The Hispanic culture is one of versatility, beauty, and passion. The dating scene, in particular, captures this excitement perfectly, giving people who date Latinos the experience of a lifetime.
With more than 60 million Hispanic singles worldwide looking for love, it is not entirely inconceivable that you could end up with your very own sexy papi or feisty chica. Dating them is a whole other experience, unlike anything you have or will ever go through!
To give you a better idea of what to expect, let us take a look at exactly what the dating culture in Latin America is like.
Dating a Hispanic woman
Latina mamis also have quite misguided representations. You have probably heard of the sassy and crazy Latina trope. The truth is that they are very passionate, and with some personalities, this sometimes comes off as aggressive and sassy behavior. However, there is so much more to them than this that you can expect.
This includes:
Work on building that appetite
In Latino culture, food is a central part of regional identity. They don’t do it because of gender roles, but because of the joy it brings them to cater to their loved ones. So prepare your taste buds for a cultural revolution.
CHAT WITH SINGLE LATINA WOMEN
Exotic beauty unlike anything you have seen before
Hispanic women are the most beautiful on the planet. It could be a curvy, curly-haired blonde from Brazil or a leggy brunet with exotic dark features. Whatever the case, they are just as much eye candy as their male counterparts.
You need to know that it is not that difficult to know how to impress a Latina.
Caring and nurturing treatment
In Latino culture, girls are raised to be very nurturing. That translates to their behavior in relationships, which is something you will have to look forward to. The extent of their acts of service varies, of course.
Some will be more than comfortable taking the stay-at-home beau role taking care of all your needs from cooking to cleaning. Others may not do this but will still find subtle yet meaningful ways to ensure you are well taken care of.
A little too good at communicating
Latina women may not all be aggressive and feisty, but most, if not all, tend to get loud when they are passionate, much like Romanian women. Even the most introverted of them. The best part is that they are usually not shy when expressing themselves and their needs in the relationship.
The Cons of Dating a Hispanic Woman
Be prepared to wait – a lot!
When it comes to the Latin cultural values, punctuality is not high on the list. It is normal for a Latina to turn up an hour after the agreed time without apologizing. That may be a shock to you, but you have to adapt to it. If you try to “talk it out,” you’ll make it worse, as you’ll have to face the wrath of an angry, passionate Latina!
They have big Latino families and social circles
It is usual for a Latina to be living in the same house as four other generations. They are very close-knit families, and you need elders’ approval if you are serious about your long term relationship. You’ll be invited to family events and social gatherings, where she expects you to meet everyone and socialize.
Mood swings
Latinas are passionate girls and do not mince words. Whether they are happy or otherwise, they’ll let you know. It may sound like a good thing, but it’s not fun when an angry Latina throws her arms around and shouts at you for something you are clueless about. Their tantrums can be a bit too much to handle, especially if you are someone who likes to sort things out quietly.
Dating a Hispanic man
Latino men are often grossly misrepresented in mainstream media portrayals. They are shown either as rough, trouble makers, or ridiculously sappy lover boys with nothing more to offer than airy charm. However, real Hispanic men are completely different, with much more to offer.
So what do you have to look forward to when dating one?
Macho vibes
TV portrayals of them as macho is not very far from the truth. While they may not be mindlessly aggressive, they tend to be very confident and manly. And let’s be honest, ladies, who doesn’t like an assertive man who knows what they want and goes for it?
CHAT WITH SINGLE LATINO MEN
Romance like you have never experienced before
Despite the tough-guy exterior, most Hispanic men are incredibly romantic. They always aim in relationships to make their partners feel truly wanted and loved. Whether serenading you, taking you somewhere special or spending on extravagant gifts, prepare for the princess treatment.
Very gentle
This may come as a bit of a surprise, but even the most hardened of Latino papis are reduced to a gentle and loving mess whenever they are with the women they love. So prepare for sweet little gestures as this is how they show their love.
Fiercely loyal
Latino men are fiercely loyal and demand the same from their partners. They invest everything from their time to emotions in exclusive and committed relationships.
Eye candy galore
Finally, how can we forget all you have to look forward to in the aesthetics department. Many Hispanics are pretty good-looking dudes with beautiful dark features and sexy forms.
The Cons of Dating a Hispanic Man
Dating a Latino boyfriend isn’t always a bed of roses. Like with anyone else, there are some not-so-good bits about dating a Hispanic man you must know about. Here are some points about dating a Latino that you may not like:
Not all of them speak English
If you are a native English speaker with little or no knowledge of Spanish, the language barrier may be too high to overcome. Hispanics like to stick to Spanish and are easy to mingle with if you know conversational Spanish. Despite the growing cultural mix and popularity of English, you are better off working on your Spanish before taking the plunge.
They are jealous
Spanish men and even Latino men are overly possessive about their girls. That may not always be bad, but you may feel suffocated if he restricts you from going out with your male friends. Sometimes, even talking to someone over the phone may be problematic, and your man will let you know in no uncertain terms. Your belief in gender equality and women’s rights may need to be compromised if you consider your guy too hot to let go.
They are players
Given the region’s macho culture, it is accepted that a man will look around for options, irrespective of his relationship status. Hence, there is a chance your guy will keep looking around, having spent the previous night with you.
The Latin Marriage Culture
If you are considering elevating your relationship to the next level, there are some Latin marriage customs you must know about. It is better to know what you are signing up for rather than getting overwhelmed by your surroundings on D-day.
The Father is the Main Man
If you did not notice it during dating, you will while planning marriage. Daughters are very close to their father, and he keeps vigil on who she goes out with, who she dates, etc. Marriage is a big life event that cannot go ahead unless her father (and other family elders) approve it. So, it’ll take a lot more than proposing to your girl to get her to walk the aisle.
Pre-marriage intimacy is not a given
Despite changing societal norms, Latinas can be traditional regarding getting physical. Holding hands, hugs, and kisses in public is normal, but your girl may not be comfortable getting intimate unless she trusts you to be her life partner. You would do well not to pressure her into it and let things progress at their own pace.
Not marrying till 30 is a taboo
This is again a deep-rooted cultural aspect that you must consider. Though it is OK for a man to marry into his 30s, there are different rules for women. If a girl is not married until 30, she gets curious looks from society, and it is assumed that something must be wrong with her. Hence, it is common for girls to marry mediocre partners to avoid this stigma. If your girl is close to 30, she would want to marry and settle down quickly.
Latin dating culture compared to others – the key differences
There is a lot to look forward to when dating a Hispanic person. In addition to their differences, the Hispanic, Colombian, or Mexican culture is unlike anything you will find elsewhere.
This includes differences in the trajectory dates taken to the level of involvement the family and society have in the relationship. Here are four major cultural differences you can expect:
- They are almost always late to dates, so learn some patience.
- You date the person, so you date the family because they tend to be very close.
- They are extremely passionate about everything they do and will either do it well or not.
- Many Hispanics have deep rooted religious affiliations. Religion, especially the Catholic faith, plays a huge role in different aspects of the relationship, including intimacy and its progression.
Wrapping Up
Dating Latinos and Latinas is great! They are not only attractive but also really loving and generally just a lot of fun to be around. However, to make things work, you must be prepared for what they bring to the table and how the Hispanic dating etiquette works there. If you are interested in dating Latinos, make sure to read our review of the best Latin dating sites.