Distinguishing Mexican & Spanish Cultures

Mexican vs Spanish

At a glance, the differences between Mexican and Spanish are quite obvious; Mexico is a country in North America, while Spain is a European country. In the United States, the term Latino is used to refer to individuals and groups with Latin American ancestry. The term Hispanic is also used in the United States to refer to people from Latin American countries who speak the Spanish language. Although there are many similarities between Mexican and Spanish people, there are also differences which will be discussed in this article.

Both Spanish and Mexican people speak the Spanish language, which can be confusing for people in the United States. However, there are differences in the way Spanish is spoken in Spain and Mexico. Spanish people are of European descent, and you would find European whites in Spain. In contrast, Mexican people appear to belong to different ethnic groups such as Aztec and Mayan, although there are also Europeans and people of Spanish descent in Mexico. In general, there are more dark-skinned people than whites in Mexico. Thus, it is clear that Mexicans are both Latinos and Hispanic, as they belong to a North American country and speak Spanish. However, they are not Spanish, and only people from Spain qualify to be labeled as Spanish.

It is true that Mexicans share the Spanish language with natives of Spain, but there are far too many regional variations that make linguists say that Mexican Spanish qualifies to be a separate language. One finds a lot of Spanish influence on culture in Mexico, such as bullfights, foods like Spanish rice, and the Catholic religion. However, it is easy to see the differences between Mexican and Spanish people. Mexico is a former Spanish colony, which is why there are so many similarities between Spanish and Mexican people.

Key Takeaways

• Hispanic is a term used for people living in the US speaking the Spanish language, making both Spanish and Mexicans Hispanic.
• Mexicans are people living in North America, whereas Spaniards are people living in Europe.
• There are differences in the way Spanish language is spoken in Mexico, and there are differences in Mexican and Spanish cultures, despite the people speaking the same Spanish language.