Hispanoamérica

Hispanoamérica, or Hispanic America, refers to the parts of the American continents where Spanish is the dominant language and Iberian cultural influence is historically significant. The term is used in linguistic, cultural, and historical contexts to distinguish Spanish-speaking regions from Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) and Francophone or Anglophone areas.

Geographically, Hispanoamérica covers most of North, Central, and South America outside Brazil and the francophone and anglophone Caribbean. Core members include Mexico; the Central American republics (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama); and the Spanish-speaking republics of South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela). In the Caribbean, Cuba and the Dominican Republic are commonly included as Spanish-heritage states, while Puerto Rico is often discussed as a Spanish-speaking territory rather than a sovereign nation.

Language and culture in Hispanoamérica are shaped by a common Spanish linguistic heritage, wide use of Catholicism, and regional cultural variations. Indigenous, African, and immigrant influences have produced diverse traditions, literature, music, and social practices across the region. While Spanish is official in most countries, many recognize multiple official or predominant languages at local and national levels (for example, Guaraní in Paraguay and various indigenous languages in the Andes and Amazon).

Historically, the region traces its roots to Spanish colonization beginning in the 16th century, followed by independence movements in the early 19th century. In contemporary usage, Hispanoamérica denotes cultural and linguistic affinity rather than a unified political entity; it interacts with broader concepts such as Latin America and Ibero-America.