mestizo

Everyday

Mestizo is a Spanish word for a person with both Spanish (European) and Native American ancestors, used especially in Latin America. tree →

In the lessons

Met in history lessons about Spanish colonies in the Americas and in geography of Mexico and South America. It describes family origins, and today many Latin Americans call themselves mestizo.

Examples

• Many people in Mexico are mestizo. tree →
• In colonial times, Spanish rulers sorted people into groups such as mestizo. tree →
• Mestizo culture mixes Spanish and native traditions. tree →
• The word mestizo comes from Spanish. tree →
• The country's population is largely mestizo. tree →

Note

From Spanish; plural: mestizos. A woman may be called «mestiza». Words about people's ancestry can be sensitive; use them only as people use them about themselves.