::Latino = Latin American!!! It's just a shorter term and quicker to say in speaking. Latino and Latin AMerican both hearken back to Latin. The Latins were a people (White people incidentally) that spoke the Latin language. Today's Latino (Latin American) probably has only a smidgin of Latin blood in his veins. However, the language is more precise. Latinos (Latin Americans) speak not only Spanish, but also French and Portuguese! YES! FRENCH AND PORTUGUESE!!! Today's Latino (Latin American) to employ the term at it's loesest meaning, is not exclusive to Whites from Latin America, but also Blacks, and Mulattos (i.e. Browns)- basically anybody that speaks a Latin-based language! Hispanic refers to only Spanish-speaking Latinos. Why they have their own special category is way beyond me. Kind of haughty and high minded I think!