mestizo
/mesˈtiθo/
The Spanish phrase for half white is mestizo.
This term describes a person of mixed racial heritage, typically with one parent who is white and one who is not.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word mestizo changes its ending to mestiza when referring to a female. The plural form mestizos is used when referring to a group of people of mixed heritage.
How do you pronounce it?
/mesˈtiθo/
Did you know?
- Although mestizo refers to people, the word is also used in Spanish to describe 'mestizo' animals, such as mixed-breed dogs.
- While mestizo describes mixed heritage, the word castizo was historically used in Spain to describe someone of 'pure' Spanish blood who had no mixed ancestry.
- In many Latin American countries, mestizo refers more to a cultural identity and a fusion of indigenous and European heritage than to a strict mathematical half-white bloodline.
Examples in context
- Mi hijo es medio blanco y medio latino.My son is half white and half Latino.
- Ella tiene rasgos mestizos.She has mixed racial features.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing their family backgrounds.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿de dónde es tu familia?Alejandro, where is your family from?
- AlejandroMi padre es español y mi madre es indígena.My father is Spanish and my mother is indigenous.
- ElenaEntonces tú eres mestizo.So you are mixed race.
- AlejandroSí, así es.Yes, that is correct.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mestizo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
