The term "Latino" is often used interchangeably with the term "Hispanic." While both terms describe people with origins in Spanish-speaking countries or Latin America, they have distinct meanings and usages. "Hispanic" generally refers to people with a background from Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain, whereas "Latino" refers to people with origins in Latin America, which includes countries where languages other than Spanish, such as Portuguese in Brazil, are spoken. In U.S. government and census usage, both terms are often treated as synonyms and used interchangeably.

Differences and Overlap

• Hispanic: Refers to people from Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain.
• Latino: Refers to people from Latin America, which includes Spanish-speaking countries and others like Brazil (Portuguese-speaking).
• Both terms describe ethnicity, not race, and people can identify as either or both depending on personal or regional preference.
• The U.S. Census and government often use "Hispanic or Latino" as a combined category.

Hence, "Latino" is the most common term used interchangeably with "Hispanic."