vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Mestizo" is a form of "mestizo", a noun which is often translated as "mestizo". "Criollo" is an adjective which is often translated as "Creole". Learn more about the difference between "mestizo" and "criollo" below.
el mestizo, la mestiza, mestizo(
mehs
-
tee
-
soh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. mestizo
La población del país está mayormente compuesta de mestizos.Mestizos make up the majority of the population.
b. mixed-race person
Los mestizos descienden de personas de diferentes razas.Mixed-race people descend from people of different races.
a. crossbreed
El señor dijo que prefiere un perro de raza pura que un mestizo.The man said he prefers purebred dogs to crossbreeds.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. mixed-race
La Malinche tuvo un hijo mestizo con Hernán Cortés.La Malinche had a mixed-race son with Hernán Cortés.
b. racially mixed
Las escuelas son mestizas en su mayoría.Schools are racially mixed for the most part.
criollo(
kryoh
-
yoh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (old-fashioned) (of European descent)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. Creole
Se dejó de contar el porcentaje de la población que es criollo hace muchos años en México.They stopped counting what percentage of the population was Creole many years ago in Mexico.
b. criollo
"Tienes que casarte con un español, no un criollo," le dijo el virrey a su hija."You must marry a Spaniard, not a criollo," said the viceroy to his daughter.
2. (from Latin America) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. Creole
Hoy en la clase de sintaxis hablamos de las lenguas criollas.Today in syntax class we talked about Creole languages.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
4. (old-fashioned) (person of European descent in Latin America)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. Creole
Aunque eran de sangre española, no se les permitía a los criollos ocupar puestos de gobierno.Even though they were of Spanish blood, the Creoles were not allowed to hold government positions.
b. criollo
Soy español, pero mi hermano, quien nació en Perú, es criollo.I'm a Spaniard, but my brother, who was born in Peru, is a Creole.
5. (born in Latin America) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. native (of Latin America)
Claro que Lalo es criollo. ¡Es de Guayaquil!Of course Lalo's a native. He's from Guayaquil!
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. Creole
La gente mayor de la zona todavía habla criollo.The older generation in the area still speak Creole.
