Where does the word Mulatto come from?

Question

I know what it means, a mixed person, I hear it alot but not used very much around where I live. I'm not sure if I like the word, if it is degrating. My daughter is mixed, I was just wondering why.

Answer 1

It is degrating. It comes from the Spanish origin mulo...or a mule. (Half horse/half donkey)
I never use that term. I say biracial or what ever their parents' ethnic origin was. (e.g. Korean and African-American)

Answer 2

A mulatto (also mulato) is a person of mixed ancestry with an African and a European parent (half black and half white), the offspring of two mulatto parents, or a person with a mixture of African/European ancestry

In the past the term originally referred to the children of one European and one African parent, or the children of two mulatto parents.[citation needed] Then a myriad of other terms, both in Latin America and the United States, were in use to denote other individuals of African/European ancestry.

The origin of the term is often said to derive from mulo, the Spanish and Portuguese word for mule[citation needed], once a generic designation name for any hybrid. This is believed to be the reason it is considered offensive by some English-speakers[citation needed] where it is not so considered by Spanish-speakers or Portuguese-speakers.[1] The former might prefer terms like "biracial" or "mixed" instead.

Answer 3

A mulatto (also mulato) is a person of mixed ancestry with an African and a European parent (half black and half white), the offspring of two mulatto parents, or a person with a mixture of African/European ancestry

In the past the term originally referred to the children of one European and one African parent, or the children of two mulatto parents.[citation needed] Then a myriad of other terms, both in Latin America and the United States, were in use to denote other individuals of African/European ancestry.

The origin of the term is often said to derive from mulo, the Spanish and Portuguese word for mule[citation needed], once a generic designation name for any hybrid. This is believed to be the reason it is considered offensive by some English-speakers[citation needed] where it is not so considered by Spanish-speakers or Portuguese-speakers.[1] The former might prefer terms like "biracial" or "mixed" instead.

Answer 4

personally, i don`t appreciate the word.

The origin of the term is often said to derive from mulo, the Spanish and Portuguese word for mule, once a generic designation name for any hybrid. This is believed to be the reason it is considered offensive by some English-speakers, where it is not so considered by Spanish-speakers or Portuguese-speakers.

Answer 5

The word "Mulatto" comes from the Latin mulus. It is a historical term based in slavery.

Answer 6

question already has good answers and i agree it is degrading mostly people just say mixed or bi-racial these days on the birth certificate you can list either race my 4 children all bi-racial all listed as black just make sure your daughter has cultural from both races she has 2 races so needs to identify with both it helps God bless you