Why is Latin America called Latin America if they don't speak Latin and they never have?

Question

Why is Latin America called Latin America if they don't speak Latin and they never have?

Answer 1

Thia question has appeared several times!

The English word Latino (Latina is the feminine form) derives from the Spanish word latinoamericano (the Portuguese word is latino-americano) and most often refers to inhabitants of Latin America, and their descendents living outside of Latin America. Its usual connotation is Ibero-American or Spanish American; Francophone Canadians are not normally referred to as Latino, even though they speak a Romance language.

The concept of "Latin America" was coined by the French in the 1800s as a means of legitimizing French influence over the Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas; compare Latin Europe.  The term emphasized a common culture and history of the Latin-speaking peoples, as opposed to the Germanic language-speaking countries of "Anglo-America".

Answer 2

because life is just weird.... why would they call US citizens 'Americans' if America is the whole continent? That's just they way life is.

Answer 3

I believe it is called so because the languages there, such as Spanish, are romance languages that come from Latin.

Answer 4

All the major languages in South America and a good chunk of Central America speak languages that derive from Latin (Spanish, Portuguese and French).

English direct roots are to German......