“Latino” and “Hispanic” have long been the most prominent terms used to describe people in the U.S. with roots in Latin America and Spain. But over the last several years, “Latinx” has emerged as a gender-neutral alternative, according to a new study by race and ethnicity researchers.

Despite the increasing awareness of the term among Latinos—47% have heard of it—only 4%, or 1.9 million people, use “Latinx” to describe themselves, marking a slight increase from 2019, according to the Pew Research Center.

“’Latinx’ is more widely known among U.S. Latinos today, but still, few embrace it,” said Mark Lopez, Pew’s director of race and ethnicity research.

Interestingly, of Latinos who have heard the term, 36% view its usage negatively, according to the study.

Opinions about “Latinx” remain divided, leading to the emergence of a new term: “Latine”. This term has gained popularity among Latin American and Spanish-speaking communities, as it better reflects gender neutrality in Spanish, according to Josh Guzmán, an associate professor of gender studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

While “Latine” has a lower awareness rate among Hispanics in the U.S., it has sparked a conversation about identity within the community. Despite this, 75% of U.S. Latinos prefer the more traditional terms “Hispanic” and “Latino.”

Respecting individual preferences is crucial in discussions of identity, Guzmán emphasized. “There is already so much difference within Latin communities that academics started debating whether there ever is going to be a term that will be adequate enough to cover all the different components to this identity,” he said.

Jasmine Odalys, host of the podcast “Hella Latin@,” shared her perspective on the term “Latinx,” calling it corporate and too politically correct. “I think we’re almost like perpetuating the problem when we have one kind of quote-unquote inclusive term but then it’s not inclusive of everyone’s experiences,” she added.

The evolution of identity terms stems from a desire to be seen and acknowledged. Language and culture are always evolving, as Elisabeth Rosario, founder of the “Latinx Collective,” emphasized. “I think we just have to be really aware about what makes people comfortable. And you are never going to make an entire group happy,” Rosario said.

Luis Torres, founder of “Queer Latinxs in Tech,” echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of intention in creating inclusive spaces. “I think it is all about intention,” Torres said. “I think people who are trying to deliberately, with a good conscience, create a safe and inclusive environment, they use that word.”

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