Why are Hispanics called "Latino"?

Question

Yes, I know it's because they're from (or descendants of) Latin America, but why is it called Latin America? They don't speak Latin and they're not ancient Romans.

Thanks, clown.

Answer 1

The countries of the New World from Mexico on south speak languages descended from Latin, namely Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Answer 2

Spanish is a Latin-based language, thus of the Americas they're from the area that speaks a language rooted in Latin.

Answer 3

Latin American refers not only to Central America, but also South America, the Carribean, and Mexico (which Glenn correctly pointed out is part of North America). Central America and those other areas are referred to as Latin America because the primary languages of those areas are Spanish and Portugues (in Brasil) - both of which are languages descended from Latin.

Answer 4

but their language( spanish) is so called latin language
Of course latin is a dead language now but spanish has roots in latin which means that many words are common, or have a common root. This happens because Spain was long time ago conquered by romans, so the languages mixed and formed a new language.

Answer 5

Well I am sure before the Spaniards came it was called something else but since they conquered the area and Latin had a major influence on the Spanish language. I guess they get to name their new world what ever they like....

Answer 6

The area they hail from is called Latin America..

Answer 7

Latin America cannot have descendants, it is a region, not a person.

Are most people of Spanish descent insulted by the word "Latino" ??

Answer 8

Because Spanish is the closest to Latin i guess

Answer 9

Latinoamerica/Latino is a spanish word. It's like asking why it's called a plaza and not a square. Believe it or not, sometimes Americans/Engilsh take words from other languages. Not to mention it is used to distinguish us from "anglo-americans" whose language is not directly rooted to Latin and whose heritage did not come from the Romans. (Spanish and subsequent culturally similar peoples' did!)

Answer 10

because all the latin languages evolved from Latin.

Now.. hispanics are only people who speak spanish.. so people from Italy , Brazil, France ect are not hispanic .. just latin.. but hispanics are latin as well..