Is Latinx a Slur? Is Latinx Offensive?

By Luis Albert Rosales

To activists, Latinx is a gender-neutral term intended to be an inclusive alternative to Latino or Latina. It is primarily used by academics and social activists. Supporters of the term argue that it helps represent individuals who feel marginalized or not fully included by the traditional term 'Latino.' However, the term has faced significant backlash from much of the Latino community as some Hispanic-focused organizations have adopted the term to refer to all Latinos. Many of those same organizations have returned to use Latino or Hispanic due to backlash. As a result, many Latinos have rejected its use. For Hispanos who have heard the term, many feel as if the word is insulting or a mockery of their Hispanic culture.

Latinx: Its Purpose and Public Perception

The term Latinx originated from progressive activists and gained popularity primarily within academic circles through its use by scholars in studies and research, rather than widespread adoption among the general Latino population. It is intended to be a gender-neutral alternative to traditional Spanish gendered terms like Latino (masculine) and Latina (feminine). In Spanish, gender markers are typically indicated by the endings -o for masculine and -a for feminine nouns. Latinx aims to include individuals who do not identify within the traditional gender binary, allegedly promoting greater inclusivity. Their position is that the term provides inclusive language for Latinos who identify as ‘non-binary’ or with similar identities. Some argue that it is a necessity to deconstruct the masculine default that, in their perspective, marginalizes women and “non-binary people”. Some proponents view language as a powerful tool for shaping social reality. By changing language, they believe they can promote more inclusive and equitable ways of thinking about gender and identity within Hispanic communities and beyond as language evolves.

This presents a complex dynamic between the scholars' intent to promote inclusivity and the term's reception within Latino and Hispanic culture. While the intention is to foster greater inclusivity, the term has also faced harsh criticism from many Hispanics who view it as an example of linguistic imposition, some have described it as “linguistic imperialism” or “linguistic colonialism”. Many Latinos have a negative view of the term. Some would highlight that, in Spanish, it makes no grammatical sense, and that it would be difficult to pronounce in Spanish. Others expand on that but also argue that if the concern is with the English language, there is no need for a new gender-neutral term since existing terms like “Latin American”, or simply ‘Latin’ or ‘Hispanic’, already serve as gender-neutral options to refer to Latino people or Hispanos. Ultimately, they affirm that Latinos who use the term may be disconnected from their Latino or Hispanics roots. Through this perspective, some view it as nothing more than an attempt at performative social justice with a strong misunderstanding of Latino culture. From a linguistic perspective, The Real Academia Española, which many view as the official arbiter on the Spanish language, has rejected Latinx and its use as a gender-neutral term for Latinos.

The Latinx Studies

Regarding the studies of Latinx and its use within the Latino community, Pew Research has conducted several studies on Latinx. In this section, we’re going to focus on Latinos who have heard of the term in a specific study from Pew Research titled “Latinx Awareness Has Doubled Among U.S. Hispanics Since 2019, but Only 4% Use It.” This study, with 5,078 adult Hispanics surveyed, was released in September 2024, but it was conducted in 2023.

According to the study, 53% of Latinos have not heard of the term. Of the 47% who have, only 4% use it to describe themselves. However, a supermajority of Latinos (75%) say that Latinx should not be used to describe the Hispanic or the Latino community. To add, 36% say that using the term more often is ‘bad’, while 38% are neutral in its use. Those who say that the term is good reflects only 12% of the Hispanic population while those who are unsure reflects 14%. It concludes that Latinos would more likely find the use of Latinx to be negative than positive.

When it comes to lesbian, gay or bisexual participants of this study, only 13% say they use Latinx to describe themselves. This group is the only non-racial group surveyed who uses the term more than any other.

For those who are educated, with some college, only 4% use the term to describe themselves. Those with a bachelor’s degree or greater, 7% use the term to describe themselves.

Overwhelmingly, over 70%, regardless of specific groups except for lesbian, gay or bisexual participants, say the term should not be used to describe Latinos. The total average contains the 75% referenced earlier.

Given what we know about this study, is Latinx a slur? Judging by this study alone we cannot conclude it is a slur, but we can affirm that most Latinos do not use the term while a third of Hispanics or Latinos who have heard of the term, generally view its use as a bad thing.

A Quick Informal Poll from TikTok: Is Latinx a slur?

Since there are no comprehensive studies on whether 'Latinx' is considered a slur, I’ve conducted a quick, informal poll on TikTok asking two questions that I believe are important for expanding our understanding of how Latinos or Hispanics view the term Latinx. Please note that this is not a scientific poll and should not be interpreted as representative of the broader population.

In this informal poll, there were 68 participants, and I asked two specific questions: “Is the term 'Latinx' considered offensive, insulting, or a mockery of Hispanic or Latino culture?” and “Is 'Latinx' a slur?”

According to my record, 55 participants considered the term ‘Latinx’ offensive, insulting or a mockery of Hispanic or Latino culture. This represents approximately 80.88% of participants. Respectively, 60.29% of participants consider the term a slur. Of those who consider the term offensive, insulting or mocking, 74.55% of them consider it a slur. The informal TikTok poll offers limited insight due to its small sample, but it suggests a significant portion of respondents view "Latinx" negatively, indicating a need for broader research.

During this informal poll, many commenters shared negative views about the term. They suggested that it lacked respect and was problematic in several ways. "Latinx is problematic," was a common theme among commenters. "Don't call me Latinx," was another sentiment expressed by multiple users. After the poll, some users who supported the term expressed that the results were "disappointing."

Latinx: A Failed Attempt at Inclusivity

While the intention behind "Latinx" may have been to promote inclusivity, the data indicates a significant failure in its execution and reception within the Latino community. The term is overwhelmingly rejected by Latinos, rarely used, and for many, carries negative connotations. It highlights the complexities of language evolution, cultural sensitivity, and the potential disconnect between well-intentioned initiatives and their real-world impact on the communities they aim to serve. Instead of unifying, "Latinx" appears to have become a point of contention and division within the Latino community, at least based on current data.