What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
criollo
Example
The criollo population played a significant role in the history of Latin America. [criollo: noun]
Example
The restaurant serves authentic criollo cuisine, using local ingredients and traditional recipes. [criollo: adjective]
mestizo
Example
Many Latin American countries have a large mestizo population due to centuries of intermarriage between Europeans and Indigenous Americans. [mestizo: noun]
Example
The music genre is a mestizo fusion of Indigenous American rhythms and European instruments. [mestizo: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mestizo is more commonly used than criollo in everyday language, as it is a more inclusive and positive term that celebrates cultural diversity. Criollo is less common and can have a negative connotation in some contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between criollo and mestizo?
Both criollo and mestizo are relatively formal terms that are more likely to be used in academic or historical contexts than in everyday conversation.
