hispano
/isˈpano/
The Spanish word for "hispanic" is hispano.
hispano is an adjective used to describe people or things relating to Spanish-speaking people or culture.
Meaning: Of or relating to Spanish-speaking people or culture (adj)
Which one should you use?
While hispano refers to Hispanic identity or culture, hispanohablante is a more precise term used specifically to describe someone who speaks the Spanish language.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use the feminine form hispana for feminine nouns, and the masculine plural hispanos when referring to a group of men or a mixed-gender group. Use the feminine plural hispanas when referring exclusively to a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
/isˈpano/
Did you know?
- The term hispano originates from the Latin Hispānia, which was the Roman name for the entire Iberian Peninsula, including modern-day Portugal.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using hispano can feel overly formal or academic, as people typically identify by their specific nationality, such as mexicano or colombiano.
- Despite the shared root hispano, a person from Spain would call themselves español, while hispano is more frequently used as a collective category for the diaspora.
Examples in context
- Pensé que eras hispano.I thought you were Hispanic.This sentence is useful for expressing a thought about someone's background using hispano.Tatoeba #9373550 by ignacio, translation #9373551 by DJ_Saidez
- Por momentos pensaba que eras nativo de algún país hispanohablante.At times they thought you were a native from some Hispanic country.This sentence is useful for describing someone thought to be a native of a Spanish-speaking country using hispano.Tatoeba #9665812 by Ivanovb, translation #10015859 by espamatics
- Los países hispanos son España y los países de América que hablan español.The Hispanic countries are Spain and the countries of America that speak Spanish.This sentence is useful for identifying Hispanic countries using hispano.
- El museo dedica una exposición a la cultura hispana.The museum is dedicating an exhibition to Hispanic culture.
- Mi mejor amiga es latina y celebramos nuestras raíces hispanas.My best friend is Latina, and we celebrate our Hispanic roots.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are discussing a music concert.
- Sofía¿Vas a ir al concierto de música hispana?Are you going to the Hispanic music concert?
- JavierSí, me encanta todo lo hispano.Yes, I love everything Hispanic.
- SofíaJavier, tú eres un gran experto en el tema.Javier, you are a great expert on the subject.
- JavierSolo disfruto mucho la cultura.I just enjoy the culture a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hispano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hispano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
