The word "Hispanic" refers to a person who is from, or whose parents and grandparents are from, a Spanish-speaking country, especially those in Latin America. It also relates to things connected with Spanish-speaking countries and their cultures. In the U.S. context, it often describes individuals of Spanish-speaking origin or descent, including those from Spain and Spanish- speaking countries in Latin America, regardless of race.
Hispanic is a term related to language—specifically Spanish—while it overlaps with but differs from terms like Latino, which relates more to geography (Latin America). For example, someone from Spain is Hispanic but not necessarily Latino, and someone from Brazil is Latino but not Hispanic because Brazil is Portuguese-speaking.
The term "Hispanic" has historical roots linked to Hispania, the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula including modern Spain. It broadly encompasses people, cultures, or countries related to Spain and Spanish language and heritage.
