Frank (January 7, 2022). "Controversy Over the Term 'Latinx': Public Opinion Context". News.Gallup.com. Gallup, Inc.

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