The term Latinx originated as an inclusive term for people of Latin American descent who are non-binary or choose not to identify with a gender. Although popularly used across journalist and corporate platforms, it is not commonly used in older Hispanic or Latino communities. Only one in four adults in the United States have heard this term and only 3% describe themselves as Latinx. 

The terms Hispanic and Latino are often used interchangeably to describe those originating from Spanish-speaking or Latin American countries. However, “Hispanic” refers to all people of Spanish speaking countries. Latino people are individuals with connections and roots in Latin America. As both terms encompass a very large group, often these individuals identify by their specific country of origin, not an overarching label.

The term Latinx has gained more popularity in younger and often US-born individuals. Although the intent of “Latinx” was to create a gender neutral space, there have been some critics. Some have said that it has overly forced a US-centric lens onto these cultures.

Learn more about the use of the term Latinx at CNN.