What's the difference between race, nationality, & ethnicity?

Question

I thought they were all the same thing, but I guess apparently not. & why on certain applications, when they ask for your ethnicity, it's whether or not you're Hispanic or non-Hispanic?

Answer 1

The term race refers to a local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.A genealogical line; a lineage. eg. Black, carcasion,indian etc.

The term nationality refers to the status of belonging to a particular nation by origin, birth, or naturalization. Or A people having common origins or traditions and often constituting a nation. eg. Mexican, American, Canadian citizen


Ethnicity is a term which represents social groups with a shared history, sense of identity, geography and cultural roots which may occur despite racial difference

Let's consider Puerto Ricans as an example of an ethnicity. Many Puerto Ricans represent various blends of White, Red and/or Black races and yet they refer to themselves collectively as Boricuas

. Despite color difference, Puerto Ricans share an ethnicity. Ethnicity shapes a group's culture - the food, language, music, and customs.

Many Whites do not consider themselves to be "ethnic" or to have an ethnicity although all of us do! Whether you come from an Italian background, an Irish background, or a combination of the two, these ethnic cultures have most likely played a very important role in shaping how you view, interpret, and interact with the world.

Ethnic groups are not races, since ethnicity can be more precisely defined than race or even logically independent. The only working general definition of ethnicity is that it involves the common consciousness of shared origins and traditions.

The Greek ethnos is variously translated ‘tribe’ or ‘nation’ and its meaning can be taken as being some way between the two.

All the best

Answer 2

Ethnicity is more of your culture. Race probably has to deal with skin color bone/skull structure or any physical trait one might have. Hispanic isn't a race. It's not really an ethnicity either. A Hispanic person is someone from a Spanish speaking Latin American country like Mexico or Honduras but even in those coutries there are many ethnicity and race (similar to the US) like for example a Natives , Garifunas, Mestizos, Spaniard...

Answer 3

Ethnicity refers to your background... the culture,religion or social upbringing you came home. Race is specifically your hereditical descent.And nationality is the country that you are a citizen in(not particularly the country you were born in because people can migrate and attain citizenship of other countries).

Answer 4

Race=color of skin
nationality=country you were born
ethnicity=cultural group you belong to

Answer 5

I still believe there's no difference!