The term was invented by professors who feared a gendered language like Spanish was offensive (e.g. Latina, Latino) and not inclusive of “non-binary” people so, just like colonialism, they redefined other people’s own language.

Spanish is just one language that is gendered.

Numerous languages are highly gendered (German is another, for example). English has mostly eliminated gendered nouns as the language evolved on its own.

NBC News on X: “About half of Latinos say they have never heard of the term “Latinx” and only 4% of the general Hispanic population uses the term to describe themselves, the Pew Research Center finds. https://t.co/nXGaMWPPEf” / X

LatinX emerged in the early 2000s in U.S. academic, activist, and LGBTQ+ circles, and its purpose was to create a gender‑neutral, inclusive alternative to “Latino/Latina.” It has never been widely adopted in Latin America or among most U.S. Latinos.

Instead, it was a group of mostly white U.S. academics who attempted to impose cultural change on others by redefining others’ language.

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Where “Latinx” Came From

1. U.S. academic and activist origins

• The earliest documented uses appear in the mid‑2000s, especially in:
  • Gender studies departments
  • Queer and trans Latinx student groups
  • U.S.-based social justice organizations
• It was created as a linguistic workaround to Spanish’s gendered endings:
  • “Latino” (masculine or mixed group)
  • “Latina” (feminine)
  • “Latinos” defaulting to masculine for mixed groups

Replacing the gendered “o/a” with x was meant to signal:

• Gender neutrality
• Inclusion of nonbinary identities
• Resistance to masculine‑default grammar

2. Not created by Latin American linguistic institutions

• No Spanish‑speaking country’s language academies (e.g., RAE) endorsed it.
• It did not emerge organically from everyday Spanish speakers.

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What Was Its Purpose?

1. Gender inclusivity

To provide a term that:

• Doesn’t default to masculine
• Includes nonbinary people
• Works in English-language contexts where gender-neutral terms are expected

2. Political and identity signaling

For many early adopters, “Latinx” was a way to:

• Signal solidarity with queer and trans Latin Americans
• Challenge gendered language norms
• Mark a progressive or activist identity

3. English-language convenience

In English, “Latinx” is:

• Easy to pronounce for English speakers
• Parallel to other English gender-neutral innovations

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1. Very low adoption among Latinos

Multiple surveys (Pew, Gallup, etc.) show:

• 2–4% of U.S. Latinos use “Latinx”
• Most prefer “Hispanic” or “Latino/Latina”
• A majority have never heard of it or dislike it

2. Linguistic mismatch

Spanish speakers often object that:

• The “x” ending is unpronounceable in Spanish
• It feels like an English-language imposition
• It doesn’t follow Spanish grammar

3. Perception of being imposed from above

Many Latinos feel:

• It was pushed by institutions, universities, and corporations, not communities
• It reflects U.S. identity politics, not Latin American culture

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What Latin America Uses

Interestingly, Latin America has developed its own inclusive forms—just not “Latinx.”

1. “Latine”

• Originated in Spanish-speaking queer and feminist communities
• Uses -e, which is pronounceable in Spanish
• Growing in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Spain

2. “Latino/a” or “Latinos y Latinas”

Still the most common formal inclusive form.

3. “Hispano” / “Hispanic”

More common in the U.S. than Latin America.

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Latinx was not created by Latin American communities

• It emerged from U.S. academic and activist circles
• It was intended to be inclusive, especially of nonbinary people
• It has very low adoption among the broader Latino population