The rise and fall of 'Latinx': How a new word is slowly replacing gender-neutral term

A Pew Research Center study that shows only 4% of Latinos use 'Latinx' to describe themselves.

PUBLISHED SEP 29, 2024

Critics argue that "Latinx" feels forced and foreign to native Spanish speakers.

Phoenix, Arizona: The terms 'Latino' and 'Hispanic' have been widely used in the US to describe individuals with roots in Latin America and Spain. Recently, the rather controversial 'Latinx' has emerged as a gender-neutral alternative. However, the Associated Press has cited a Pew Research Center study that shows only 4% of Latinos use 'Latinx' to describe themselves, despite 47% being aware of it, while 81% prefer 'Hispanic' or 'Latino'. The Pew study also found that 75% of Latinos believe these newer terms should not be used to describe their community.

The argument is that 'Latinx' is more of an academic or activist-driven term.

The term 'Latinx' emerged in the 1990s as a gender-neutral alternative to 'Latino' and 'Latina', primarily to address inclusivity for non-binary and LGBTQ+ individuals. Its origins are often traced to Latino youth and queer communities in the US who sought a term that moved away from the traditionally gendered Spanish language.

The study shows only 4% of Latinos use 'Latinx' to describe themselves, despite 47% being aware of it, while 81% prefer 'Hispanic' or 'Latino'.

In particular, Chicana feminists began using the @ symbol (as in Latin@) in the early 1990s to represent both masculine and feminine forms of words, signaling a desire for more inclusivity. Over time, the @ symbol evolved into 'x' in the context of the internet and queer activism.

By the early 2000s, 'Latinx' gained more visibility, especially as queer communities in Latin America started to use the 'x' in place of gendered endings in Spanish words, such as using 'bexos' instead of 'besos' (kisses).

But outside of a small section of users in the US, the term 'latinx' came in for criticism, most notably for its perceived incompatibility with the Spanish language. Spanish is a gendered language, where nouns and adjectives typically end in 'o' for masculine and 'a' for feminine. The insertion of 'x' disrupts these grammatical norms, making it difficult to pronounce in a language that depends heavily on vowel endings. Critics argue that "Latinx" feels forced and foreign to native Spanish speakers, especially those in Latin American countries, where the term is less commonly used.

Also the low level of adoption among the Hispanic community has led to arguments that 'Latinx' is more of an academic or activist-driven term that has not been embraced by the broader Latino population.

By the early 2000s, 'Latinx' gained more visibility.

Now, the term, 'Latine', is gaining traction, particularly among Spanish speakers. 'Latine', pronounced LAH-tee-neh, is seen as more compatible with the Spanish language’s grammatical structure for gender neutrality. In Spanish, the letter 'e' is already used in some words without implying gender, making 'Latine' a more natural fit for many Spanish speakers.

Jasmine Odalys, host of 'Hella Latin@', told the Associated Press that 'Latinx' often feels corporate and politically correct, potentially excluding people’s diverse experiences.