Why do some people call all Spanish-speaking people "Spanish"?

[so elektrikkxx]

Has anyone else noticed this?
My friend today said "Spanish women are so gorgeous, I love Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez!" and I glared at him and informed him that Eva is Mexican, Jennifer is Puerto Rican.

Is it that hard to understand that the correct meaning of Spanish is FROM SPAIN? Besides, most Hispanics in the US aren't 100% Spanish ancestry so it makes no sense.

It'd be like calling Jamaicans "English" or Cape Verdeans and Brazilians "Portuguese", which no one ever would do.

[JamesG]

It's the same reason people tend to refer to all Asians as Chinese; because it's the most popular and everyone associates with the word.

I think people are just too ignorant or don't want to bother to stop and look at what is different about the person.

Might as well call Americans British since we speak English.

[Chocoholic]

I feel the same way about the term "African-American". Not all black people descended from Africa and not all people from Africa are black.

[so elektrikkxx]

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I feel the same way about the term "African-American". Not all black people descended from Africa and not all people from Africa are black.

All black people ARE descended from Africa (Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans, etc. were brought to those islands from Africa as well) but not all Africans are black (Moroccans, some Egyptians and some Ethiopians, etc) so you're partially right,

[MickeyMac]

Originally Posted by so elektrikkxx

All black people ARE descended from Africa (Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans, etc. were brought to those islands from Africa as well) but not all Africans are black (Moroccans, some Egyptians and some Ethiopians, etc) so you're partially right,

Some black people here are also mixed with European ancestory as well.

[JT]

Originally Posted by so elektrikkxx

Has anyone else noticed this?
My friend today said "Spanish women are so gorgeous, I love Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez!" and I glared at him and informed him that Eva is Mexican, Jennifer is Puerto Rican.

Is it that hard to understand that the correct meaning of Spanish is FROM SPAIN? Besides, most Hispanics in the US aren't 100% Spanish ancestry so it makes no sense.

It'd be like calling Jamaicans "English" or Cape Verdeans and Brazilians "Portuguese", which no one ever would do.

Eh, because it's easier than actually knowing what you're talking about. I always use "Latino/a" because it covers everyone.

[browneyes106]

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I feel the same way about the term "African-American". Not all black people descended from Africa and not all people from Africa are black.

Very true.

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by so elektrikkxx

All black people ARE descended from Africa (Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans, etc. were brought to those islands from Africa as well) but not all Africans are black (Moroccans, some Egyptians and some Ethiopians, etc) so you're partially right,

Not true

I believe EVERYONE is a descended from Africa and I 'think' Asia.

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by JT

Eh, because it's easier than actually knowing what you're talking about. I always use "Latino/a" because it covers everyone.

True. Because not every country south of the border is 100% Spanish or Hispanic.

Here's a list of Latino-Americans....

Mexican-29,000,000
Puerto Rican-4,000,000
Cuban-1,600,000
Salvadorian-1,400,000
Portuguese-1,400,000
Dominican-1,200,000
Guatemalan-860,000
Brazilian-800,000
Colombian-797,000
Honduran-527,000
Ecuadorian-523,000
Peruvian-470,000
Spaniard (From actual Spain!)-353,000
Nicaraguan-306,000
Argentine-195,000
Venezuelan-175,000
Panamanian-138,000
Costa Rican-116,000
Chilean-111,000
Bolivian-82,000
Uruguayan-48,000
Paraguayan-20,000

This is tentative and I included Brazilians and Portuguese Americans because in a way, they ARE Latino.

[Doodyville10019]

I personally think it's more of a generational thing. My mother always calls my Latina co-workers "Spanish" - I always have to correct her - they're of Mexican descent.

[so elektrikkxx]

Originally Posted by Doodyville10019

I personally think it's more of a generational thing. My mother always calls my Latina co-workers "Spanish" - I always have to correct her - they're of Mexican descent.

and not all Mexicans are of Spanish descent either so it's a stretch to call the ones who ARE, "spanish" and an even bigger stretch to call those that who aren't even of Spanish descent.

[so elektrikkxx]

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

True. Because not every country south of the border is 100% Spanish or Hispanic.

Here's a list of Latino-Americans....

Mexican-29,000,000
Puerto Rican-4,000,000
Cuban-1,600,000
Salvadorian-1,400,000
Portuguese-1,400,000
Dominican-1,200,000
Guatemalan-860,000
Brazilian-800,000
Colombian-797,000
Honduran-527,000
Ecuadorian-523,000
Peruvian-470,000
Spaniard (From actual Spain!)-353,000
Nicaraguan-306,000
Argentine-195,000
Venezuelan-175,000
Panamanian-138,000
Costa Rican-116,000
Chilean-111,000
Bolivian-82,000
Uruguayan-48,000
Paraguayan-20,000

This is tentative and I included Brazilians and Portuguese Americans because in a way, they ARE Latino.

Might as well count Cape Verdeans if you're going to count Brazilians and Portuguese.

[Schmoopie]

Part of it probably has to do with the way they were brought up. I remember my mom talking about a colored man who lived in our neighborhood. I was probably in kindergarten or preschool. I kept wondering what he looked like because I was thinking that he would be red, yellow, blue, green and purple!!!

There is a funny line in the movie Clueless where Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is looking for a shirt to wear to her drivers test. She asks the housekeeper and I guess the housekeeper answered her in Spanish. she said "You know I don't speak Mexican!" and the housekeeper answered "I am not a Mexican!". Then finally Josh) says "Lucy's from El Salvador". Cher still can't figure out why the housekeeper got so offended!!