Latine is a gender-neutral neologism alternative term to other identifying terms such as Latino,Latina, or Latinx which are used to identify people of Latin American descent.[1][2][3][4][5] The term stems from the more popular term, Latinx.[6] Gender-inclusive vocabulary is becoming more popular, which is a reflection of larger cultural shifts toward tolerance and acceptance of different gender identities.
Latine is relatively new, only recently gaining use in the late 2010s.[7] Both Latine and Latinx can be used in the same manner. The term Latinx ends with an "x" which makes it more difficult for Spanish speakers to pronounce.[8][9][10][11] In contrast, Latine is more accessible to Spanish speakers because the “-e” word ending is a vowel sound that is standard in Spanish and is parallel to other gender-neutral words in Spanish such as estudiante.[12] In Spanish-speaking nations, its acceptance in community groups and organizations for LGBTQ+ people can be attributed in part to its accessibility.
Latinx's main use is in the United States and in academia,[3][8][11][13] and the increasing number of people identifying as non-binary and seeking terms that affirm their gender identities are some of the reasons as to why Latine is gaining attention and use.[7][14] Although just 3% of Hispanic Americans said they used Latinx in a 2020 Pew Research Center survey, younger generations are becoming more aware of gender-neutral alternatives like Latine. [7]
The term is new to many countries outside Chile and Argentina, it is beginning to gain attraction in both academia and everyday use.[8][15] While the term is more inclusive and making its way to other countries, many people who identify as Hispanic or Latino are still unaware of terms such as Latine or Latinx, with the majority being older people ages 50 and above.[2]
History
The exact origin of the term is unclear,[3] the term is said to have originated from LGBTQ+ online activists wanting a more inclusive term to identify themselves aside from the difficult-to-pronounce Latinx.[5][7] However, the term is also said to have originated in Chile and Argentina, being used by young student activists during protests.[11][16] The interconnectedness of the Latina identity was highlighted by these demonstrations, which frequently addressed concerns of gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and language decolonization. [16]
In 2019, The Washington Post published an article that details the effects that the usage of gender-inclusive language had on Spanish-speaking populations after a young teenager spoke in a television interview. "Natalia Mira, 18, used gender-neutral language in a television interview that made headlines across the Spanish-speaking world last year. The viral video made her the subject of attacks, but now the form is finding official acceptance."[16]
Some US institutions, such as the Chicago History Museum, are shifting from using Latino/a/x to Latine.[17]
^ abcR.Miranda, Alexis; Perez-Brumer, Amaya; M.Charlton, Brittany (2023). Latino? Latinx? Latine? A Call for Inclusive Categories in Epidemiologic Research. Oxford University Press. pp. 1929–1932.
^Cano, Manuel; Gelpí-Acosta, Camila. Variation in US drug overdose mortality within and between Hispanic/Latine subgroups: A disaggregation of national data. Elsevier.
