As an individual not far removed form his college days, I look back at how the term Hispanic was viewed. It was regularly discussed, amongst certain groups, as a negative term imposed on Spanish speaking individuals by the US government. People were quick to point out the play on words within the word HISpanic. We are "his" (the government's) panic. Then during this debate the push for use of the term Latino/a quickly followed. With the rational that we are people of Latin American decent. This was expressed as a more dignified/desirable classification in those collegian cirlces. During those days and more so now I notice that those are born in Latin American countries and establish themselves in the United States more regularly use the term Hispanic. Since I lack the experience abroad I wonder how regularly individuals in Latin America refer to themselves as Latinas/os? Understanding that labels are imperfect and these terms may be used strictly on a personal preference basis, are some people Latinos but not Hispanic? What is your definition of the term Latino?

What is your definition of the term Latino?

A Latino is a person who's family background comes from any Latin American country. (countries that speak a derivative of a Roman language). For example an Argentinian is a Latino, a Guatemalan is Latino, a Chilean is a Latino and so any individual in any part of the world who shares this same background. In my case I have Asian descend but! I was raised in a Latin country and in a Latin way and for that reason I am a Latina. If you were born in the US from Latino parents you are a Latino too! you may have many cultural costumes at home that come from the way they were raised and that they have passed on to you.

You must have heared the expression, "Latino at heart", that means a person who embraces the Latino culture, their values, etiquette and customes or that simply has moved from a Latin American country overseas for good but its costumes and the way he/she sees the world remains Latin. I hope this has helped you and cleared of what the definition is.

Understanding that labels are imperfect and these terms may be used strictly on a personal preference basis, are some people Latinos but not Hispanic?

Latinos are Hispanics.

Wikipedia has a well described long explanation of the "Hispanic term". Here is an excerpt:...[Thus, of a group consisting of a Brazilian, a Colombian, a Mexican, a Spaniard, and a Romanian; the Brazilian, Colombian, and Mexican would all be Latinos, but not the Spaniard or the Romanian, since neither Spain nor Romania is geographically situated in Latin America. Conversely, the Colombian, Mexican and Spaniard would all be Hispanics, but not the Romanian and the Brazilian; Brazilians speak Portuguese as Brazil has evolved from the former Portuguese colony in South America. Finally, all of the above nationalities would be Latin, including the Romanian. To further clarify, a Latino is a US citizen or resident of Latin American descent or birth.

It should be noted that the categories of "Latino" and "Hispanic" are used primarily in the United States to socially differentiate people. As social categories they are not mutually exclusive and without ambiguities and cannot be seen as independent of social discrimination (socioeconomic, ethnic or racial). These terms are not in everyday usage in the Caribbean, Central or South America.

Besides "Hispanic", "Latino", and "Latin", other terms are used for more specific subsets of the Hispanic population. These terms often relate to specific countries of origin, such as "Mexican", "Mexican-American", "Cuban", "Puerto Rican" or "Dominican", etc. Other terms signify distinct cultural patterns among Hispanics which have emerged in what is now the United States, including "Chicano", "Tejano", "Nuyorican", etc.